An hour later, Nero was alone at home, organizing his deck on the kitchen table. Of the cards he used, only the [Buckler] wasn't replaced. He quickly piled up his cards and stashed them in his bandolier when he heard his father enter the house. He stood up and carried the lantern with him, making the tiny Essence crystals at the bottom clink.

"Father. How is she?"

Byron shook his head. "Devastated. Rhynne and Altia will stay with her tonight. Go to sleep. Nero..."

He knew what his father was going to ask. Nero just dialed the brightness of his Arbitrium all the way up. "No. I got a Perception accolade but nothing else changed."

The man grunted and went upstairs. "Tomorrow," He grunted.

The disappointment in his father's face destroyed whatever shard of confidence Nero gained in the Dungeon earlier. He resigned and went to bed. He'd try to wake up earlier tomorrow to visit Mrs. Simmons. He wanted to give her Timmy's cards.

Sleep didn't come easy, a thousand things swirling in his head. That his enhanced perception allowed him to hear every cricket outside didn't help. Enhanced Attributes had this adaptation period, usually a day or two, then everything would feel normal again.

The next morning, he woke up with the town hall's morning bell. It was a quieter bell than the main one but to Nero, it was as if it rang next to him. He jumped out of bed and donned his undergarments, then his clothes. He looked at his bloody armor and decided to leave it there. He slung his bandolier and got out of his room.

It was still dark outside so he took his lantern with him. The device was too delicate to carry along for the life-or-death battles of the Dungeon and was orders of magnitude more expensive than a torch, rushlight, or a candle. But every one in his family was an Adventurer and low-grade Essence crystals, not that hard to obtain. Just what he got yesterday would be enough to power his light for a whole year, as it used 1 point of Essence to give light for 8 hours.

Only those that really needed to be up before the sun was. As he crossed the village, he could hear the baker working, and some tired guards retreating from their night vigil. Nero had to check on the bereaved mother before his day became hectic. He had little hope Glom would be able to fix his Arbitrium and all pointed out that his level cap was indeed zero. He felt not a single itch from the bonding anyway.

He paused and listened. Far away the silence of the early morning carried the chugging of the train. Five miles separated the tracks from the village but he could listen to it. The bloody contraption was noisy as hell though. Awestruck at what just a point of Perception did, he reached Mrs. Simmons' shop, Simmons Sundries. He rapped his knuckles against the front door and waited. Steps and soon his mom was poking through a gap.

"Nero. Is everything alright?"

"Yes, mom. I couldn't sleep well though. Is Mrs. Simmons... I have Timmy's cards with me."

"Come in. She's sleeping. Altia had to drug her."

He crossed the threshold into the shop. Agatha sold equipment, soap, nails, tools, some daggers, Essence crystals, and some cards. There was another card dealer, a leopard cat-kin by the name of Razzer but he marked up his cards too much. Given, Razzer had white and a few green quality cards while Agatha seldomly sold whites but for those delving the rank I Dungeon, grays were fine. You just needed to replace what you used and were unlucky enough to not drop a replacement. Like Nero's [Buckler].

Nero could hear snoring. He went past the counter and the shelves. In Agatha's shop and many others, the customers stood behind the counter and asked for what they wanted. It greatly reduced the chances of shoplifting. They climbed the stairs to the apartment on the second floor and Nero saw a grandfather clock at the landing, expensive-looking and made of dark wood. An heirloom, no doubt. It was five hours and seventeen minutes. He made a mental note to acquire a pocket watch when he could. He glanced at the Arbitrium. Why didn't they put a clock in this thing? It was already expensive as a nobleman's ransom.

At the living room, he found Altia sleeping on the couch, her staff leaning against the wall corner. She looked so vulnerable and Nero couldn't help but stare for too long. He knew that because his mom giggled. Nero turned to see the mirth in his mother's face and sighed.

"Come to the kitchen. We can talk there without waking Altia. I brewed tea."

One mug of tea later, Nero told her mom the same thing he told Byron. Then he took a handkerchief and Timmy's cards. He set them on the cloth and checked. Timmy had no greens and only two whites. A [White Mage] class and one [Steel Greaves]. neither interested him and he set the cards to face down on a corner.

"Nero, now that your father is not here, let me be honest with you," Rhynne spoke after he finished playing with the cards and putting it all out of his chest. "Maybe that's the path for you. I don't think your Arbitrium is defective. Glom is too good a Gadgeteer for that. Your father... please let me handle him. But accolades, while hard to get, are relatively easier to get on the lower levels. If you can't level up, you can try and get them instead."

Nero didn't respond. He instead took his own deck of cards and pulled his Class cards. "I can't equip a Class, mom."

She raised an eyebrow, "A green [Warrior] card? I definitely have to talk to your father."

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"Mom! This is not a competition!" He shouted.

Angry, he took the [Mage] card and put it in his Class slot, underneath the glass display. The device pushed the card out. He tried again, to the same effect. Nero grunted and controlled himself right before he crushed his mom's Class card in front of her. Shaking, he put the white card back on the deck, next to the [Warrior].

Rhynne lifted her eyes to look behind Nero and then back to her son. Nero didn't notice that flick of her eyes.

"Don't do that again. What if you settled your class and you became a [Mage]?"

"It would be a step forward," He grumbled. "And being a mage is not that bad, is it?"

"No comments. Leave that aside," Rhynne waved her up and down and then smiled. She leaned forward. "Changing subjects, how was it, Delving with Altia? You and her, all alone in the gloom of the Dungeon?"

"Mom!"

She looked at him, serious. "Do you like her?"

Nero couldn't believe. He opened his mouth to reply and then changed into a deep sigh. "I... We... She... We were fighting for our lives! How could I even think about..."

"Do you like her? Yes or no, you can trust your mom. I can even give you some hints on how you can win her heart."

He couldn't believe his mother was asking about his - nonexistent - love life with a grin. In the house of a bereaved mother. But Rhynne was very persuasive when she wanted. But the prospect of courting and dating Altia was... enticing? He could feel his being reacting very favorably to the idea.

"Really?" He regretted asking as the word left his mouth.

Rhynne nodded. "So you like her. Romantically, I mean. Don't give me that 'as a friend' crap."

"Altia is amazing. She... I wouldn't swap her for anyone else in my party," He replied noncommittally.

"Have you two kissed already?"

Nero felt cornered. It wasn't what he came for and his mom's sudden interest was uncomfortable.

"Not yet," he mumbled under his breath.

"Yet," She noticed.

Of course, mom would have tons of Perception, he thought. "Yes. I like Altia if that's what you want to hear. Happy?"

Rhynne clapped her hands, excited. "Oh, to be young."

And she glanced over Nero's shoulder. This time he noticed.

"She woke up and is right behind me, right?"

"Maybe. I mean, she was in the next room and you were shouting..." Rhynne grinned like the cat that ate the prize goldfish.

"Good morning, Altia," Nero whispered without turning around, just to test the waters.

"'ud morning," Altia replied, her voice trembling.

"Sorry, my mom is a busybody."

"'tis okay."

"Say, can I turn around?" He forced to keep his voice steady. "Are you decent?"

"Yes. I bathed and got some of Agatha's old clothes."

He pushed the chair back and turned sideways, leaning an arm over the backrest and turning his head to look at her. "How much did you listen to?"

"I was half-awake when you arrived. So... everything?" Her eyes darted from side to side, trying to get a read on him.

They let the conversation drop. Nero did, as it was his turn to say something. Rhynne stood up gracefully and quickly sidestepped the table, stopping in front of Altia.

"I'm going to check on Agatha. You two, behave."

She gesticulated and walked away. Nero saw Altia blush. Whatever her mom told without words, he couldn't see.

"Do you want some tea?" Nero offered.

"Yes, my throat is parched."

Nero stood up and went to heat water to brew her some tea. Altia took a chair and sat, prolonging the awkward silence. His mind was swimming. His heart, pounding. After he poured her the tea and covered the cup to let the leaves infuse, he sat back on his place and looked at his mug. His tea was already cold but he drank the bitter concoction anyway.

"I have to visit Glom to check my device. Are we delving today?"

Distracted, she hesitated before answering.

"Yes, of course. We're delving every day until we hit... oh, sorry."

She reached for his hand. Nero felt a tingle as their skin touched.

"No. It is fine. I'm... grateful to have you," He squeezed her fingers. "I mean, not like that, for delving, no. I... I should shut up now."

Altia avoided Nero's gaze and found a very interesting spot on Mrs. Simmons' cabinets.

"You know, there's nobody courting me."

'That was it', Nero thought. 'Do or die, man. Bring your Boss fight game. Don't freeze on me'.

"I'd be honored if you allowed me the honor, milady," He repeated something he read on a soppy novella.

He leaned and kissed her fingers. Looking up, he met the most delightful smile.

"Aww. So sweet!" Rhynne cooed from the door behind Nero. He vowed to never again sit with his back to the entrance. "So that's why you asked for those blankets."

Altia moved her mouth like a fish. Then she became pale and her hand, clammy. "No. No nononono. Not what I--"

"Blankets?" Nero wondered. "Oh, for that. Yesterday, when we stopped for a snack, there wasn't a good place to sit down. Those Dungeon rocks are too hard."

"Yes, for comfort. During a pause for refreshments," Altia hurriedly agreed.

Nero saw his mother do her trademark 'yeah, sure' face. Usually seen when he lied to get out of punishment. It never worked but didn't stop him from trying. But Rhynne was looking at Altia. He shrugged. Women.

He heard a fourth person coming right behind the wall. He also noticed that the sun had already risen. The weary face of Mrs. Simmons appeared on the door frame.

"Mrs. Simmons. I'm sorry for waking you up."

She sighed and finally spoke. "Thank you for bringing my boy back. I know many would just take his things and leave the body to become monster food."

"Yes, that," Nero took the small deck of cards on the table and stood up, going to a side so he wouldn't have to talk with his back to someone. "These were Timmy's cards. Please," He extended his arm.

"I don't want them. Keep it, they're yours. I have... no need for cards anymore," She shook her head. She didn't look sad, she looked like someone that just gave up on living. A specter. "In fact, I'll stop selling cards altogether. I'll give you the ones I have in the shop."

Nero looked at Altia to see what he should do but she just shook her head and mouthed 'no'.

"I can't accept. It is fine, really. I did what--" She cut him off.

"I don't want anything to do with that business. I was selling and trading cards so I could get Timmy some good ones. Look where it took us."

She was angry, putting the blame on the cards. Agatha and everyone else knew that the world was divided between those that had the bracer and those that do not. There was the division between levels too but a mother could only hope to buy one for their children. Even Nero, with his level cap of zero, was better off with one. It was unfair but that the way things were. Rhynne hugged the shopkeeper and Nero felt like crushing Timmy's cards.

"Altia," Nero said, "You rescued Timmy too. I'll hold onto these cards, you see with Mrs. Simmons your part."

He felt as if he was dumping the problem on her. Altia nodded and stood up.

"Agatha, Nero, and Rhynne have an appointment with Glom now, I'll help you with the shop until they come back if that's okay with you."

The woman nodded and her shoulders slumped. "I guess life must go on. I appreciate everything you are doing for me. Nero, Altia, thank you."