Chapter 25 Luxton

"Why does it feel so awkward..?"

Sunlight filtered through the sash windows of a large hall where three figures sat at a long wooden dining table. Though there were plenty of seats, the individuals were as far apart as could be. A sumptuous breakfast was spread before them, consisting of all varieties of food. Cups of steaming tea sat before each of them.

"Shh, don't speak so loudly. You can't let them hear you," an older feminine voice hissed.

An oppressive silence dominated the hall, and the older maid feared the new hire would be heard even though she was whispering. This silence had persisted since the return of Zachary Gray, the youngest heir of the Gray family. The usually lively estate had been quiet, the maids and butlers remaining tight-lipped since the young master returned. There were rumours surrounding the disappearance of other staff members, and none of them wished to find out whether or not they were true.

At the same time, none dared to leave their positions. The O' Connel Municipality was the smallest of the twelve great cities, but it was still wealthy. And other than working directly for the O' Connels themselves, the Grays were one of the top-paying families in the area.

"I just want to know why the atmosphere is so stifling!" the young maid complained. "It makes it hard to focus on the work. Do they not get along or something?"

The older maid glanced worriedly to the table and hissed, "Just do your job and don't ask questions. The less you know, the better."

In a dignified manner, Zachary picked up the teacup and took a small sip before smacking his lips together and smiling in satisfaction. His eyes darted to the side, spotting two maids looking around the corner whispering. His smile receded ever so slightly before he shifted his gaze back to his parents, who were sitting at the opposite end of the long table, though there were quite a few empty spaces between his mother and father.

"I'm glad I could enjoy a meal with the two of you before beginning my ascent. It's been quite nice, wouldn't you agree?" he gently dabbed at the corners of his mouth with a towel before placing it back in his lap.

"Why yes... of course, Zachary. I'm... happy that you decided to stop by," Margeret Gray talked in a soft voice, trying to make herself seem as small as possible. For the keen observer, it was evident that her statement was forced, and she kept glancing between Zachary and his father.

On the surface, this could have been considered a typical family meal if one were to overlook the apparent tension... but there was a clear divide. Anyone who'd known the Grays for even a few days would be able to tell that the couple weren't fond of each other, and they were even more uneasy with Zachary's presence.

Margeret glanced between the two men once more before trying to break the awkward atmosphere again, "So, how was your final year at the Academy? I'm so proud of you for placing seco-"

Crack!

The porcelain cup in Zachary's hand shattered, and the liquid spilt all over his sleeve and the table. He didn't react, even as the scalding hot tea blistered his skin. Once again, the hall fell deathly silent, though instead of the former awkwardness, it felt... cold.

"Oh, my apologies," after a few gruelling seconds, Zachary smiled and apologized to his mother while dabbing at the liquid on his hand with the lap towel. "It seems as if I'm still getting used to my Strength. I did Level it to prepare for my ascent, after all."

"There's no need to apologize, dear," Margeret said, getting to her feet to help him. "You must be careful. Here, take my tow-"

"Sit."

The command came suddenly as Margeret made to move toward Zachary. Aldis Gray had finally spoken, his harsh voice cutting through the room and stopping Margeret in her tracks. She looked at her feet and slowly moved back to her chair.

The man's face was stone cold, and he looked at Zachary in disappointment, shaking his head. As for Margeret, she was only partially disturbed. She looked off to the edge of the massive chambers, her eyes boring into the two maids waiting by the wall.

"His clothes are wet. New girl, fetch some more. Helena, see to drying and cleaning my son's sleeve."

Zachary raised his hand, the smile still on his face, "There's no need, mother."

He stood and carefully slid the chair under the table before calmly adjusting his dripping sleeve. His calm and collected demeanour impressed the two maids at the back of the room, who were used to the wealthy going berserk when something didn't go their way.

"I did enjoy breakfast. Mother, father. Please excuse me. I have a prior engagement that I must attend," Zach pressed firmly against the large wooden door to the dining hall.

"Wait! What about your clothes?" Margeret stood, slamming her hands on the table. "You can not go out like that. No son of mine will be seen in such a shabby state!"

Zachary's smile never left. He held up the sleeve, his mother's unsettled gaze following his movement, "This? No need to worry, mother. I have something in mind that will be perfect for cleaning this up."

Before she could say another word, he left the room. This time, the smile on his face was genuine. He really had recalled the perfect item for cleaning up this mess.

The massive doors slammed behind him, and the uncomfortable silence returned to the hall. For many minutes, the couple stared at the empty seat, where tea still dripped slowly onto the floor. Neither spoke for the rest of their meal.

***

Luxton Bank, 23 Main St

I stopped in front of a large white building at least twice as wide and tall as the manor. Four gigantic pillars supported an ornately decorated overhang where stone-carved steps led up to a large door.

High metal fences surrounded the building, and although they were decorative, I could faintly see the Circuits adorning each of the spires. If someone were to try to climb or leap over it when it was active... Even with them deactivated, folks walking along the bustling street gave the fence a wide berth.

Carriages adorned with gold and silver lattice lined the street in front of the building, where men and women of many ages strode about confidently. The styles of the outfits were abundant, ranging from scantily clad to overly dressed. Many wore masks, while others wore large hats or veils.

With Appraisal active, I could see the golden-brown glows of Enhancements emitting from their Deck Boxes, elucidating the quick and graceful movements each of these men and women exhibited. Though these movements were normal on the streets, allowing citizens to move faster than the horse-drawn carriages, the pavements were calm. The pulsating purple circuits carved into the stone wouldn't allow the use of specific Enhancements, making it safe for all individuals to travel, regardless of power.

Grandhardt offered an exhaustive collection of unique and rowdy individuals. The metropolis was home to most of the top Guilds. Many small and medium Guilds followed suit, bringing people from all walks of life to the city.

Even with this bunch of unruly denizens, it was rare for one to commit a crime. Sure there were bar fights and the occasional street brawl, but the citizens respected the power of the Grandhardt Family and never dared cross the line.

"Good day, sir. How may I help you?"

One of a few men standing to the side of the open doorway stepped forward as I approached. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and short hair. His Deck Box perfectly matched his black suit and was one of the only ones within the facility that glowed brightly with many colours, showing he was immune to the effects of the Circuits. He was both guard and greeter and wasn't to be trifled with.

I smiled politely and handed the man the notice I'd found upon arrival, "I'm here to repay my debt, sir. I don't have an appointment."

"I see," his stern expression softened, and he handed the paper back. "One moment, please, young man. I'll have someone with you shortly."

"Many thanks," I smiled back politely and almost chuckled at the notion of being called a young man. It wasn't easy to get used to.

The guard held his hand up to his ear and spoke softly. With Appraisal still active, I could see the glowing blue around his thumb and pinky. Communication magic. After a moment, he removed his hand and gestured inside the building.

"Please make your way to the north wing and take a seat in cubicle 16. One of our tellers will be with you shortly," he flashed a quick smile before returning to his post.

"Thank you for your assistance," I bowed slightly in respect and proceeded into the building.

The bank's foyer was a vast, high, open room with multiple columns reaching from floor to ceiling. Desks lined the walls where small groups waited patiently. Between the desks, on the three walls aside from the entrance, were open arches leading to the different wings.

I approached the arch leading to the north wing and found the other side lined with cubicles, each covered by a dark shroud that offered privacy to the occupants. It only took a moment to find cubicle 16, where a short, thin man patiently waited with a forced smile.

The unenthusiastic man waved me over, undoubtedly already informed of who to look out for. He had a long nose and black hair parted evenly to either side. His eyes peered at me over the edge of his thin-framed oval glasses.

"Hello, I am William Cleeves of the Luxton Banking Corporation. How may I be of service to you today?" he spoke in a whispy voice, and even though his visage said he didn't want to be here, his speech was polite and professional.

I bowed slightly, earning a raised eyebrow and a subtle change in demeanour, "It's nice to meet you, Sir Cleeves. I'm here to inquire about my account and repay my debt."

With a flourishing gesture, I produced the most recent notice and passed it to the gentleman, who read it over and nodded, "Very well, come with me."

We stepped into the cubicle where an elaborate desk and two comfortable-looking chairs were waiting. William sat and gestured for me to take the other seat while pressing a metal badge into the corner of the desk.

The carved Circuits came to life, and a floating transparent window appeared between us. I couldn't see what was written on the other side, but William pressed the notice into the desk beside his badge and began reading something that presumably appeared on the glass.

After a moment, he cleared his throat, "I see. Mr Wilder, may I see your registration?"

I nodded and passed him the identification, which was already in my hand. He pressed it into a spot on the desk and looked over the information again, nodding to himself.

"Congratulations on graduating from the Academy, and in the top ten, no less. Impressive," he smiled, and his demeanour changed completely. "You're also now old enough to be declared the official holder of this account, so I can speak openly."

"Before I begin, I'm required to inform you that this cubicle is protected, and no one outside can overhear our discussion. The occurrences within this cubicle are recorded for both of our safeties, and those recordings can only be accessed by our Manager, Dominick Marcus. Do you have any questions?"

I shook my head, and he continued, "Very well. This account was opened as a loan against your estate by one Mr John Wilder, who is now deceased. He borrowed a total of 300,000 Essence with the promise to pay back 375,000 in regular payments of 1500 Essence every month. The current total balance is 151,500 Essence, and the current payment owed is 3000 Essence. 1500 which is past due, and 1500 which is currently due."

"I'm also inclined to inform you that there are three buyers interested in the property if the debt is too much for you to bear. I know you've been paying it for years, even while underage, but it is a lot of responsibility for someone as young as you," he sighed and shook his head.

"I'm sure you're planning on ascending. Your estate is worth much more than the 300,000, and these offers aren't paltry numbers. You can set yourself up for a very successful climb. If you have to make these monthly payments... I'm afraid you may lose your estate if it takes you more than a month to find your way to one of the stairwells."

I was a bit surprised. The man was actually concerned, and rightfully so. The estate was easily worth an amount of Essence ranging in the millions. To lose it over a 300,000 Essence loan would be nigh unforgivable. I was also curious about the offers, and my mind snapped back to the thief.

"May I know the amount of the offers and who is interested?" I asked without much hope for an answer.

William glanced at the screen, "One offer is for the storefront on the 15th of Devonshire for an amount of 6,850,000 Essence. It is a low offer for the location, but more than enough to repay your debt. The other offers are for the estate as a whole. One for 24.4 million Essence and the other..."

His eyes bulged, "Th... The other offer is for 72.5 million Essence. I'm afraid I am not permitted to divulge the name of the potential buyers unless you agree to meet with them here in the Luxton."

I had no plans to sell the estate, but I feigned as if I were considering the offer. That last offer was around 30% higher than the surface value of the combined properties, meaning whoever it was really wanted to get their hands on it.

Well... at least I may have found a lead on my former guest.

"I'm sorry, Mr Cleeves, but I'll have to decline all of those offers," the man looked aggrieved... until I untied the crammed pouch on my waist and placed it on the desk. "You did say the remaining balance is 151,500 Essence, correct?"

"That's correct, Mr Wilder," he spoke sceptically and looked at the pouch.

I opened the bag and activated Appraisal again, as it had run out earlier and just come off cooldown. Picking out the correct amount of Essence, I pushed the small pile over to the banker and tied the pouch back to my waist, estimating that I had around 65,000 left over to prepare for my future endeavours.

William removed his glasses, cleaned them, and put them back on while looking over the pile of Essence, "It seems that I don't have to worry about you losing the estate after all, Mr Wilder. I'm sorry for doubting you. I will have to contact the bank Manager to send for the deed to your estate. Do you have a few moments?"

"I do," I nodded my assent and waited for the banker to contact his superior.

In a similar fashion to the guard, he placed his thumb to his ear and pinky near his mouth, "Mr Marcus, could you please direct your Relic to cubicle 16? Thank you. Mr Wilder would like to pay the remainder of his balance. What? The Academy? Yes, he graduated in the top 10. Oh, I see. I'm sorry to disturb you while you're preparing for your guest. Thank you, sir. I'm sure he'll be thrilled."

Minutes later, a young woman stepped into the room brandishing two rolled-up pieces of parchment and handed them both to the banker. She glanced at the pile of Essence on the table, then smiled at me before leaving the room. I chuckled at that, much to the amusement of the banker.

"Alright, here is your proof of receipt. Make sure to keep this in case of any future discrepancies," William unrolled one of the papers and slit it toward me.

This document serves as proof that the former debtor, Mr Rowan Wilder, has repaid Luxton Bank the due amount of 151,500 Essence on [99:364:13:00:40:51].

The bank will cease charging the debtor the standard remittance of 1500 a month and will release the collateral property.

From this moment forth...

"And here is the deed to the property," William grinned as he handed the second parchment over. "Congratulations on becoming debt-free, Mr Wilder. Mr Marcus would also like you to have this in hopes you will continue using the Luxton in your future endeavours."

He slid a golden metal object across the table, which I picked up and examined. It was small, the shape of a Card but closer to the size of a cuff pin. In fact, that's precisely what it was, with the logo of the Luxton on the front.

"This Relic marks you as a favoured client of the Luxton," William explained. "Clip it somewhere visible on your person before you enter any branch of the Luxton, and you will be given superior treatment. The Luxton looks favourably on the Academy's top graduates."

"Thank you, Mr Cleeves, and thank Mr Marcus for me when you get the opportunity," I offered my hand, which William accepted with a firm grip. "I look forward to working with you in the future."

...

I left the bank after securing the two documents in a metal tube provided by the Luxton. My cane tapped against the ground as I walked, looking at the bright blue sky with a wide grin. It felt as if a massive weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

I've done it. I actually managed to pay my debt in record time and even made another connection. I'll be able to ascend without worry from this point. And this... this is just the beginning. Now... where do I go from here?

It was still a bit early to meet with Nathaniel, and I didn't plan on speaking with Crook until tomorrow when I had the time to deliver the stacks of Cards to put on display.

Well, I still need to prepare. I'm glad I haven't used any Essence to Level my Cards... There are still quite a few purchases I need to make.

"The prices at Mikelian's Crown are absurd! Can you believe that it cost me 8,000 Essence for this suit? And it's only a lower Floor Relic!"

"What material did they use?"

"The outer layer is made from the hide of a Level 15 Blood-Toothed Feline, but the inner liner is only crafted from the fibres found on the Sixth Floor. It was the only thing in my price range with the loan I took out, but it should last me until the Twentieth Floor... I hope."

"Bloody hell, quit griping. That's a great deal, and they even made it cheaper for you by replacing the inner liner."

Hmm... Mikelian's Crown, eh? I suppose I have time to get fitted, and Mikelian's is the best in the city.

It wasn't far from the Luxton, being in the central shopping district and only a few storefronts over from my own place on Devonshire Ave. Almost anyone with a bit of wealth would make it a point to visit. Being they were centred in a city full of Guilds, materials were easy to come by, so their prices were more than affordable. The only mark against them was that they didn't craft masks or hats, which were standard items for many Climbers.

With my mind made up, my pace quickened. I stepped around the corner, not bothering to keep my distance from the iron fence, when I heard someone call my name.

"Rowan?"

I looked up to find Zachary Gray standing just a few feet from me, not bothering to stand away from the fence others were avoiding like a Plagued Beast. He was wearing a blue suit with a lovely silk hat.

He smiled politely, "Were you just visiting the Luxton?"

"I was," I nodded. "There were some matters I needed to handle before beginning my ascent."

I didn't like the young man, but I had no reason to show hostility, especially in public. Fortunately, it didn't seem that he would take up much of my time, as he'd already begun walking by.

"Is that so? A pity that I arrived too late. It would have been lovely to catch up, and I'm curious about your plans for the future. Perhaps another time," he tipped his hat as he passed. "Pardon me. I have a meeting, and I'm already running a bit behind."

Zachary disappeared through the open gates and headed up the stairs into the Luxton. I didn't miss how one of the guards personally escorted him inside.

I squinted at his departing figure for a moment. There was something off about his behaviour. On the surface, he seemed fine, but... I shook my head.

It's none of my business. For now, I need to get a new suit, meet with Nathaniel, and start locating the Cards I need.

The encounter was pushed from my mind as I walked toward Devonshire Avenue.