"You never mentioned planning to go to one of the academies!" Nyk exclaimed.

Syn shrugged nonchalantly, a sly grin spreading across her face. "That's 'cause I know how to keep a secret!"

"Joining an Academy," he looked at his friend with different eyes. How long had she been planning this? She had never mentioned being interested in cards or beasts, not that anyone would need an excuse to aim at going to an Academy, they were every kid's dream.

"Are you– are you serious?" Nyk shook his head, still in disbelief, "Which one are you planning on going to?"

"Obviously to the closest one, you dummy," said Syn, rolling her eyes.

"You're going to the Keepers?" Nyk couldn't hide his surprise. Maybe she hadn't planned it that well after all. "Why? Even if it's close, it is still about a week's travel from us. There are much better ones further away!"

"The name is Lorekeeper's Academy, not just 'Keepers,'" she corrected him, "What do you want me to do, travel through Karmyn for weeks to go to the Arena? Or spend months only to reach the mountains to join the Artificers?" Her face flushed with a hint of annoyance.

"B-but all Keepers do is read and write!" he said, frustrated. Did she not get it? "You don't have to aim to be a Guardian, but you could go to the Cube and become a Warden!"

"Are you really this dull?" She put her hands on his shoulders, looking into his eyes with a serious expression. "Not every person in history has been either a Guardian or a Warden."

"I know, but... a Keeper?" he insisted, "Even being an Artificer or a Scholar would be better!"

"Gods, I cannot believe we're discussing this," she said, frustrated. "According to the teacher, who stopped the last great surge from happening?"

Nyk looked down "Scholars guided by Keepers were the ones that stopped the last great surge..." he recited.

"I don't think having a lot of Guardians and Wardens in your family tree means they're the only or best Cardbinders," Syn said.

"But what if they are the best?"

"Even if they were, you're missing the point," Syn replied, her tone becoming more serious. "I have a plan. I'm not going to spend years there reading books."

Nyk tilted his head, intrigued.

She leaned forward and looked directly at him, her gaze intent. "I just need them to teach me how to use my mana through the card. I'll learn as much as I humanly can in a short few months and will ask for permission to leave on short trips at least once every month."

"Trips? Trips to where?"

"Back here to the village," Syn said, her voice filled with determination. "To fight sea monsters." Her eyes brightened as she spoke. "If the houses don't send any Cardbinders to help us, we will bring our own!"

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"B-back to the village?" Nyk repeated. He could see the excitement in Syn's eyes and couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement himself.

"I want you to imagine the two of us fighting sea beasts for real," Syn continued, her hands balled into fists, her eyes alight. "The things we'll change! For starters, the fishermen will have a much easier time once we drive away all those beasts!"

Nyk's jaw opened slowly, "The two of us against sea beasts?"

"Not only us," she held a finger before him, "We'll start slow and deal with the dangers. Trading the spoils in nearby cities. Slowly we'll recruit other kids from this and other neighboring villages. We'll build our own militia."

Nyk's raced with possibilities. He was so deeply lost in thought he could've been in a trance. His eyes were wide open same as his jaw, his arms hanging on the sides, focused on dreams he had been having for so long that they were part of his being.

"What do you say?" Syn asked, her hand still on Nyk's shoulder. "Do you want to help me clear our waters of sea beasts?"

As if waking from a dream, Nyk's distracted eyes refocused on Syn. Arms tightening against his chest, Nyk's closed fists shook with intensity, "Yes!"'

"Will you save and become a Cardbinder with me?"

"Yes! Yes!" exclaimed Nyk, jumping up and down with excitement, unable to contain his joy.

"We're going to have to work hard today sorting out stuff and wake really early tomorrow to sell it," Syn said. "Are you ready to help me prepare our stuff for the festival and do whatever it takes to sell it tomorrow?"

"I'll work all night if needed!" Nyk nodded vehemently.

"I expected no less of you! Great!" Syn raised her hand for a high five. "Onwards towards saving for two Greens!"

Nyk jumped to high-five Syn's hand. "Onwards! to..." still in the air, he looked at her, a mix of excitement and apprehension on his face, confused, "...saving two Greens?" he said questioningly.

"Two Greens? Why two Greens?" asked Nyk. He was confused. His card would be Purple, not Green.

Syn paused to bite her lip, "Cause I don't want you to wait your entire life for a Purple card, dummy."

"B-but mine is going to be a Purple one."

"I know you want a Purple card, but you'll be twelve soon, and it's time to outgrow that dream. I just told you how expensive one is. Now you know your only chance would be getting it by killing a sea beast, and a very strong one at that. With any luck, you'll be waiting forever!"

"B-but..." Nyk stuttered, not knowing what to say.

"Look, maybe in time we'll get a Purple or save enough for one," she said, giving him a reassuring smile. "But in the meantime, you'll need a colored card."

"B-but a Purple one has always been my goal... like, ever since your Dad brought us to fish and mentioned the colors, you remember?"

"I remember, but that'll take time, Nyk," Syn said, trying to cheer up her friend. "A Green one can be within our grasp in a couple of years, a Purple one. I'm not sure we can even get it in a single lifespan."

Nyk took a step back.

Only with it can we learn and start fighting sea monsters.

"It will change our lives!" Syn argued, "The first step of our journey, trust me, a Green card is still really cool!"

"I don't know, Syn..." Nyk said, looking up at Syn pensively.

"Look, I'm not asking you to give up your dreams of fighting sea beasts, quite the opposite," she said, looking as Nyk took another step back.

"All I am asking is for you to be more serious about it," she reasoned, "You don't have to make a decision. For now, let's focus on tomorrow. We have to sell as much of our haul as possible. Let's start with that. Ok?" she said with a gentle smile.

Nyk nodded slowly, his expression still unsure.

"Forget about the Greens. First comes tomorrow," Syn said, standing up and dusting off her pants. She extended her hand to help him up, her eyes brightening with determination. "We have a lot of work to do before we can face sea beasts!"