The card had an image of a flexed arm with a bulging bicep on it.
He reached out with dread and turned the card over, leaving a finger on the edge of the card so he could read the details.
Card Name: Strength of Arms
Rank: Basic
Class: Enhancement
Power comes in many forms and is something that many people strive for but few people ever truly obtain. The Strength of Arms body enhancement card grants physical power to the wielder to enhance both mundane abilities and other card powers and skills.
Flynn felt a painful lump form in his throat, and he fought to hold back the despair.
Cards of the same level were definitely not all the same. A Basic rank Card Master card, for example, was one of the rarest cards in the entire system, regardless of level, while other cards were as common as the stars in the night sky.
Not only was the Strength of Arms card not a Combat card, but it was one of the most common of all Basic cards. One that was used by porters, dockworkers, and other laborers to give them extra strength, thus making them more efficient at the mundane tasks they were given.
Despair threatened to overwhelm Flynn as he looked at the card that was supposed to empower him to slay more challenging monsters which would give him more and better card fragments. Those would lead to more card powers, which would lead to battling even more powerful monsters.
The card was supposed to be the first step of many on his journey to leave poverty behind as his power and prosperity grew.
Instead, I get one of the most common cards and useless cards in existence! Flynn wanted to scream.
He felt a hand cover his own and looked up to see Walter’s compassionate gaze.
“Hey, this card is better than you think,” the shopkeeper assured him.
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“Yeah, if I want to spend the rest of my life loading and unloading barges and wagons.” Disappointment was starting to turn into anger.
Walter squeezed Flynn’s hand hard enough that it hurt. “Those people you just disparaged are the hard-working backbone of our society.”
“I know,” Flynn said, looking the man in the eyes. He had spent many days doing that backbreaking work. “But this card was supposed to be my ticket out of that life, and now it seems like the magic system is trying to push me right back into it.”
“You know, Strength cards can be used to enhance Combat abilities,” the shopkeeper pointed out. “It is actually the most commonly sold card across the entire Magical Card Emporium network because almost every Combat-focused card wielder eventually adds one to their deck.”
“But I don’t have a Combat card,” the young man insisted. “I need that first, before a Strength card will do anything to improve my ability to fight monsters.”
Walter nodded. “I know. It’s not ideal, but all hope isn’t lost. There may still be a way to get a Combat card.”
Flynn’s face lit up, suddenly optimistic again. “How can I get a better card?”
The shopkeeper frowned slightly. “Not a better card, just a different one.”
“I know, I know. I just meant a card that’s better for fighting monsters.”
The shopkeeper nodded. “As you know, the Magical Card Emporium possesses the largest collection of cards in the known world. They have teams of high-level adventurers that are constantly battling monsters and collecting cards and card fragments.”
The young man nodded. “I know. You’ve explained that to me before.”
“Well, because we have such a large inventory of cards, we don’t pay very well when people want to sell their cards. This is especially true for lower-level cards.”
Flynn spread his hands out in exasperation. “And how does this help me?”
Walter leaned forward and quietly told the young man, “Officially, the only thing I can do is offer you three Basic card fragments for that Strength card. That’s the going rate for Basic cards. Half the sale price.”
Flynn considered the man’s words, then asked, “So is there something you can do unofficially?”
“Unofficially, I would suggest you check out Bert’s Bait and Tackle down by the docks.”
“What?!” The young man frowned. “Are you telling me to give up on my dreams and take a job on the docks?”
Flynn was truly hurt by that suggestion. He had thought Walter was a real friend, sympathetic to his wants and needs.
I don’t have to stay here and listen to this, he declared silently and started to leave.
Walter grabbed his arm and pulled the young man closer, then whispered through gritted teeth. “I can neither confirm nor deny that said establishment may or may not engage in off-the-books card trade, and I definitely cannot say that they will or won’t give you more favorable terms, possibly trading something more desirable for your Strength of Arms card, one for one.”
Oh!
Flynn put a hand to the side of his mouth and conspiratorially whispered back, “And I can neither confirm nor deny that I will be visiting the docks in the very near future.”
Walter chuckled and stood up straight again. “It was good to see you, Finny. Come back again when you’re ready for your next card.”
The young man frowned. “You know I hate that name.”
The older man smiled. “I know, but you will always be the little orphan boy that came in here dreaming of wielding rare and powerful cards. I hope you always keep that kind of joy and excitement in your life, no matter how powerful you get.”
“I can’t imagine the day when using magical cards won’t be exciting.”
“I hope not.”
Flynn flashed Walter a smile. “And right now, I am very excited to check out this bait and tackle shop I heard about recently.”