All The Skills - A Deckbuilding LitRPG

I'll admit up front this isn't a plot heavy chapter. All the fun violence and scourge is coming soon, though!

Arthur couldn't quite figure Penn out.

When he'd first met his cousin, he was gregarious and outgoing -- no, that wasn't true. The first time he'd met his cousin, Penn had helped ruin Arthur's behind-the-bar juggling act. But of course, he'd been too drunk to link a random bartender with "Earnest Kane".

Now, though Penn no longer acted overtly suspicious, Arthur sensed a new distance between them as they walked the halls toward the commissary. Penn kept calling him 'Kane' and remained unusually silent.

That was fair, considering Arthur had robbed him blind.

He didn't feel bad about it, either. Penn's father had no doubt done far worse by Arthur than he ever could in return. Penn, in fact, stood in place for Arthur's old rank.

He was struck by a sudden thought: Had Calvan never lost his rank, would Arthur have the Master of Combat card?

Perhaps, though it made him feel oddly squeamish as if the cards in his heart rebelled at that thought.

In any case, the silence between them was growing pointed. Arthur decided to break it. "I suppose this means we're competitors again," he said, though he kept his voice light. "First for the Rare egg, and now for this Legendary."

Penn gave him an odd look. "We're not competitors, Kane. We're on the same team. Take this right, here. It's a short cut."

It seemed Penn had used his weeks at the hive to learn its layout better than before.

Within moments they walked into the commissary. Arthur glanced at the pouch of coins Marion had given him... and nearly staggered in pure shock.

"What is it?" Penn must have been watching him like a hawk because he was instantly at Arthur's side. He glanced in the bag and whistled. "You think he'll let us spend it all?"

"I think we could buy out this whole shop and still not spend it."

Good old fashioned paranoid fear made Arthur pull the top of the bag tight. He shoved it into Penn's hands. "You take it."

"Why?"

Arthur stared at him as if he were an idiot. "Because you're the Master of Combat. I'm the craft-skills guy."

Sure, he could throw it in his Personal Space, but he'd dare any pick-pocketers to take from Penn. Arthur had seen him duel before.

Penn gave him an odd look, then shrugged and slipped the bag in his shirt pocket. "Should we go up to a higher level? There would be better goods, there."

"No time. I don't want to risk being left behind when the call comes." Arthur moved past him to the inner store, already browsing.

It only occurred to him later that giving Penn the ludicrously rich bag of coins could be taken as an act of trust. Arthur had thought of it as 'risk management', but he wondered if that had helped put Penn off his scent.

In any case, while his cousin wasn't as friendly as he'd been before the atmosphere had thawed noticeably.

Or maybe it was the fact Arthur swept through the small store like a hurricane, buying everything he thought might be remotely useable... and quite a few items that were edge cases.

"The folded knives I understand," Penn said. "But why are you buying blankets... and are these pans?" He held up a cast iron pan by the tips of his fingers as if he was afraid it was going to bite him. "Surely, you don't intend to stay there long term..."

"I have no idea what we'll be getting into." Arthur glanced at the center table where several cards were on display. Typical for the lower levels of the hive, they were Common and pointless. What was an origami crane and why would someone dedicate an entire card to it? "Besides, not all of this is for us."

"Who, then? You don't intend to help out other teams--"

Arthur waved that away. "Of course not. But there will be evacuees. And many will have lost everything."

Penn looked a little taken aback. Then he glanced around with new eyes. "Say, how much can you put in that space card, anyway?"

They returned a half hour later, the store much emptier, Marion's bag only a little reduced, and Arthur grateful there wasn't a weight limit to his Personal Space.

They found Marion dressed in still fancy, though more practical clothing. He sat next to a ridiculously burly man with shoulders so broad it looked like he would have to turn sideways to fit into doors... and who was currently chomping on a beaded necklace. The exact nervous gesture a little girl would do.

"Prince Marion," Penn greeted, sitting down at the table. "And... Princess Echo." His voice carried a lingering, 'I hope' at the end.

"My minders said I have to be in my battle shape," Echo rumbled, still biting on the necklace.

Marion casually picked under his perfect nails. "I don't foresee battle."

"Only because you 'foresee' three seconds ahead," she snapped.

"How long can you hold that, ah, shape?" Arthur asked, looking at her curiously. Most active charms used mana. As a Legendary, perhaps it used a lot less or leveled up the way his own did to bypass that requirement.

She glared across the table at him. "None of your beeswax."

"Actually, it is our business as part of your team." Penn gazed across the table sternly at her. "There's no point activating your card if you're burning through your mana."

She wrinkled her nose at him, which looked ridiculous on a full grown man.

"To forestall a tedious back and forth," Marion sighed, "she's fine. Our family gives supplemental cards to cover those types of weaknesses."

Which meant that she had one, or possibly several higher tiered mana boost, mana regeneration, mana supplement... or all three cards.

Arthur wondered how many cards the twelve year old had already shoved in her heart... but he'd likely had more, at her age.

Just then, the bells began to ring. Not the joyous sounds of announcing a high tiered egg laid, but the sounds of a scourge-eruption.

The seers had been correct.

Whitaker and Valentina arrived as if teleported.

"It's time. Stand up and follow through us through this door. Transport dragons will be waiting on the balconies--"

"But the rest of my team hasn't gotten back yet!" one girl cried out.

She found no sympathy from Whitaker. "They were warned to make ready and be back here. If they want to prove themselves as viable recruits, they'll find their way there. Now, move!"

Late-comers streamed in through the front door, and Arthur was certain any noble who could afford a Legendary could afford to bribe a dragon rider to take them to the eruption. He didn't spare any pity, either.

Everyone at their table stood and got in line for the balcony. It went fast. It seemed the leaders had already planned well in advance.

A small cloud of purples buzzed, hovered, or simply flew in tight circles in the night sky, according to their preference.

Arthur searched the dark sky for a familiar face, but she found him first.

"Tess found boy!" A moment later a four-winged purple swooped down to hover to a stop just over their heads. All drew back, except Arthur who tried not to cringe.

Rider Johanna craned over to look down at him. "Heyya Arthur, surprised to see you here."

What are you doing mixing with Legendary noble recruits? her expression silently asked.

Arthur shrugged and tried to plead with his eyes to keep quiet about it. The problem was, while Johanna might get it... Tess, not so much.

"Tess fly boy!" the purple crowed to everyone within hearing range. "We flied far, far, far..."

Thankfully, Johanna stepped in. "Land, Tess. We'll carry Arthur again."

"Yay!" the dragon did just that.

Arthur decided to make the most of it. From his time at the hive, he'd seen a lot of dragon saddle configurations. Tess was rigged up for two additional passengers aside from her rider.

Johanna stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistled. A moment later another purple, quieter than Tess, but similarly saddled up, landed beside them.

Arthur turned to his team. "I guess we're line jumping. Who wants to ride with me?"