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The morning sun rose over the towering spires of Arkaris, casting long shadows over the bustling city. The streets were alive with movement—people hurrying to their destinations, merchants shouting their wares, and the hum of magical energy lingering in the air. Arkaris was a city of endless opportunity, but also one where power was the greatest currency. It was a place where debts were owed, and no one ever truly escaped the weight of them.
Lucian Vale stood by his window, looking out over the city as the first rays of dawn touched the horizon. His office was quiet, save for the subtle hum of magic in the air. The deal with the merchant from the day before had been concluded, but the repercussions of that transaction would ripple through the city, just as they always did. The merchant had accepted the debt, but Lucian knew that it was only a matter of time before the true cost of the deal became clear.
He leaned against the windowsill, his gaze fixed on the city below. The streets were chaotic, a cacophony of sound and color, but Lucian remained still. His mind was already calculating. The debt had been paid, but he had no intention of letting the merchant forget the terms of their agreement. Power was not freely given, and neither was it easily earned. The merchant's newfound skill would grant him the ability to read minds, but with every day that passed, the debt would grow. Ten percent daily. It was a price that would weigh heavily on him, and Lucian would be there, watching from the shadows as the merchant struggled to keep up with the interest.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.
"Come in," Lucian called, his voice low and even.
The door creaked open, and a familiar figure stepped inside. It was another client—this one a woman, tall and imposing, with an air of authority about her. Her clothing was elegant, yet practical, and her eyes burned with a quiet intensity. She was a noblewoman, judging by her appearance, but unlike many others of her station, she did not seem to be here for idle chatter or meaningless pleasantries. Lucian's eyes narrowed slightly. She had come for something more.
"I've heard of your… services," she said, her voice calm and measured. "I've come to make a deal."
Lucian motioned for her to sit, his fingers drumming lightly on the surface of his desk. "And what is it that you seek?" he asked, studying her carefully.
The woman took a seat across from him, her posture straight and commanding. "Power," she said simply. "I need to outmaneuver a rival. Someone who stands in my way. Someone I cannot defeat with my resources alone."
Lucian tilted his head slightly, his curiosity piqued. "And what is it you believe I can offer you?"
She met his gaze without hesitation. "I need a skill—something that will allow me to see into the heart of my rival. Something that will give me the advantage in our dealings, allow me to understand their every move before they make it."
Lucian's lips curled into a faint smile. "So, you want a way to anticipate your rival's actions. A skill to read their thoughts, perhaps?"
The woman nodded. "Exactly. If I know their intentions before they do, I can plan my moves accordingly. I will outmaneuver them at every turn."
Lucian leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled before him. "I can provide you with such a skill," he said after a moment. "But it will come at a price, as all things do."
The woman's expression faltered for a brief second, but she quickly regained her composure. "What price?" she asked, her tone wary but determined.
"Ten percent interest, compounded daily," Lucian replied, his gaze unyielding. "For as long as you hold the skill, the debt will grow. The longer you possess it, the more you will owe."
She stared at him for a long moment, considering the terms. "And if I cannot repay it?" she asked finally.
Lucian's smile widened, but there was no warmth in it. "No one truly repays a debt like this," he said softly. "But if you fail to meet your obligations… the consequences will be dire."
The noblewoman did not flinch. Instead, she leaned forward slightly, her eyes burning with resolve. "I accept," she said, her voice unwavering.
Lucian's smile turned colder. "Very well," he said. "I will lend you the skill you seek. The ability to perceive the intentions, desires, and thoughts of others with perfect clarity. You will be able to outmaneuver your rival at every turn."
He extended a hand, his fingers glowing with the faintest hint of ethereal light. A pulse of energy surged from his fingertips, entering the noblewoman's body with a soft, almost imperceptible hum. The transaction was complete. The skill was hers.
The noblewoman blinked, a faint expression of surprise crossing her face as the skill settled within her mind. She could feel it—the clarity of thought, the understanding of everything around her. The world seemed sharper, more defined, as if she could see the hidden currents of intent that ran beneath every interaction.
"You now owe me," Lucian said, his voice calm and matter-of-fact. "Do not forget the terms of our agreement. The debt will grow with each passing day."
The noblewoman rose from her seat, her expression steely but now tinged with something else—dread, perhaps. She had the power she sought, but the cost would weigh on her in ways she could not yet comprehend.
"I will remember," she said, her voice cool. "I will not forget."
Lucian nodded as she left, the door clicking shut behind her. He watched her leave, his mind already calculating the consequences of her decision. The noblewoman had made her choice, but the true test would come in the days to follow, when the debt began to grow, when the interest compounded and her desperation set in. Power was never given freely, and Lucian knew that sooner or later, everyone would come to regret the deals they made with him.
He turned back to the window, looking out over the city once more. Arkaris was a place of endless opportunity, but it was also a place where power was always in flux, always up for grabs. Lucian Vale was the one who held the keys to that power, the one who could lend it to those willing to pay the price.
And as the sun climbed higher in the sky, he knew that this was only the beginning. The city would continue to turn, and with it, the debts of those who sought power would grow—one interest rate at a time.
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End of Chapter 2