Ozlo thought to himself. "If I never walk another day it will be too soon." In the stories it's all about action and adventure and the hero arrives just in time and saves the day. Unfortunately, in reality, what they fail to mention is all the damn walking between point A and point B.

Ozlo's group, firmly placed at the rear of the expedition did their best to follow along and keep themselves entertained. This was of course helped along a fair bit by Boyd's speech last knight. Ozlo walked closer to Andrew and John and blurted out. "Scholarship. My cards are Scholarship and Graceful. Oh, and of course Strength."

The other boys were taken off guard by this sudden utterance, though John was the first to recover. "Attentive. It helps me focus and pay attention, even if sometimes I'd rather not be. Oh, and it's level two. Along with level 2 strength of course."

Andrew, his sense of reluctance now gone, spoke up as well. "Speed. I have speed, like, I do things a bit quickly. Sometimes, well, it makes me perceive the world a bit quicker, it's only seven and a half percent at level three, so two and a half percent per level. And strength, level three."

Ozlo gave the boys a nod and Andrew had a question for him. "Scholarship? What's that do?" John glanced curiously at Ozlo as well.

"It makes me smarter, or uh, increases my mental capacities. It's level four so it means that I'm fouty percent smarter, I think." Ozlo had a thought at that moment. "Wait, that's not right. Am I forty percent smarter or does it make it possible to learn forty percent more?"

"LUCKY" John gave Ozlo a friendly punch in the arm. "My card just makes me pay attention to things and well, notice them. Your card seems way better. Want to trade?"

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

A small look of panic must have entered Ozlo's eyes because John quickly backed off. "Whoa, just kidding, just kidding. Relax." Boyd, who had been silent thus far pointedly ignoring the group, took that moment to step in.

"Alright boys, let's talk about loot. That's what you're here for after all?" The boys all nodded their heads vigorously while their captain gave them a small chuckle. "Ha, to be young and free. Ahem, so, you've all gotten at least two common cards and man are they useful. So question, why don't people just jam as many cards as they can get their greedy little hands on into their soul?"

Ozlo, remembering Burgin's answer spoke up. "Because their soul will get full and if it's too full it can burst causing harm." Boyd gave the boy a small grin and continued. "EXACTLY! However, what's stopping you from slowly increasing the size of your soul over time so you can take in more cards?"

Ozlo didn't have an answer for this, but John did. "Oh, I know. Because it damages your soul!" Boyd nodded enthusiastically along with John. "Correct! Now, let's say that I had slowly expanded my soul over time with some cheap cards and then found an alternative card of a higher class. Say, common to uncommon. What's stopping me from ripping out the common and putting in the uncommon?"

The boys didn't have an answer and this only emboldened Boyd even more. "No-one? Really? Well, I'll tell you. Nothing. Nothing is stopping me from doing that. Sure it might hurt a bit and sure I might miss having said card, but your soul won't break or something. Remember lads, the soul is versatile. As long as you treat her right you'll be fine. Otherwise legendary cards would be useless after all."

The thought of removing Ozlo's Scholarship card filled him with dread, but this little bit of information gave him a small bit of hope. "So if I lose my card and I find another card that does the same thing, or is even better then that means-"

"GOBLINS!" A short but loud horn sound accompanied the shout as the expedition started to rush to the front. "ALL MEN TO THE FRONT, WATCH THE REAR AS YOU GO!"