"Indeed there is a small stipend for research assistants. Fifty thousand Essence per month but the real benefit is the free lodging, cafeteria, and exemption from tuition."

They could make that in a single day delving the Goblin's Den back home. Not much, really. Before Nero could answer, the red light went off. The door opened and Tinkwezilsky came out.

"Everything is set to make the cards you'll need. I also made the selection of Skills to bind to your new Class. Now you go inside and connect the second press to your Arbitrium, then just press the red button. Don't mess with the settings. I was about to do it myself but you might be able to coax a bit more oomph from the Essence."

Nero went inside and repeated the procedure to make the cards. He didn't even know that the press could make more than one card at once but it made sense. The Class was bound to him, a security measure to avoid people selling the restricted Class card elsewhere. It was common for organizations to protect their trade and the gadgeteers were no exception. After the room ventilated out the remaining Essence, Nero retrieved the cards and smiled. The lack of white on the borders of the cards was expected but greatly welcome although he got no yellows. He suspected Tinkwezilsky had not splurged on the Essence this time. The green lights were also fewer than the other workbench.

The door opened and the researchers came inside. Tinkwezilsky's eyes went straight for the green lights. "One day only," He sighed in relief.

Glom jumped on the workbench and approached Nero. The young man spread the cards like a magician and showed them the borders. He had two blue and six green cards.

"That's awesome, Nero," The squiig's praise was sincere. His snout and ears twitched as his eyes displayed concern. "And you can see why we all agree to keep your abilities secret. If word comes out that you can do this, the King would lock you in a press room and force you to churn cards until your death."

Bezzias called everyone's attention with a short and piercing chirp. "Let's go upstairs. You need to be in an Essence-infused environment if you want to summon items with [Permanency] and I don't think you'd want to waste the blue [Apprentice's Amulet] just to bind the Class."

They returned to the elevator and went straight to the fourth-floor laboratory. Nero gave the cards to Altia so she could see what he got.

[Apprentice's Amulet] - blue accessory. Requires Reason +2, Willpower +2

+1 Vigor

+1 Dexterity

+1 Reason

+1 Willpower

+1 Perception

"It's good that you have this amulet, my apprentice. Now you can work twice as hard."

Special: Your magical spells have one in five chances of using 1 less mana.

[Enchant +2] - green modifier.

"Twice as awesome compared to +1."

Effect: Increases all numeric parameters of an item card by +2.

[Essence Analysis] - green Skill. Requires [Gadgeteer].

+1 Willpower

+2 Perception

"As I open my eyes to the unseen, the universe unfolds."

Effect: After 2 seconds of concentration, reveal the nature and amount of Essence in the target object or aura at a range of Perception / 2 yards.

[Tinker] - green Skill. Requires [Gadgeteer]

+2 Dexterity

"Grease stains are part of the charm."

Passive: Greatly improves fine dexterity and ability to craft and repair machine parts. Requires tools.

[Structural Inspection] - blue Skill. Requires [Gadgeteer]

+2 Strength

+2 Agility

+2 Perception

"Clipboard not included."

Passive: Double the speed of repairs.

Effect: After 1 second of concentration, reveal the durability, condition, and quality of an object or structural feature at a range of Perception / 2 yards.

[Improved Spatial Perception] - green Skill. Requires [Gadgeteer]

+3 Perception

"It also improves direction sense."

Passive: Improves the ability to visualize objects and structures in three dimensions.

[Improved Math] - green Skill. Requires [Gadgeteer]

+3 Reason

"Now that's what I call academic fraud."

Passive: Improves the ability to perform calculations and logical reasoning.

[Essence Manipulation] - green Skill. Requires [Gadgeteer]

+1 Dexterity

+1 Reason

+1 Willpower

"With my bare hands, I knead the fabric of Creation!"

Effect: Spend 1 mana/hour to manipulate Essence in objects.

"Impressive. I would like [Improved Math], for example. It would help a lot with alchemy," She mumbled.

"There's no reason you can't pick [Gadgeteer] as your second class selection," Bezzias commented even though it was obvious she was talking to herself.

"We all did," Glom added in a good-spirited way.

"There's an improved, tier II version of the Class. The Skills are the same, though," Tinkwezilsky explained.

The elevator reached the fourth floor and they went to the lab. The infusing chamber was still undergoing upgrades and was half-disassembled. Bezzias went through the room and opened a cabinet, removing a device that looked like a sphere being held by four bars that sprouted from the top of the sphere, went around to enter at the bottom, like the edge of a butterfly's wings.

"This is a portable infuser and here is a [Permanency I] card. It is an older version of the one by the building door but it can emulate the environment of a Dungeon. Take it and go to the chamber at the end of the corridor. Lock the door and activate it with a thousand Essence in this chamber here, just slide the top sideways like this. When your Arbitrium tells you of a Dungeon, you can summon the item. When you return we'll see you activate the Class and welcome you to the [Gadgeteer] guild."

Nero took the device and went through the corridor to the room Bezzias mentioned. The device weighed around thirty pounds but with his Strength, it was easy to carry. Once inside, Nero slid the top put three level 7 and one level 2 crystals in the compartment then he activated the contraption. A minute later, his Arbitrium lit up.

Entering Unknown. - Rank C Dungeon. Disarming safety protocols... error. Safety protocols were not engaged.

Nero's eyes went wide. Rank C? That's equivalent to a level five hundred Adventurer! He then realized that if this device was generating such a strong field, he didn't have much time before the thousand Essence burned up. He slotted the amulet along with the [Permanency I] and [Enchant +2] cards in this order. Then he activated the cards and hoped for the best.

His luck hadn't run out yet.

[Apprentice's Amulet +2] - Accessory

+3 Vigor

+3 Dexterity

+3 Reason

+3 Willpower

+3 Perception

"It's good that you have this amulet, my apprentice. Now you can work twice as hard."

Special: Your magical spells have one in three chances of using 3 less mana.

The amulet appeared moments before the infuser sputtered and died. Nero grabbed it and looked at the object. It was a dark metal disk with a silvery crescent moon and three stars attached to it. On the back of the disk, there was a pin to attach it to something. He attached the item to his bandolier and staggered from the influx of Attributes. When his head stopped spinning and every small sensation a rash, he picked up the device and returned.

As Nero approached the door, he could overhear Altia interrogating the three teachers about the perks of being a [Gadgeteer]. He stopped to eavesdrop and wondered. Altia could pick up three Classes more. One at each fiftieth level. Was it worth burning one of these choices on something she didn't plan for? It was her choice at the end of the day. One thing he knew was that the versatility of the [Joker] Class was no small thing. He could be anything, adapt to any situation. And a dark part of himself told him Altia envied him for that.

Shaking these dark feelings aside, Nero entered the room and the talk ended.

"Ah, he is back," Bezzias drew the other's attention to him then addressed Altia. "You still have forty-six levels to think about it, assistant Altia. There's no rush, no worries. And I am sure when you are ready, your handsome husband will make the best card for you."

Yes, there was that too. His ability to craft cards in the press with maximum efficiency. The amulet that gave him fifteen Attribute points, the same as a green Class was not a gift, it was a test. The gnome got him good. But he wasn't going to complain this late in the game. They were together in this. Partners in science if not in crime.

"I guess it is time to activate the Class!" Nero clapped his hands to show excitement. He still had a bit of a cold foot. But he did. He raised the brightness of his device so everyone could see the Status then inserted the Class card in his main slot and willed the Arbitrium to activate it. After he saw the bump form the Class Attributes, he was so excited he slotted all six Skills and triggered them at once.

Nero fainted.

He woke up in a strange bed in a strange room. It was made of stone and had only one Essence lamp as lighting. He checked and was still in his white researcher uniform but without his boots. A quick roll to the edge of the bed showed they were by the side. Nero stood up and stretched his neck. Then he remembered why he was there and looked at his device to see his full Status.

Nero [ Gadgeteer 0/0]

Strength: +8 (+11 clockwork blade, +9 clockwork shield)

Vigor +6 (+10 Brigandine[1], amulet[3])

Endurance +8 (+9 Muffler)

Agility +12 (+13 Elven Boots)

Dexterity +8 (+11 Amulet, +12 inside a Dungeon, Goggles)

Reason +7 (+11 Clock[1], Amulet[3])

Willpower +7 (+10 Amulet)

Perception +8 (+11 Amulet, +13 inside a Dungeon, Goggles)

Charisma +4

Class: [Jester]

- Special: Ignores tier I Class level requirement.

- Special: The Jester has no Skill Slots.

- Special: Allows the Jester to equip and unequip a tier I Class and Skills to bind to that particular Class. All Attribute bonuses are halved while the Class is equipped. A Class card is bound to the Jester upon activation.

- Special: No Class information will be displayed or shown.

Class: [Gadgeteer]

- Special: Stability of all gadgets and parts created or in operation increased by 30%.

- Special: Durability of all gadgets created increased by 30%, damage to gadgets during operation reduced by 30%.

- Special: Damage received from explosions reduced by 30%.

- [Essence Analysis] - After 2 seconds of concentration, reveal the nature and amount of Essence in target object or aura at a range of Perception / 2 yards.

- [Tinker] - Greatly improves fine dexterity and ability to craft and repair machine parts. Requires tools.

- [Improved Spatial Perception] - Improves the ability to visualize objects and structures in three dimensions.

- [Improved Math] - Improves the ability to perform calculations and logical reasoning.

- [Essence Manipulation] - Spend 1 mana/hour to manipulate Essence in objects.

- [Structural Inspection] - Double the speed of repairs. After 1 second of concentration, reveal the durability, condition, and quality of an object or structural feature at a range of Perception / 2 yards.

Equipment: [Rending Clockwork Blade of Regrowth +1], [Self-Cleaning Brigandine of Regrowth], [Dungeon Goggles], [Elven Boots], [Hot Muffler], [Dungeon Clock], [Spiked Clockwork Shield of Regrowth +1], [Apprentice's Amulet +2]

The values were everywhere. But this was a crafting Class while he was focused on melee combat. When the two joined together, it became this jumbled mess of Attributes. But since he could switch Classes and adjust his values, it was not critical.

Just to test his new Skills, he used [Essence Analysis]. He saw a very faint red haze around him that didn't block his sight or the acuity of his vision. When he looked at his left forearm, though, the Arbitrium shone with a red aura much like a hidden Dungeon monster in his goggles. He ejected the Class card and checked it. The yellow and black lines in a diagonal pattern were catchy, he had to admit it.

[Gadgeteer] - yellow - bound to Nero

+3 Strength (+1)

+1 Vigor (+0)

+3 Endurance (+1)

+3 Agility (+1)

+8 Dexterity (+4)

+9 Reason (+4)

+8 Willpower (+4)

+8 Perception (+4)

+1 Charisma

- Special: Stability of all gadgets and parts created or in operation increased by 30%.

- Special: Durability of all gadgets created increased by 30%, damage to gadgets during operation reduced by 30%.

- Special: Damage received from explosions reduced by 30%.

- [Essence Analysis] - After 2 seconds of concentration, reveal the nature and amount of Essence in target object or aura at a range of Perception / 2 yards.

- [Tinker] - Greatly improves fine dexterity and ability to craft and repair machine parts. Requires tools.

- [Improved Spatial Perception] - Improves the ability to visualize objects and structures in three dimensions.

- [Improved Math] - Improves the ability to perform calculations and logical reasoning.

- [Essence Manipulation] - Spend 1 mana/hour to manipulate Essence in objects.

- [Structural Inspection] - Double the speed of repairs. After 1 second of concentration, reveal the durability, condition, and quality of an object or structural feature at a range of Perception / 2 yards.

He had six of nine Attributes in the odd values, which meant he lost three points because of the rounding. It was bad to see a yellow Class with the Skills become less than a green Class but again, don't look the gift horse in the teeth.

Nero stood up and put on his boots, then went outside and asked for directions to Bezzias' lab. Since he was on the third floor he took the stairs up and returned to the lab. The three researchers had drafted Altia to help them assemble the infuser chamber faster but it was still far from complete. The bat-kin improved hearing sensed him approaching.

"Ah, Nero. How are you? It's been a long time since I saw someone faint from Class activation."

"No, I'm fine. How are you doing here?"

"Not good but it is time to take a break because something more important needs to happen. We'll take your pledge now. Is the Class active?"

Nero removed the Class card and then slotted it back. "Yes, it is."

The gnome and squiig stored their tools and came near, along with Altia. The gnome was the first to ask something, the bonuses of his Class. Nero told him and everyone smiled.

"These are very good special abilities. Stability regards volatile or explosive elements, like uncrystallized Essence. It also reduces the chances things will get off-balance or just blowing up. It also reduces the noise the contraption makes. Durability is all-around good, and the reduced damage happens only when you are actively using the item. Like your [Clockwork Sword] will take less damage attacking now. Finally taking less damage in explosions is always good. You could research explosives and your survivability would be very good."

"That's correct," Bezzias added. "There are other abilities like increasing energy efficiency or increasing damage of weapons, but yours are solid. They'll work for everything. Especially with your choice of equipment. You'll notice that your [Clockwork Shield] will operate a bit faster now."

"Now it is time for your pledge. To become a [Gadgeteer], you must take it," Tinkwezilsky stated with his neutral voice. "We trust you but your decision to come clean about your unique Class had a huge impact on our decision to make you one of us. If you don't take the pledge, we'll take your Class card away and life will go on as if nothing happened. No hard feelings."

Nero thought for a while. Then his eyes searched for the hard rock that was the foundation of his life. When he met his wife's eyes, she was smiling. Altia nodded and mouthed 'do it'.

"It will be an honor to take the pledge now," Nero bowed.

Bezzias took a plaque from the wall and showed it to Nero. "Read this."

"I, Nero, a Gadgeteer, pledge to practice my craft with integrity and respect and to uphold the standards and dignity of my craft. I pledge respect to my fellow Gadgeteers and to share knowledge when knowledge needs to be shared. I pledge to use my craft to stem the tides of monsters and strive to cleanse the land of the fiends."

"Your pledge was heard and accepted. Welcome, brother!" Tinkwezilsky chanted.

Bezzzias and Glom also said the same in turn. Altia had tears in her eyes. She said nothing but embraced him and kissed his cheek. Then she buried her head on his shoulder and went on with her light sobs.

"Thanks, brothers. It is good to be a part of this. Now, how do I use these Skills?"

The three professors looked at the Essence infusion chamber. [Gadgeteer] Nero frowned.

"I'm sorry, guys. I promised to Altia that we would take a stroll through the campus and then go shopping for some cheap clothes for our delve tomorrow."

Tinkwezilsky frowned but Bezzias put a hand on the small man's shoulder. "You can go. While having your Class bonuses affect the contraption would be beneficial, there's also the risk you'll commit some blunder out of inexperience. Have a nice stroll through the campus."

"Yes, we want to visit the Dugeoneering and History department," Altia said.

"In this case, I'll go with them," Glom volunteered.

Bezzias dismissed the squiig. "It will be good for them to have a chaperone. Go with them, Glom."

The trio of junior researchers found themselves out in the open grass again. No groups of truant students trading cards to be seen and disturbed this time.

"Hey, Glom, is there any chance we can visit the card repository now?" Nero asked.

"I don't think so. Especially not on a whim. I think we could go to--"

He didn't finish his phrase because an extremely loud explosion rang on one of the buildings deeper inside the campus. A plume of black smoke rose right after.

"It is on fire!" Altia shouted.

"That's the dormitory for interchange students!" Glom shouted.mov

"What is an interchange student?" Nero shouted.

The three of them were either with a bad case of tinnitus or were shouting because practically everyone else was.

"We need to go check it," Glom pointed.

"Maybe leave it for another person best qualified to help?"

"I doubt. I am an [Elementalist]. Come on. [Tailwind]!"

"I have potions and can toss them. Let's go."

Glom activated a Skill that would increase the movement rate of party members. The trio ran toward the dorm. A huge dilemma shrouded Nero. He didn't even have his equipment with him and he would be basically useless. Lives could be at stake. He could activate a Class and get some Skills to help. He felt paralyzed. He couldn't let his secret leak and surely there were dozens of people with Classes and Skills walking around the campus.

They ran past several buildings while students and teachers also ran to and from in pure chaos. As they neared the dorms, it became clear that not only the building was on fire but a battle was taking place. Students and teachers were fending off a large group of students and apparently defending the dorm from this angry mob. Skills and spells flew to and from without rhyme or reason. Glom raised a hand and halted them.

"This is too big for you. Your levels are too low. Sorry, Nero. Stay here and stay safe. I must go and join the other teachers defending the dorm and probably stop the fire."

It hurt but it was true. Nero couldn't do a thing, and Altia selection of Skills was geared toward support. They would only be dead weight and probably casualties. The Squiig bound with uncanny speed once he focused on battle and soon disappeared amidst the chaos and the cloud of dust and smoke that rose.

Nero picked his [Warrior] Class and inserted it into his main slot. The bonus Attributes immediately applied. He wasn't done. He took the Skills he'd selected and also slotted them. If trouble came their way, He'd be ready. He unfolded his clockwork shied as a targe, without the spikes. As it was bound to his Arbitrium, he'd never be without it.

[Intervene] - green - Requires +3 Agility, +3 Strength

+1 Strength

+1 Dexterity

"I shall be your shield, your bulwark"

Effect: Instantaneously move up to Agility yards to intercept an attack against a party member. You may block or parry the attack but you cannot dodge. The target party member may be moved up to 1 meter away in whichever direction you choose.

[Dash n' Slash] - green - Requires +4 Agility

+2 Endurance

+1 Agility

"It's time for a little slice and dice! Stings, doesn't it? - Miranda"

Effect: Spend 1 point of stamina to move up to Agility / 2 yards and execute one melee attack.

[Mobile Strike] - green - Requires movement Skill

+1 Vigor

+2 Agility

"The five-star reviews are flukes"

Effect: When moving, spend 1 point of Stamina to execute one melee attack or a Skill that includes a melee attack instantaneously.

[Muscle Endurance] - green - Requires Strength +6

+1 Vigor

+2 Endurance

"You can lift. But can you hold it up?"

Passive Effect: Add your Strength to Endurance to determine the stamina regeneration tick.

[Warrior] - green - Bound to Nero

+12 (+6) Strength

+6 (+3) Vigor

+8 (+4) Endurance

+4 (+2) Agility

+2 (+1) Dexterity

+0 (+0) Reason

+0 (+0) Willpower

+0 (+0) Perception

+0 (+0) Charisma

- Special: Increase your Strength Attribute by 20% when fighting unarmed.

- [Stoneskin] - Upon 1 second of concentration and 1 point of Stamina, increase vigor by +5 for 1 minute.

- [Shield Bash] - Spend 1 point of Stamina to perform a mighty attack with a shield. Low chance to cause [Stunned] status.

- [Dash n' Slash] - Effect: Spend 1 point of stamina to move up to Agility / 2 yards and execute one melee attack.

- [Mobile Strike] - When moving, spend 1 point of Stamina to execute one melee attack or a Skill that includes a melee attack instantaneously.

- [Muscle Endurance] - Add your Strength to Endurance to determine stamina regeneration.

- [Intervene] - Spend 1 point of stamina to instantaneously move up to Agility yards to intercept an attack against a party member. You may block or parry the attack but you cannot dodge. The target party member may be moved up to 1 meter away in whichever direction you choose.

His optimized [Warrior] build wasted no Attribute points and was geared for defense to protect Altia. The active Skills were a big jump in capacity and the [Intervene] without a stamina cost was worth each Essence.

"We can get closer now. I'll protect you."

"Right, my knight!" She teased.

They approached the fight and quickly noticed there was a gap of around a hundred yards between the combat and the bystanders. They crossed that line and were immediately warned by one of the other students that were watching.

"Assistant professor, which side are you joining? I'd advise staying neutral." The female voice oozed confidence in what was being said.

"Sorry, who are you?" Altia asked.

Nero checked out who spoke with them. It was a tall blonde elf with a slight coppery skin. The fight was simmering down as combatants on both sides expended most of their resources already. The fires were almost extinguished in the building.

"Talara Olorin, I'm a high elf. Pleased to meet you, assistant professor."

"Pleased to meet you, Talara. I'm Altia. This is my husband, Nero."

"I'm with the student council," Talara pulled rank.

"Gadgeteering," She answered curtly and with animosity.

He'd barged into the girls' conversation. He hated when they started talking in code and measuring each other up to know who was where in the pecking order.

"Excuse me, could you explain what is going on here?"

Talara measured Nero with a single glance. He felt slightly violated by her stare. "Assistant professor Nero, a group of loyalists, most of them belonging to noble houses here on Bast decided to attack the dorms to capture or kill the nereid students."

It also explained why the group that had professors didn't crush the attackers. They couldn't just slaughter a troop of students, from the nobility nonetheless.

"Why the nereid?"

"Coriander's ruling family are nereids, just like we have the leonals," The haughty high elf explained as if Nero was a toddler.

Nero felt stupid for asking even if her words weren't oozing derision. It was something he should know if only he wasn't some country bumpkin whose only redeeming feature was to know how to swing a sword. The feeling was soon shaken by a rallying cry on the side of the loyalists.

"Kill the traitors!"

Nero felt the energy from that order where he stood, a hundred yards away. He frowned. It could be [Rallying Cry], a tier four Skill. At the cost of the user's whole mana and stamina save for one point of each resource, all party members in a range dictated by Charisma recovered half of their resources. The Skill had a global cooldown of eight hours for everyone involved so people couldn't chain cast [Rallying Cry]. The Arbitrium had no party system. Or if it did, there was no setting to indicate who was or who wasn't a party member. The user's Charisma must be huge because if it affected Nero, it affected the teachers as well.

The renewed battle spirit of the attackers was met with fierce resistance by the defenders. The experienced teachers, although they had no recent experience, earned their levels with hard work and sweat. It was like riding a bicycle, you never forget. What really messed up things was when someone dropped a [Berserker Totem] on the ground. Both sides stopped pulling punches and savagery ensued.

Even from where Nero and Altia were watching the fight they felt the tug of the totem. It was hard to avoid not engaging but some spectators joined what was soon becoming a free-for-all. Nero knew he was outclassed. He couldn't barely see the attacks.

The casualties started to gather as people on both sides were knocked out and away by the exchange of blows. And Nero was sure people were dying now. He even had evidence of that. In his device lit screen.

Compatible Anima detected. Energy absorbed above the threshold. Processing upgrade. Weighing Attribute strain.

For defeating a (error division by zero) foe one hundred and fifteen times your level, you gained +3 Charisma.

Nero read the screen and his face dropped. He was about a hundred yards away! What the! Then it was Altia's Arbitrium that also reacted to the death around them.

"Altia, we need to go." Nero pulled her arm.

"Miss Olorin, I'm pleased to meet you."

"My pleasure, Mrs. Altia. We'll see each other around the campus, I'm sure of it," She waved goodbye with a mischievous smile.

The two clad in white moved closer to the fray but stopped halfway to talk. They had to make sure they weren't being driven crazy by the totem.

"We are going to find and destroy that totem. You focus on keeping us both healed," Nero drew their strategy, "And don't go healing people, they may think you are on this or that side, although by our uniforms we might be with the defenders."

"Okay, I can do that. Find the totem, destroy it. Don't get crazy, don't murder. Understood."

"One more thing. I got an accolade. And you?" Nero asked in a hushed tone.

Altia shook her head. "Plus three to willpower. Nero, this is insane! They are really killing each other!"

Ahead of them, the fight was turning into a bloodbath. Some defenders that resisted the pull of the totem were holding back, but when the first deaths started to happen and some saw they were already guilty of murder, all stops were pulled. The real strength of the defenders turned the tide quickly. Their Arbitrii would lit up twice more for each one before they reached the melee. To make matters worse, one of Altia's accolades was a level up. The other granted her +4 Charisma.

Compatible Anima detected. Energy absorbed above the threshold. Processing upgrade. Weighing Attribute strain.

For defeating a foe seventy-seven times your level, you gained +2 Willpower.

Compatible Anima detected. Energy absorbed above the threshold. Processing upgrade. Weighing Attribute strain.

For defeating a foe one hundred and sixty-two times your level, you gained +4 Reason.

They entered the fray, Nero making sure Altia was right behind him. He didn't draw his [Clockwork Sword] as the Strength bonus for having no weapon would help resist being pushed back. They went around, using the mental strain from the totem as an indicator of how close it was. Nero used [Intervene] a couple times to block someone from tackling Altia and separating them. In one case he had to punch someone that kept trying to strike them.

A wave of refreshing calm bathed him. He didn't even hear Altia shout her Skill name, or maybe she didn't want to alert those around her. He kept looking for the totem and found it a few meters ahead. The combat was thicker around the totem. Nero could see the blood-red totem pulsing with energy through his goggles.

"The totem is ahead. I'm going to attack it with my sword and saw it off. Don't stray far away. Please."

"Okay!"

He turned his sword on. The buzzing was drowned by screams, the clamor of steel on steel, and spells firing off. Nero pushed forward and when he was six meters from the totem, he invested two points of Stamina. He executed a [Dash n' Slash], moving the space fluidly ignoring obstacles like the people fighting around the totem. He reached it and attacked twice in rapid succession, using the second attack from [Mobile Strike].

His Strength of sixteen, coupled with the armor-rending properties of his sword made short work of the totem. The first blow sheared the thick shell of the totem as well as part of the enchantment that protected it from damage. The second one shattered those defenses entirely and cleaved through as he pressed down with his saw-sword until it was done.

With the totem gone, people snapped out of their bloodlust in confusion. The stench of blood and the scene of carnage around them made both groups give up fighting. The few loyalists on their feet surrendered.

This was too fucked up, Nero thought. Some students on the loyalist side were groaning on the ground and he felt relieved that the defenders weren't just bloodthirstily slaughtering them. In fact, some were healing the wounded on both sides.

"I'm going now, Nero. I need to help!" Altia shouted and ran.

"As you wish. I'm right behind you." Nero followed behind her and soon was going side-by-side with her. He was that much faster now, with his [Warrior] setup. Altia was pulling [Healing Potion] cards and filling all six of her slots with them. Once they reached the wounded, she started to just summon the potion and immediately [Potion Toss] it before it fell, letting the empty vial follow gravity. It would vanish after two hours. Whenever she had a gap between one wounded person and another, she'd refill her slots.

Nero felt the expense but knew it was necessary. They couldn't just sit idle and let people die. Most of the healers going around were already exhausted from keeping the defenders alive and now doing this.

One of the teachers, an old dwarf with some golden stripes on the shoulders and cuffs of his jacket flagged Nero.

"Hey, you! Assistant! Don't just stand idle gawking there! I want you to retrieve the cards from the dead!"

Nero listened to the order measuring the reactions of those around the dwarf. It was clear that he was powerful both in levels and in his high social station as he was the only teacher with those golden bands. "Yessir!" It was all he could say. Nero steeled himself and went for the bandoliers and belts of the dead loyalists, removing the cards. He found a messenger bag on one corpse and dumped the cards he was gathering there. Some of them were covered in blood.

Other junior teachers and assistants clad in gray and white were going through the bodies and taking out the cards.

"Leave their identification tags with them."

What made him even more disgusted was that when he approached one of the wounded loyalists, the rabbit-kin girl raised her hands in surrender, then opened her card pouches and emptied them. "Please don't hurt me," She screamed.

"I won't. Are you stable?" Because it was obvious she was wounded. A single [Healing Potion] wouldn't bring someone with major injuries to full health but the potions prioritized mortal wounds.

"Just take the cards and leave me alone. Please!" She whined out loud.

Nero shook his head. "I won't hurt you," He said as he picked up the decks of cards.

The other wounded watched the scene but heard only the girl's side of the conversation. They too surrendered their cards. One hour later, Altia was out of potions and Nero was almost out of wits. The card bag was heavy even with his double-digits Strength. He felt as if he were the one to deliver the blows. The couple moved to a bench on what was once a pleasant backyard for students to decompress from a day of lectures. Their uniforms were ruined, the bloodstains impossible to remove from the white fabric.

He opened the bag and sorted the cards. He separated a deck of low-ranked [Healing potion], sixty of them, and handed it to Altia. She took it and stored them in her belt.

"This is terrible," Altia broke the silence. "And it will not be without consequence."

People were removing the bodies on makeshift stretchers. The surviving attackers were bound and dragged away.

"Yes. Some of these students were from the nobility. The Kingdom won't let it slip. The worse scenario is if the King declares war on the Lyceum."

Another heated argument started by the front door of the dorm. A female with a blueish-iridescent tint to her skin and fins coming out behind her long ears was shouting at a teacher.

"It is not our fault! We are not even subjects of Coriander! This is racial prosecution, professor Holmes!"

"I know, I know. I'm not accusing you, Miss Chrysopae, we are only asking you and your people to remain inside the dorm where it is safe."

"Very safe! Half of the building burned down!" Chrysopae shouted. "We are prisoners here! If only that horny fucker of a prince hadn't kidnapped--" She covered her mouth because she spoke too much.

"What do you mean? What did His Highness do?" Holmes demanded.

Chrysopae didn't answer. She ran inside, slamming the dorm room behind her in a vain attempt to keep Holmes out, as the door swung half-open on the rebound anyway.

"A thousand Essence that he kidnapped Coriander's Princess," Nero quipped.

Altia put her hand on Nero's shoulder. "I hate your intuition. This is getting too big too fast. Let's find Glom and get out of here. I'm not taking that stupid bet."

Nero nodded. He would hold Altia's shoulders but he was ten times dirtier than her. They walked around and found Glom leaving the dorm.

"Nero, Altia. Thanks to the gods you are alright. Is all that blood...?"

"Not ours. We arrived to help the survivors and some guy with golden bands in his jacket told me to loot the bodies."

The Squiig bound near them and waved his paws. "[Cleaning Mist]!" Fog billowed from him and enveloped the couple. After a moist minute, the grime on their clothes vanished. "Better. I was inside, dousing the fires. The nereid would react badly if someone more threatening went inside right now. Now hurry, we must return to the laboratory!"

Nero checked his uniform and while the mist spell removed most of the blood, there were still slightly yellowed patches. The three ran to the gadgeteering department under the afternoon sun, while the campus looked like a kicked anthill. Students and teachers were going everywhere and several carriages were leaving through the front gate. Here and their groups of people were crying as someone they knew died in the attack. On either side, there were casualties and death.

They entered the building and eschewed the elevator. Though the contraption was interesting, the stairs were faster. The two senior researchers were in the lab, the machine above the glass box still disassembled but all the pieces were already organized to make it operational.

Bezzias noticed their haggard appearance. "What is wrong?"

They took turns explaining what happened. Tinkwezilsky approached and listened carefully. Nero made sure to include the conversation they overheard between the nereid and the teacher.

"There were rumors that Coriander's fourth princess was missing but official sources dismissed them," Bezzias replied. "Her disappearance coincides with prince Darius' visit to that country. It's hard to believe it is a coincidence but it is not beneath them to use that as a pretext. Maybe the nereids in the dorms know more than they should and this strike was to silence them. I don't believe racial bias would trigger such a fierce response."

"We're neck-deep in shit, that's what it is!" Tinkwezilsky cursed. "These bastards killed nobles, the kingdom won't take it in stride. Next thing we know, the Knights will storm through the front gates."

That was bad. They were too small fry to matter in this whole debacle. If the knights struck, the lyceum might as well be done for. Unless...

"Professor Tinkwezilsky, do you really think they will attack?"

"Yes, and soon. The noble families won't let this slip. I am surprised they are not already inside the campus laying waste to everything."

"Maybe it is because this lab is soundproof," Bezzias commented absentmindedly.

Altia squeezed Nero's hand. He felt her hands cold and clammy, a sure sign she was afraid. He was afraid too but his fear reaction was one geared toward aggression. His fight or flight instinct had none of the latter. Nero's mind wandered on possibilities. They could try to flee but now that they were associated with the Lyceum, that was dangerous, if the whole organization went rogue. He also liked what he saw and had little intent on giving up and leaving it behind.

Nero [0/0]

Strength: +7 (+10 clockwork blade, +8 clockwork shield)

Vigor +6 (+10 Brigandine[1], amulet[3])

Endurance +7 (+8 Muffler)

Agility +11 (+12 Elven Boots)

Dexterity +4 (+7 Amulet, +8 inside a Dungeon, Goggles)

Reason +7 (+11 Clock[1], Amulet[3])

Willpower +5 (+8 Amulet)

Perception +4 (+7 Amulet, +9 inside a Dungeon, Goggles)

Charisma +7

Class: [Jester]

- Special: Ignores tier I Class level requirement.

- Special: The Jester has no Skill Slots.

- Special: Allows the Jester to equip and unequip a tier I Class and Skills to bind to that particular Class. All Attribute bonuses are halved while the Class is equipped. A Class card is bound to the Jester upon activation.

- Special: No Class information will be displayed or shown.

Equipment: [Rending Clockwork Blade of Regrowth +1], [Self-Cleaning Brigandine of Regrowth], [Dungeon Goggles], [Elven Boots], [Hot Muffler], [Dungeon Clock], [Spiked Clockwork Shield of Regrowth +1], [Apprentice's Amulet +2]

Altia [Chemist 4/179]

Strength +2

Vigor +10

Endurance +5

Agility +5

Dexterity +6

Reason +3

Willpower +7

Perception +3

Charisma +10

Chemist:

- Special: All your beneficial combat consumables restore a little more of all resources.

- Special: You use 20% fewer ingredients with Alchemy.

- [Potion Toss] - Allows the use of beneficial combat consumables on others at a range of Dexterity / 2 yards.

- [Quickbrew] - The act of brewing alchemical concoctions or activating combat consumable cards requires 30% less time.

- [Empower Potion] - The effects of beneficial combat consumables and the speed of their effects is increased by 20%.

- [Cure Wounds] - Allows the user to heal wounds for 1 Mana. Healing based on Reason and Charisma.

- [Magic Arrow] - Allows the user to summon and shoot a physical arrow for 1 Mana, dealing damage based on Reason and Willpower. This spell does not ignore armor.

- Empty Skill Slot

Equipment: [Self-Cleaning Brigandine of Regrowth], [Elven Boots], [Hot Muffler], [Dungeon Clock], [Iron Staff]