The Royal Aether Academy was a sprawl of high-spired libraries, massive training grounds, and gothic architectures that seemed to sneer at the modest noble estates surrounding it. The scent of old parchment and unearned arrogance hung heavy in the air. Caelum, in his simple grey tunic and worn trousers, was practically invisible amidst the sons and daughters of High Dukes arriving in carriages pulled by griffins and drakes.
In his past life, he had walked this path with his head bowed, his hands shaking, terrified of the debt his father had accrued. He had been so focused on survival that he had missed the sheer volume of opportunity around him.
Now, he looked at the world and saw nothing but opportunities—nothing but balance sheets.
His vision, enhanced by the translucent overlay of the System, showed him a world of potential income. Red text flickered above the heads of every passing student, a manifestation of the debts of their past actions or family associations.
[Debtor: Baronet Thorne - Debt: 12 Silver (Unpaid Interest)]
[Debtor: Lady Cecily - Debt: 3 High-Grade Mana Stones (Theft of Research Data)]
"Small fry," Caelum muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the crowd.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out near the main gate. The crowd parted. A carriage plated in pure white gold rolled to a halt, the wheels gilded with ancient dwarven protective runes. Out stepped a boy who looked like he was carved from direct sunlight—Viktor von Marquis, the "Solar Genius" of the kingdom. In his future life, he would be one of Saint Aris's strongest generals. Currently, he was the heir to a high-ranking minister and Caelum's primary tormentor.
As Viktor approached, the red text above his head didn't just flicker—it burned with a blinding, deep crimson light.
[DEBTOR: Viktor von Marquis] Debt: The Caelum Family Estate (Fraudulent Contract / Forgery) Interest: The Death of Caelum's Father (Intent to Commit Murder) Current Status: Critical Overdue. Value: A-Grade Talent [Sword Mastery]. Action: [Collect] / [Foreclose]
"A-Grade Talent [Sword Mastery]..." Caelum repeated the text silently, the words settling into his mind. His family estate was currently "his" on paper, but only because his father was currently drowning in debt. The system was now showing him that the seizure itself was a forgery. The debt on Viktor's head was staggering.
"Well, if it isn't the beggar of the South," Viktor sneered. He stopped directly in front of Caelum, purposely stepping on the toe of Caelum's boot, ground-in with his expensive leather sole. "I heard your father sold your house to my family for a bag of grain. Are you here to beg for a job as my stable boy?" Viktor's friends chuckled obediently behind him.
In his past life, this would have sent Caelum into a rage or a dynamic panic. In this life, he didn't flinch. He simply looked at Viktor with a gaze that made the bully's smile falter.
"Viktor," Caelum said, his voice terrifyingly calm. "I was just thinking about that contract. My father was a drunk, but he wasn't a fool. You stole that land. Your family forged that signature."
Viktor's face turned from a smirk to a confused frown, and then a purple mask of rage. "I did no such thing! It's signed in blood, you pathetic peasant!"
Caelum stepped closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "The debt is overdue, Viktor. And since you don't have the coin to pay me back today... I think I'll take the interest."
Caelum reached out and tapped Viktor's chest, right over his pounding heart.
[Initiating Collection Event: Target 'Viktor von Marquis'] [Foreclosing High-Value Asset: Talent - Tier 1 Sword Mastery]
A jolt of cold lightning, invisible to everyone else, shot from Viktor's chest and up into Caelum's fingertip. It was a violent, invasive sensation. Viktor let out a strangled gasp, his eyes going wide. His knees buckled, and he collapsed into the dirt, sweating profusely. He didn't know why, but for a split second, he felt a void opening in his soul—as if something he had spent years practicing had simply... vanished.
"What did you do..." Viktor gasped, clutching his chest, the arrogant smirk replaced by sheer terror.
Caelum looked at his own hand. A warm, familiar weight settled into his muscles. The way to hold a blade, the rhythm of a perfect parry, the hidden flow of a feint—he could feel the talent weaving into his very bones, bypassing the years of practice that should have been required.
[Asset Collected!] Current Balance: 1,200 Debt Points (First major collection!) Reward: Skill [Shadow Blade - Rank E] unlocked.
"Go home, Viktor," Caelum said, stepping over the kneeling boy, leaving him to gasp in the dirt, surrounded by his confused friends. He walked toward the main hall, ignoring the rising commotion behind him. He wasn't just a student here. He was the Academy's newest and biggest creditor.