All The Skills

The first thing Arthur did once he got into his Personal space was to take a big bite out of one of his purple apples. He knew that this was going to be a strain. Mental fatigue was already threatening to creep up on him from his last study session... what? Two hours ago in real time? Less? He wasn't sure, and that was a little alarming, too.

Fighting for his life, against waves of scourgelings, hadn’t exactly been relaxing, either.

He didn't have a choice. This was their one, best shot at gaining an edge. He only hoped that it wouldn't take too long to go through the enchantment books.

Grabbing the first one, he started reading through it greedily. Like the others had been, the language was... odd. Antiquated. Trying to figure out some of the words through context clues slowed his speed.

But, he pushed on, focusing on getting through one page after another as quickly as possible. His eidetic memory card helped pick up the slack. And though he felt like he was skimming through the text, when he took a spare second to think back on what he’d just read... he had a pretty good recollection. It was as easy as going to a bookcase and flipping open a book to the exact right page.

It was nice to be able to simply sit and read—even though his body wasn't actually there. Arthur wasn't used to fighting, and this gave him a moment to breathe.

He remembered Prince Marion. He’d wanted nothing better than to read a good book without already knowing what it was, thanks to his troublesome time card.

Arthur spared a second to wonder what had happened to Marion. But only a second. Though this space was timeless... he still didn't have time to spare.

Finally, he got through the first antiquated tome, which gave him a good grasp on the basics of enchanting. Or at least, enchanting as it had been understood at the time the book was written. Which, judging by the cover, was hundreds of years ago.

He didn’t receive a skill for it, but he suspected that he was on the cusp. It would only take a few attempts of physically trying. Likely, he’d receive it at a higher level than starting level 3, thanks to the books.

Setting the first book aside, he picked up the next and started to read.

He was halfway through it before he felt... if not competent, at least as if he had a solid grasp of the basics. The new knowledge hovered at the edge of his perception, ready to consolidate into a true skill once he started to apply it.

But he was starting to feel the strain of shoving so much information into his brain. The psychic blocking apple had helped, but it was a bandage over a rapidly worsening strain.

Gathering both books, he returned to the real world.

Hours had passed for him, less than an eye blink for everybody else. Cressida's mouth was half open as if she was in the middle of saying something, though for the life of him, Arthur couldn't remember the thread of conversation.

Shaking his head, he turned and tossed the books to Brixaby who barely caught them in his claws. The dragon’s wings buzzed angrily to keep him in the air with the added weight.

“Read through those, and tell me what you think,” Arthur said.

Brixaby seemed to flicker before his eyes. One second barely holding up the books and looking annoyed. The next second, the books were gone, stored in his Personal Space, and Brixaby looked... contemplative. And also slightly disgruntled.

“We need more cards,” Brixaby said.

“I know,” Arthur sighed. “Don’t we always need more cards?”

Cressida looked from one to another. “Wait, what just happened?”

“We learned the basics of enchanting,” Brixaby said. “Try to keep up.”

Arthur threw him a quelling look. “These books are old, and, I suspect... antiquated. I don't think that they left the best, most up-to-date books on the shelf for anyone to grab."

Joy perked up. “So, you're enchanters now? Wait, don't you need enchanting cards to be enchanters? Like, you need to have a woodworking card to be a woodworker?”

“What do you know about woodworking?” Brixaby asked curiously.

Arthur cut in before they could go down that rabbit trail. They didn't have much time. “Yes and no. You don't actually need a card to learn a skill. But... it does help. And someone with a woodworking card, for example, will almost always outdo someone who doesn't have a card. Enchanting works like that. Technically,” he stressed the word, “anybody can enchant. It's a working of runes. It's not like alchemy that actively needs a card to activate the ingredients.”

If anything, Joy looked more enthusiastic. “Great! Then you can enchant one of those nets. Then we can stuff the scourgelings deep down and they’ll go away. Then the next few waves will be super simple—”

“Those nets were masterworks,” Arthur said. “Brixaby and I only got the basics from the books.”

“I feel confident I can enchant simple items,” Brixaby said, “though, it won't do us much good.”

“Why not?” Cressida asked.

Arthur sighed. “These were books for beginners that included some basic enchanting runes meant to tie an item to a card's power.”

“Like a card anchor,” Cressida said impatiently, glancing toward the dying scourgeling.

“Exactly.” Arthur nodded. “Only, since Brixaby and I are very new to this, I think we'd only be able to tie a portion of the card’s aspect to an object. For example, if I used my Phase In, Phase Out card—”

“Absolutely not,” Brixaby roared loud enough to make Cressida and Arthur wince.

Joy just blinked at the dark dragon in surprise.

Arthur waved him down. “It's only an example. But, if I used that card, we'd probably only manage to enchant one aspect of it. Like, Phasing Out. And it would definitely come with the same limitations that the base card has. Meaning, only 10 seconds in an hour.”

“What good would that do?” Joy asked.

Arthur shrugged. “You phase the sword out, stick it in the enemy, cancel the enchantment which is effectively phasing it in again. Then your enemy has a sword stuck in their chest. It's not quite as damaging as being stabbed in the first place, but if it goes through anything vital...”

“Like the head!” Joy said enthusiastically. “I like that one. Let’s do that.”

“It doesn't matter,” Brixaby tried to cross his arms over his chest, likely copying a stance he'd seen Arthur and Cressida use. Unfortunately, dragon elbows were a little stiffer than a human’s, and his chest was too wide to allow for wing muscles. It just looked like he was hugging himself. “It is out of the question for Arthur to use that card.”

“There’s a catch you haven't told us about, isn't there?” Cressida asked.

Arthur nodded. “Brixaby and I haven't done this before, and the books emphasize again and again that there is a high chance sloppy enchanting carries a high chance of destroying the card. Especially for new enchanters.”

“And you and Brixaby are connected through every card in your heart deck, aren't you,” Cressida said. It wasn't a question.

“Yes,” Brixaby confirmed. A devious look crossed his face. “But you and Joy aren't, are you?”

“You’re not taking anything from her heart!” Joy snapped, unexpectedly fierce.

Cressida added, on the heels of her words, “Joy's cores are still too unstable to have anything removed. But... Joy and I are only linked through her Quest card and our linked card. We never linked to my flame summon card, or my shield card.”

“Cressida…” Joy whined.

Cressida held up a hand. “Dear, we need a card.”

Arthur didn’t like this idea either. “Cressida, you can hide out in my Personal Space for a bit. Time won't move for you there, so you won't gain any more mana, or rest, but it would at least put you out of danger, and reduce the weight on Joy if she carries me around.”

“I'm not sitting out of the fight,” Cressida said, “or leaving Joy to fight alone. So, which would be better? My flame summon card? Or my shield card?”

Arthur wanted to protest. He knew he should. He just… didn’t have any other idea. She was the only one of them who could sacrifice a card.

The dragons were too young, their cores still too unstable. And Arthur’s one and only combat card was in his heart… which was linked to Brixaby.

It had to be Cressida.

“Not the shield card,” Brixaby said, “this is to be used as a weapon. Not something defensive.”

“Yes, but her flame bear card isn’t ideal,” Arthur said. “Is it something that will just... summon a whole bunch of flame bears? I know it's powerful because it's a Rare card, but I can't get my head around how it will work.” All he could think of was Cressida's lesser version of her summons, the cute, warming, teddy bears. Those would be less than helpful.

“You can't?” Brixaby snorted. “Well, you haven't spent the last few weeks in intensive crafting.” He jammed his paw against his chest. “I have. Let me do this.”

They were frighteningly close to a solution, though... It was anything but perfect.

Arthur looked to Cressida. “Are you sure? There's every chance that this could destroy your card.”

Cressida hesitated, and Joy said in a horrified whisper, “That card is from your heart...”

Cressida straightened her shoulders and visibly seemed to find her nerve. “I can handle it.” Then, she pulled down her collar a few inches, and reached to withdraw the card.

This was good timing because the dying scourgeling had just breathed its last, and was starting to disintegrate. They didn't have much longer until the next wave started.

Cressida grimaced as the card came free. Some people wept when they lost their heart card. Some people collapsed. Some handled it stoically.

With a look of resolution on her face, she handed the card over to Brixaby.

Brixaby seemed to flicker as he entered his Personal Space. He returned but a moment later, his scales looking washed out with tinges of gray from pending exhaustion. But his expression was triumphant.

In his claws, he held four metal bars the length of Arthur’s forearm, etched with glowing orange enchanting runes.

“You did it,” Arthur breathed.

“Of course I did,” Brixaby said, puffing up in pride. “Did you doubt me?”

Wisely, Arthur shook his head. “And the card?”

Everyone seemed to hold their breath as Brixaby produced Cressida's card. It was whole and unmarked. Cressida snatched it back, and with a groan of relief, returned it to her heart deck.

“Good as new,” she said.

“Of course it is,” Brixaby said, but then he hesitated, “but some of the results were... uneven.”

“Hey guys,” Joy said, “I think that the scourgeling is disintegrating faster than it was before. It's almost gone now.”

Everyone turned to look. Arthur's stomach dropped as he realized she was right. The last wisps of the final scourgelings were dissipating into the air.

And right on cue, terrible whistles sounded from the forest.

The 6th wave was beginning.

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