They finally moved to the serious business part of their visit. Amaryllis first laid a clean handkerchief over the table as card handling etiquette demanded then produced an ornate music box that the crafter made a point in leaving gaps to show the underlying gears. She also brought a key from her dimensional pouch and turned on the lock. The box' gears turned, and phantom cogwheels appeared around, forming a magic circle pattern floating over and around the box in a tridimensional pattern. The phantoms vanished and the lid popped open.

"Security," She mumbled.

Nero was in a position to both gawk at the intricate device and peek at the insides. It wasn't a music box even for all the clicking and whirring the gears made. It was a portable vault, one in the perfect dimension to hold cards. And cards it did hold. As light was allowed to seep into the box from the slowly retreating lid, a flash of orange edge caught his eyes. Nero's throat felt suddenly very parched.

Amaryllis giggled. "We could buy a country or two with what is in here," She said and threw the lid open, revealing a 'deck' of cards, the collective noun meaning sixty items as it was defined since ever in the standards of the world. The backs of the cards were hidden by a pitch-black backplate that seemed to soak in all light.

Nero at first thought there weren't enough cards in a deck to buy a country. Maybe some run-down, plague-ridden nation. Amaryllis soon proved him wrong as when she removed a small pile of cards and laid it on the handkerchief, more cards came out of the black backplate, completing a full deck again.

"Is this a dimensional card storage?"

She nodded. "Indeed it is. One shared by all guild masters across the world. It keeps a tally of all cards added and removed anywhere as well as an inventory."

An idea flicked on Nero's mind. If they could know when a card was removed or added, one could create a communication code for messages by giving individual cards a meaning. He told Amaryllis his idea and she giggled.

"Oh, that's novel! I wonder why anyone hadn't thought of doing that in the last five centuries!" She said, oozing sarcasm.

Nero chuckled, nervous. "I see. I see. That explains a lot about the guild and how the far away branches can coordinate so well," He noted.

"Indeed! Indeed!" She smiled back, dismissing his worries. "It's not a secret that the guild does it. Serena knew, for example." The nereid nodded. "And that's Mrs. Altia, is how we tease without bullying. Even someone as dense as Nero caught my hint easily."

And that was how pixies faced the world. Bundled with praise came the sting of truth-based mockery. The [Jester] just laughed along with the good-natured fairy. Amaryllis continued, not a sliver of her being feeling apologetic.

"Serena and I went through some samples you might be interested in," She addressed the couple. "I bet that someone as card-savvy as the youngsters that drove an entire tavern of drunk Adventurers to a heated discussion about fringe builds and weird card combos 'nobody' should use," She stared at said 'nobody' and moved on with a giggle, "have their builds all laid out until the seventh tier."

Nero raised an eyebrow. The seventh tier, starting at levels three hundred until the next fiftieth, was not in the realm of legend but only the likes of Serena had any hope of one day reaching it on her high-level cap. Altia, everyone in the room knew very well, would end her career in the fourth. The sting also hit Nero, who while blessed by fate with a plethora of tier-I roles, would be stuck forever there. Pixies spared nobody.

"Yes, to the cards," Nero hurried her.

"I have these five pre-selected ones for you two," Like a professional magician, she laid five purple Skill cards on the table.

[Essence Infusion] - Purple Skill. Tier-II. Requires level 60. Reason +60. Willpower +60.

Reason +20

Willpower +20

Charisma +4

"I am the wielder of primal power. Obey me, lifeblood of creation! Make my will a Truth upon the world!"

Effect: You can gauge the value of Essence crystals and the rank of Anima crystals with a glance within a 20% error margin. Every 5 points of Perception over 100 points reduce this margin by 1%. Spend 5 mana and focus on an object. Transfer Essence from a crystal into the object, imparting your will to change its properties. Effect strength based on Reason and Willpower. The Essence transfer rate is improved based on your Perception and the control over the effect increases with Charisma.

Nero knew the Skill, a staple on any creator of magical goods' arsenal. The short text, buried in the middle, deluded the Skill's usefulness. The flavor text above did more justice to it than the former, if you discarded the megalomania of the line's author. The purple grade granted three extra effects, the appraisal of the crystals and the ability to apply other Attributes to the effect.

And she hit spot-on one of Altia's choices for her tier-II build. The way his wife's eyes glimmered in love with the card told Nero everything he needed to know. The requirements were stiff and the Skill needed ten levels above the threshold of the tier to use but it was a keeper.

Amaryllis flipped the second one.

[Heart Bond] - purple Skill. Requires Vigor +50. Endurance +40. Willpower +40.

+15 Vigor when the bond is active.

+7 Endurance when the bond is active.

+7 Willpower when the bond is active.

"Together we stand, our bond tougher than dragon sinew."

Special: This Skill does not use a Skill slot.

Effect: After spending 24 hours no further apart than 2 yards from a willing target, form a heart bond between both. If the target dies, the bond is broken and this Skill is erased. The user is immediately rendered unconscious for 24 hours. As long as the target remains no further than 1 mile apart, 60% of any damage suffered by the target is absorbed by the user. If either the user or the target's resource pools drop to less than half, the other party has the option to shoulder half of the cost. As long as both are alive, they can tell direction and general distance to each other regardless of range.

Nero almost reached for the card. Serena's eyes were glimmering. Whole stories have been written around that particular Skill, most of them tragedies. Of a princess gifting the skill card to her knight, the two eloping into the unknown and surviving all odds until the tragic end of the forbidden lovers. Fictional issues aside, even if he didn't form the bond with Altia, these were free Attribute points.

Amaryllis giggled and flicked the third card.

[Liquid Infusion] - Purple Skill. Tier-II. Requires level 50. Reason +50. Willpower +50.

+10 Vigor

+30 Willpower

"The wellspring of all that is liquid, the elemental plane of water, is belittled by its name. For all kinds of fluids are found among its blessings, not only water. - Hangul Springwalker, sylph explorer."

Effect: Focus on a sample of a liquid and spend mana, the amount depending on the liquid's properties. Create an amount of the same liquid that vanishes in 1 minute.

"For a powerful healing potion, two mana per vial. Springwater, one mana per gallon. Consumed fluids do not vanish as the person's aura makes it permanent." Amaryllis surrendered the information freely, a wide grin along her face. "Mana potions are not worth the trouble, unless..." She flipped the fourth card.

[Share Potion] - Purple Skill. Tier-II. Requires level 50. Dexterity +40. Charisma +40.

+5 Strength

+5 Vigor

+5 Endurance

+25 Charisma

"A deep understanding of the nature of the potion allows one to filter raw mana through the fluid and enhance the flow of raw Essence between the fluid and imbiber to replicate the effect among a number of targets. Professor Belik-thrüm, dwarven alchemist"

Effect: When using a combat consumable, pay 5 points of mana and select one target for every 20 points of Charisma. The item's effects are replicated for all targets.

Not necessarily potions, Nero remarked silently. He could bet it worked with bullets but he had no way to test it. But the combo as intended would allow Altia to use potions on all targets without actually spending the fluid. And depending on the potency, mana potions for free or for a very cheap price. A mana-reducing Skill would also come in handy. Like the bond that would allow the couple to split the mana costs between themselves and then receive the full effect of the mana potion for maybe a net gain.

Altia was in a daze. The kid in the candy shop couldn't compare to her.

"So, did you save the best for last?" Nero asked.

Amaryllis was enjoying it greatly. She didn't flip the last card. Instead, she dragged it toward her and set it apart.

"I'm sorry, I lied. I only picked four purple Skills. Nobody ever considered using this Skill here," She tapped the face-down card, "it's been in our vault for centuries. So, which two would you pick out of these four here or do you have any other request?"

Nero stared at the pixie. Amaryllis was one of the most powerful creatures in the land. But he was a complete nobody when he faced Valawhoagain, he went into a fight with Holmes, he feared not power. Respect, yes. But he wouldn't be coerced. And Amaryllis was friendly.

"Altia?" He asked her.

"No. All my other choices are trash in comparison to these."

Nero looked at the pixie and he was sure she knew what he would say next.

"Are you up to trading?" he asked.

Amaryllis cackled. "Now we're talking!" She smacked the table. "But let me pop your bubble. This card here, it was considered to be a stupid waste of a pretty color until you came around. Now people are reconsidering their points of view and values and maybe this is a worthy Skill. This is not on the negotiating table. I need you to do me a special task to earn this one. The other four, though, if you show me something nice, I might be willing to part with all of them."

Nero didn't flinch. He knew she'd hidden that card from him to tease him. He wondered what kind of "special task" he needed to do to win that card. Probably some ridiculously dangerous.

"Fine. Now, I have this [Druid] Class here. What do you think?"

Classes were less valuable than Skills. Nero was baiting her with the [Druid], to gauge one thing. Pixies were sylvan races, forest people. The [Druid] should have some appeal for her.

"Interesting, but worth half a Skill. What else?"

He didn't want to trade [Detect Plants], another purple Skill he had. He wanted to use that to support Altia. Maybe if the traded for a lesser version of it.

"Do you have [Detect Plants]?" he asked.

"Maybe. It is a utility Skill, these are not very popular. Not here, though," She pointed at the not-music box, hinting that she would not keep that kind of trash in there. Check with Alma, your assigned receptionist. The quest you finished grants you permission to buy and sell cards to the guild. You remember Alma, right? That lovely kitsune whose tails you were ogling."

"Were not," Nero immediately deadpanned.

"Oh, yes. I'm sure you weren't," She was looking at Altia.

"I trust my husband, guild master," She answered, barely containing her jealousy.

"Here, I offer this purple [Detect Plants] and the [Druid] Class for one of your tier-II purples and select the other two tier-II Skills as our reward."

"If that's what you want. Here you go. Now, are you sure you'll pass on [Heart Bond]?"

"No. What's the going price on that one?"

"I can sell it for fifty million."

"Everyone that uses that Skill ends up dead in the books. Twenty million just because it is purple."

"Forty million and you agree to do me a job for this card here without looking at it."

"Twenty-five, and I tell you about a third black card."

Amaryllis froze. Serena froze. Her [Sense Motive] told her he wasn't lying. The pixie looked at the nereid and got the same impression. She was good at reading past people's bullshit, a must for her job.

"I hate you, level zero," She mumbled.

"Twenty-seven, all the information we have on black cards, and you show me the card you have hidden in there before I accept the mystery job."

"I hate you, level zero!" Her wings turned red. She removed a bunch of cards from her pouch. "Here, I had these ready for you. Thirty million, everything else you asked for in your previous proposal plus these cards and a little task."

[Artist] - blue Class. Requires Charisma +15

+10 Dexterity

+10 Charisma

"Art is the utmost expression. Only through art may one rises above the realm of mortals."

Special: Add half your Dexterity to the precision of your artistic expression and your crafts.

Special: Add half your Charisma to the value of your architecture, sculpture, or paintings.

[Magic Ink] - green Skill. Requires Dexterity +8.

+2 Dexterity

+1 Reason

"A canvas is nothing without imagination and paint. Magic can make the former into the latter."

Effect: Allows you to color non-magical, non-living materials to the limits of your imagination and with the precision of the painting tools available, for 1 point of mana per ten minutes. This does not accelerate the time required to complete the task.

[Perfect Memory] - blue Skill. Requires Reason +10.

+6 Reason.

"Live and learn. Die and forget."

Effect: Instantaneously recall with perfection all memory of a past event. Spend 1 point of mana per hour recalled. If the memory has been sealed or erased you gain another resistance test against the tampering, adding your Reason score to the test. You can also sense blanks or modified portions of your memory.

[Fast Crafting] - green Skill. Requires Agility +6. Dexterity +6.

+2 Dexterity

+2 Reason

"The difference between doing fast and doing in a hurry is that with the former, you are in control."

Effect: When creating non-magical items, you finish the task 40% faster.

"The other three Skill slots are up to you. Equip these and use these blank cards here to sketch the three black cards you saw, including the text but not that 'bound to someone' crap. Do three copies of each. That's your little task. One copy for me, one copy for the Lyceum, a third copy for the guild."

Nero shook his head. "The method of obtaining these cards should be kept a secret for a century after my death. It is how long it will take for the cards to respawn into the world if someone completes the achievements. I'll leave that information out. And I won't sketch my Class. That's too private and I don't feel comfortable doing that."

"Keep the acquisition method hidden and sketch the [Jester] Class. I'll keep the sketches with me and just show those eggheads at the Lyceum. I understand that you don't want people to know about your Class. Here, blank pencils and brushes for [Magic Ink]."

"Then we have a deal."

Nero created the build and spent the next hour drawing the Classes. It took him three mana to recall the memories of the cards and then another point of mana for the ink. The women were chatting happily in the background but it didn't bother him.

[Artist] - Bound to Nero

+14 Dexterity [+7]

+9 Reason [+4]

+10 Charisma [+5]

Special: Add half your Dexterity to the precision of your artistic expression and your crafts.

Special: Add half your Charisma to the value of your architecture, sculpture, or paintings.

[Magic Ink]- Allows you to color non-magical, non-living materials to the limits of your imagination and with the precision of the painting tools available, for 1 point of mana per ten minutes. This does not accelerate the time required to complete the task.

[Perfect Memory] - Instantaneously recall with perfection all memory of a past event. Spend 1 point of mana per hour recalled. If the memory has been sealed or erased you gain another resistance test against the tampering, adding your Reason score to the test. You can also sense blanks or modified portions of your memory.

[Fast Crafting] - When creating non-magical items, you finish the task 40% faster.

Empty Skill Slot

Empty Skill Slot

Empty Skill Slot

"I'm done!" He declared.

One huge benefit of the [Magic Ink], besides not having to use ink, was that the colors were as vivid as he could imagine, didn't take time to dry, and wouldn't run off or dissolve. Amaryllis checked the cards, let the girls look at them, and after a few minutes scooped them into her own dimensional pouch.

"And here are thirty million Essence," Altia handed the pixie the bag of crystals.

"Right. So, here is your cards, and here is the reward of your task, if you choose to accept."

She finally flipped the hidden card.

[Chains of Kherghak] - orange Skill. No requirements.

+[3*X] All Attributes.

"True power lies not in raw power, but in control."

Special: This Skill requires no Skill slot.

Effect: When first equipping this Skill, permanently divide your level cap by X - an integer between 2 and 5 - and apply this value to the Attribute bonus. Increase all your resource pools by 5*X.

"That's the biggest waste of a legendary card I've ever seen," Serena said with scorn. The nereid would be reduced to a tier-II nobody if she used that thing at the maximum setting. With that thought out of her system, she sighed as she finally realized. "How much is zero divided by five?"

"There's no lower one can go," Altia remarked. "I have so many mixed feelings regarding these."

"You tell me, girl," Amaryllis quipped. "That card was considered a joke and a waste of a legendary, as Serena said. The best guess was that the high grade was necessary because it changed a fundamental property of a person. Some even said it was meant for something like a prince with a terribly low level cap, below fifty, and that not triggering one's limiter was a borderline advantage. They were right and it was that joke that made professor Bezzias develop those weird theories of him and predict that someone like Nero could exist."

"That's still one hundred and thirty-five Attribute points," Altia said. "And twenty-five extra points of stamina and mana. No, forty if you consider everything."

"What is the task that is worthy of an orange Skill, even one that's considered a joke by schooled people?" Nero asked, not taking the bait.

He was going to activate the [Heart Bond] immediately after the negotiation ended, but that was too good to be true.

"I want you to do something really bad," Amaryllis said. "Something that may be considered evil and dangerous. But between the three of you, you can achieve it."

Nero took a deep breath. "Guild master, stop beating around the bush. What do you need of us?"

Amaryllis looked deep in Nero's eyes.

"I need you to stop the war by causing a Dungeon overflow. Go ahead, call me crazy."

"You're crazy," Altia blurted.

"That's insane," Serena affirmed.

"Wait, is this the part where you give me a big hint that it's a joke because I'm too dense, or is it real?"

"It's real," All three females said at once.