---
A storm had passed through Arkaris, but the chaos it left behind was far from over.
Lucian walked the dimly lit streets of the Lower District, his mind sharp, his body moving with controlled precision. The cobblestone roads, slick with the remnants of rain, reflected the faint glow of enchanted street lamps.
Beside him, Darius walked in silence, the events of the night weighing on him.
"You should disappear for a while," Lucian finally said, breaking the silence.
Darius frowned. "Disappear? After what just happened, you think I should run?"
Lucian stopped, turning to face him. His eyes, sharp as ever, held no emotion. "This isn't about running. It's about surviving. The Circle doesn't tolerate defiance. You think they'll just forget what happened tonight?"
Darius hesitated. "And what about you?"
Lucian smirked faintly. "They were already after me. Nothing changes."
Darius clenched his fists. "I owe you. You saved my life back there. I can't just walk away."
"You don't owe me anything," Lucian said, voice calm. "But if you stay, you'll become a liability."
The words stung, but they were true. Darius was strong, but he wasn't ready for what was coming. Lucian could feel it—the weight of unseen forces aligning against him.
This was just the beginning.
Darius exhaled sharply. "Fine. I'll go underground. But you better not die, Lucian. You're the first person in this cursed city I actually respect."
Lucian gave a small nod, then turned and disappeared into the darkness.
He had work to do.
---
The Circle's Response
In the Upper District of Arkaris, far from the slums and shadows, a different kind of power was at work.
A meeting was being held inside the grand halls of the Circle of the Silent Hand, the true rulers of the city's underground. Unlike the merchants and nobles who flaunted their wealth, the Circle operated in the shadows, weaving their influence through every trade, every guild, every whisper of power.
At the center of the chamber sat a throne, and upon it, a figure cloaked in shifting shadows. Their voice, layered with unnatural resonance, broke the silence.
"Lucian Vale defied us."
The words carried a weight that sent a chill through the gathered enforcers. Among them stood Cassian Luthair, one of the Circle's most ruthless agents. He had never failed before tonight.
He knelt before the throne, his head bowed. "He's more dangerous than we thought. He doesn't just lend power—he takes it. If left unchecked, he could challenge everything we've built."
The shadowed figure leaned forward, their form flickering in and out of existence.
"Lucian Vale is a broker," they murmured. "But he forgets one truth."
Cassian hesitated. "Which is?"
"No broker is above their own debt."
A heavy silence filled the chamber. The Circle was old—older than most realized. Their reach extended beyond Arkaris, beyond the petty struggles of common men.
And yet, Lucian Vale had defied them.
The room darkened, shadows curling unnaturally as the air grew heavy with unseen power.
"He has forgotten his place," the figure whispered. "It is time we remind him."
Cassian's breath hitched. "What are your orders?"
"Summon The Black Binding."
A murmur rippled through the room. The Black Binding was not an assassin. It was a curse, an ancient blood contract that enslaved its target, stripping them of their will, their freedom—binding them forever to the Circle's control.
Lucian Vale would learn the truth of power.
And he would break beneath it.
---
A City of Schemes
Lucian stood atop a decrepit rooftop in the Lower District, his cloak billowing slightly in the wind. From here, he could see the vast sprawl of Arkaris, a city built on power, corruption, and secrets.
He could feel it. The shift. The weight of unseen hands moving against him.
The Circle would not remain silent. They would strike.
Lucian let out a slow breath, extending his senses. He reached into the undercurrents of magic that flowed through the city, attuning himself to its pulse. Every secret, every whisper, every movement of power—it all left an imprint.
And Lucian?
He was listening.
For years, he had operated in the shadows, unseen, unknown. He had built his power carefully, acquiring skills, manipulating those who thought themselves above him.
But tonight had changed everything.
Tonight, Lucian had declared war.
And war demanded preparation.
---
Preparation for Battle
Lucian didn't return to his usual hideouts. He knew better. The Circle would be watching. Hunting.
Instead, he moved through the city's forgotten places—the abandoned sewers, the collapsed tunnels beneath the marketplace. Places only ghosts and desperation called home.
There, he found what he needed.
A hidden chamber, deep beneath the old ruins of an ancient guild hall. Its walls were lined with forgotten artifacts, remnants of a time when Arkaris had been ruled by mages instead of merchants.
Lucian placed his hand against the cold stone. He could feel the magic within, dormant yet waiting.
He would need more power.
He had spent years lending skills to others, growing his network of influence. But now?
Now, it was time to take.
Lucian closed his eyes and activated his Knowledge Comprehension. The moment his mind touched the runes carved into the walls, secrets poured into him.
Spells. Wards. Hidden knowledge that had been lost to time.
And among them—
A technique.
The Unseen Binding.
Lucian's eyes snapped open, a slow smile forming.
It was an ancient method of anchoring power to one's own will, a way to shield oneself from outside control. A defense against enslavement.
The perfect counter to the Black Binding.
Lucian let out a low chuckle. "So that's your move, Circle?"
His fingers traced the rune, absorbing its knowledge.
"You think you can bind me?"
Lucian Vale was no one's pawn.
And soon, the Circle would understand why.
---
The Broker's Next Move
Lucian emerged from the underground hours later, the city's chill wrapping around him. He knew the Circle would strike soon.
But he wasn't waiting.
Lucian was going to hit first.
He moved toward the Upper District, where the Circle's influence was strongest. He knew their enforcers. He knew their contacts.
And he was going to rip them apart, piece by piece.
By the time the sun rose, the city would be different.
Because Lucian Vale did not bow.
He collected debts.
And Arkaris would soon learn the cost of crossing the Broker of Ascension.
----
End of Chapter 7