Chapter 6: First Card I
Three weeks had passed since Lev's confrontation with Caleb, and the bruises on his body had long since faded. The bruises to his understanding of the world, however, remained tender to the touch. Each morning brought the same routine: wake before dawn, complete his training exercises, eat a quick breakfast with Rav, then venture into Equinox's districts to continue his methodical search for the perfect first card.
The noble quarters with their pristine card shops remained as unwelcoming as ever. Their gleaming windows displayed rare summons behind protective enchantments, with prices that made Lev's single gold piece feel like pocket change. Even their uncommon selections were mostly high-end cards priced at two to four goldâonly a few lower-quality options ever dropped to one gold. But the popular districtsâwhere merchants hawked their wares with boisterous calls and the air carried the rich scents of street food and commerceâhad become his hunting ground.
The districts buzzed with activity as merchants hawked their wares from colorful stalls and storefronts. "Fresh bread from the morning ovens!" "Finest silks from the eastern traders!" "Imported spices, half a silver a pouch!" The calls of food vendors, cloth merchants, and general traders filled the air with rich scents of commerce and community. Card shops, by contrast, sat quietly in their dedicated storefrontsâdiscrete, well-protected establishments that dealt in magical goods far too valuable for street-side stalls.
Moving from shop to shop, his Summoner's Eye worked overtime to analyze every card within his budget. After three weeks of intensive use, he'd developed a clearer understanding of what his ability told him. The "potential" rating wasn't just about raw powerâit measured how much a card could grow, develop, and become truly formidable with proper training and understanding.
In all his searching, he'd seen only two cards with A-rank potential, and both had slipped through his fingers. The first, a Crystal Hawk with magnificent silver-blue feathers, had been claimed by another customer while Lev spent several days debating whether to spend his entire inheritance on it. The second, a Flame Dancer that moved like liquid fire, had been beyond his budget even at the discounted price.
Crystal Hawk [https://i.imgur.com/oSJKqQ4.png] Flame Dancer [https://i.imgur.com/oSh4ilT.png]
This morning had been different, though. At Kellner's Card Emporium, he'd discovered something extraordinary:
Stormwind Eagle
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Rank: Uncommon
Race: Eagle (Wind/Storm)
Attributes: Air, Lightning
Level: 1
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A majestic hunting bird with silver-streaked feathers and piercing golden eyes. This particular specimen bears slight wing scarring that reduces its market appeal but not its capabilities.
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Stats:
Strength: 13
Defense: 8
Agility: 32
Intelligence: 11
Wisdom: 13
Mana: 10
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Abilities:
Storm Dive â Skill Rank B, Proficiency A: Lightning-enhanced aerial attacks
Wind Mastery â Skill Rank A, Proficiency B: Superior flight control and air magic
Eagle Eye â Skill Rank C, Proficiency A: Enhanced vision and target tracking
Thunder Call â Skill Rank B, Proficiency C: Can summon storm clouds for battlefield control
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Summon Potential: A
Despite cosmetic damage, this creature possesses exceptional growth potential and tactical versatility.
Stormwind Eagle [https://i.imgur.com/fU3e2k3.png]
Lev's heart had raced when he first saw the card. Most buyers had to make their decisions based solely on the card's imageâfull magical analysis was prohibitively expensive, costing one or several cards of the same rank as the card being examined. For an uncommon card like the Stormwind Eagle, that meant paying with another uncommon card just to learn its true potential. With that cost, it was often better to simply buy a card from a higher rank instead.
So people relied on visual cues: the quality of the creature's form, the clarity of the image, the apparent health and condition of the summon. A card showing a pristine creature with perfect feathers, bright eyes, and no visible damage would command premium prices. But this Stormwind Eagle, despite its obvious power and majestic bearing, bore those telltale wing scarsâfaint but visible lines where feathers had been damaged and regrown.
To most buyers, those scars meant the creature was not at its full potential. They couldn't see the detailed stats, the exceptional abilities, or the incredible A-rank potential. They only saw what appeared to be a damaged bird, and that perception drove the price down to exactly one goldâlow for an uncommon card. It represented everything he could want in a first summonâpowerful, versatile, and with incredible growth potential.
He wouldn't make the same mistake as with the Crystal Hawk. Today, he was buying his first card. No more hesitation, no more second-guessing. Time was running short. The academy examinations were only two months away. He needed to choose soon, or he wouldn't have enough time to train with his first summon and prepare for the rigorous testing process.
The information he'd gathered about the magical schools painted a daunting picture. Five prestigious academies, each with its own specialty and fierce reputation, ranked by prestige and selectivity:
At the top, tied for first place, stood the Academy of Elemental Mastery and the Royal War College. The Academy of Elemental Mastery focused on pure magical power, training students to wield fire, water, earth, and air with devastating efficiency. As the school with the highest concentration of noble students, it maintained an atmosphere of prestige and exclusivity. Their graduates often became court wizards, military battle-mages, or even secured positions within the Seven Towers themselvesâthe prime pathway to real magical authority in the kingdom.
The Royal War College combined all magical disciplines with military strategy and tactics, training the kingdom's future magical officers and elite guards.
Second in ranking came the Academy of Physical Enhancement, which trained students to amplify their bodies with magic, creating warrior-mages capable of incredible feats of strength and speed.
Third was the Institute of Magical Theory, focusing on research, enchantment, and the deeper mysteries of magic itself. Their graduates became teachers, researchers, advisors to powerful nobles, or magical engineers developing new applications of magical technology.
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At the bottom of the hierarchyâthough still requiring exceptional skill to enterâwas the Summoner's Collegium. It specialized in creature bonding and tactical deployment, teaching students to coordinate multiple summons in complex battlefield scenarios. While most relevant to Lev's abilities, it was actually the least selective of the five academies. This wasn't due to lower standards, but because most card wielders focused primarily on spell cards, treating their one or two summons as secondary support rather than their main strategic focus.
Each school cost two gold per yearâsix gold total for the full three-year program. The entrance examinations covered magical theory, kingdom history, mathematics, and practical demonstrations. Most challenging of all were the tournament-style competitions and face-to-face interviews with panels of expert judges.
For someone like Lev, with only one gold to his name, there were two realistic paths forward. The first was to score high enough in the examinations to earn a tuition scholarshipâa possibility, but one that required outperforming candidates who'd had private tutors and expensive preparation materials their entire lives.
The second was military service. The army offered to pay full tuition for students who committed to three years of service after graduation. For those willing to serve five years, they would even provide ressources, including an uncommon card from their military stockpileânot the most expensive options, but solid, combat-tested cards that had proven themselves in real battles.
Lev had visited both the academy information centers and the military recruitment office, gathering every detail he could about requirements, expectations, and opportunities. The recruiters had been surprisingly welcoming, explaining that magical academies always needed talented summoners, and the military valued officers who could coordinate multiple battlefield assets.
There were other possibilities tooâentertainment tournaments organized by merchant guilds and trading companies. These competitions were separated by age, preventing complete mismatches. Winners could earn prize money, recognition, and sometimes even sponsorship opportunities. Of course, there were entry fees to consider, and the competition could be fierce.
The middle-class merchants and successful craftspeopleâmany of whom were themselves skilled card wielders who'd climbed the Tower of Light or Darknessâoften had children with access to quality cards and professional training. The social dynamics were complex: not quite nobles, but far from the commoners' situation.
But first, there was someone he wanted to see. Walking through the afternoon bustle toward the noble district's outskirts, Lev found his thoughts turning to Master Toren. The kind card shop owner had made an impression during their first meeting, treating Lev with genuine respect despite his obvious Sapphire heritage. Perhaps he should visit the man againânot just to shop, but to express his gratitude for that small moment of dignity in a world that seemed determined to deny it.
Master Toren's shop occupied a prime position at the edge of the noble quarter, its polished storefront reflecting the late afternoon sun. The familiar scent of polished wood and magical energies greeted Lev as he pushed open the door.
Master Toren looked up from organizing a display case, his ordinary brown eyes taking a moment to focus on the newcomer. "Good afternoon, welcome toâ" He paused, studying Lev's face with growing recognition. "Ah! The young man from a few weeks past, with the upcoming awakening." His expression brightened with genuine warmth. "How did the ceremony go? Successfully, I hope?"
"Very well, thank you," Lev replied, feeling some of the tension in his shoulders ease. "I wanted to thank you for your kindness during my first visit. It meant more than you might realize."
"Nonsense," Master Toren waved dismissively, but Lev caught a pleased flush in his cheeks. "Good customers deserve good service, regardless of background. Have you come to browse, or are you ready to make your first purchase?"
"I'm hoping to find something within my budget," Lev said carefully. "Around one gold, if possible."
Master Toren's expression grew thoughtful. "One gold puts you barely in uncommon territory, which is wise for a first card. Commons can serve well for mundane workâfarming, crafts, basic securityâbut they rarely have the growth potential needed for magical academies or military service." He moved to a different section of the shop, gesturing for Lev to follow. "Let me show you a few options that might interest you."
The first card he displayed was a Thornwood Protector, a plant-based creature with impressive defensive capabilities:
Thornwood Protector
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Rank: Uncommon
Race: Plant Guardian
Attributes: Plant, Earth
Level: 1
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A defensive creature with thick bark hide and the ability to root itself in place. This specimen shows good potential for battlefield control, though like all plant-types, it carries inherent vulnerability to fire magic.
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Stats:
Strength: 11
Defense: 24
Agility: 4
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 16
Mana: 10
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Abilities:
Rooted Defense â Skill Rank B, Proficiency A: Becomes immovable while channeling earth magic
Bark Skin â Skill Rank C, Proficiency C: Natural armor that absorbs physical damage
Nature's Growth â Skill Rank D, Proficiency C: Can slowly regenerate damage over time
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Summon Potential: C
Solid defensive capabilities but limited by elemental vulnerability and low mobility.
Thornwood Protector [https://i.imgur.com/8lca6GL.png]
"Excellent for defensive strategies," Master Toren explained. "Plant summons are undervalued in the current market due to their obvious vulnerability to fire magicâit always seems to bite them back at the worst moments. But they're incredibly reliable otherwise. This one could grow into quite the battlefield controller, given proper training."
The second option was a Worn Lightning Sprite, a tiny elemental that flickered weakly with electrical energy:
Worn Lightning Sprite
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Rank: Uncommon
Race: Elemental
Attributes: Air, Lightning
Level: 1
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A tiny elemental showing signs of magical degradation from poor maintenance. Its glow is dimmer than normal and one wing appears slightly translucent, but it retains basic lightning capabilities.
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Stats:
Strength: 4
Defense: 5
Agility: 10
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 14
Mana: 25
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Abilities:
Weak Lightning Bolt â Skill Rank C, Proficiency D: Diminished electrical attacks
Wind Riding â Skill Rank B, Proficiency C: Natural flight capabilities remain intact
Static Field â Skill Rank D, Proficiency A: Minimal area electrical effects
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Summon Potential: E
Previous neglect has limited its development prospects despite inherent elemental advantages.
Worn Lightning Sprite [https://i.imgur.com/l3iZR3W.png]
"Lightning magic is always impressive," Master Toren noted with professional honesty, "though this particular sprite has seen better days. Acquired from an estate saleâthe previous owner didn't maintain it properly. Still, it could develop into a decent ranged attacker with patience and proper care, though you'd need to be very careful about positioning to avoid direct confrontation."
The Thornwood Protector was actually a solid choiceâgood defensive capabilities and reasonable C-rank potential for the price. But compared to the Stormwind Eagle's A-rank potential, it felt like settling for mediocrity. The Worn Lightning Sprite, however, was clearly a bad dealâits E-rank potential and obvious signs of neglect made it barely worth half the asking price.
Better hurry back to get that eagle before someone else does, Lev thought anxiously. He was about to thank Master Toren and leave when the merchant's expression grew thoughtful.
"Actually," he said slowly, "there's one more card I could show you. It's been sitting in my collection for almost two weeks, which is unusual for an uncommon. The price has dropped to ninety silver due to lack of interest."