Chapter 17: Debt Collectors – Unseen Faces

Tulobis woke up feeling hot water boiling his skin. Opening his eyes he could see himself naked without any garments on. The face he paid so much was obviously ripped out of his face. He could see it on the ground in the middle of two wearing black cloaks standing in front of him. Both had cold faces, the silver haired man had a cruel smile while the blonde-haired woman beside him had a face cold as a sheet of ice.

“Tuyon of Losabis, born as a peasant, and given land by a kind lord, yet turned into a snake, and a thief. Or should we call you Tulobis now?”

The silvered haired man said, caressing a dagger on his hand. Tulobis thought that this was it; he got caught, and if that Sigil under their cloaks that he got a glimpse at the people in front of him then they are collectors from the Bank of Brewrael.

The collectors are feared for their utter persistence in getting their gold back. The Demi’s even fear these collectors who call themselves neutral, slaves, only to the gold they collect. The owners of the banks are callous and neutral, and their collectors doing their bidding.

“I ain’t done anything.”

“Thought you might say that, so we brought this fine dagger, made of mithril steel, sharpened, forged by a demi-race called ‘Dwarves’. Do you care if we test it on you?”

The silver haired man slid the dagger under Tulobis’s right middle finger. The sharp dagger flayed his nail, and his skin was ripped out of his body. Tulobis screamed in pain, the side of his eyes rolling down a streak of tears as he feels the pain.

“Quite sharp, indeed sharp, those dwarves really know how to forge their metal.”

The man with silver hair praised the dagger. He looked at the woman who gestured with her eyes. Tulobis could not understand what was it about, but seeing the man sigh as he sheathes his dagger back made Tulobis feel relief. He thanked whatever God he believed in as that sharp dagger was out of his eyes.

“Tuyon of Losabis, killer of a Lord, stealer of Gold, robber, and enemy of the Bank of Brewrael, we shall have you condemned unto one the mines of the Galzaea, we shall take you there as a condemned man or do you wish to pay the gold you stole?”

The blonde-haired collector said with a cold tone.

“Why would I need to pay the gold I didn’t know that didn’t belong to the fucking Bank? I am innocent, and that man deserves what he got for! Why not take his gold then!”

“We have done that.” said the silver-haired collector. “The Lord of Losabis and all of his resources have been confiscated and sold to pay the Lord’s debts. The peasants, who could not pay gold under the new Lord owner of the Losabis, are given a choice to work half-rationed in the land or a condemned in the mines of Galzaea. You stole hundred thousands of Gold Coins, and gold notes that rightly belong to the Bank of Brewrael. Thus, we considered the missed payment, an increase in interest; therefore you owe the Bank of Brewrael, exactly four million gold coins, for being unable to pay the thirty percent interest that was added as a penalty.”

Four million gold coins. Hearing the shocking amount of gold that he now owes to the Bank of Brewrael made Tulobis felt like the pain he is feeling on his right hand is nothing compared to the amount of gold that he didn’t even borrow.

“That’s insane! Even working under the gold mines won’t be enough!”

“Indeed, it is not enough; working for a gold mine for your whole life won’t allow you to pay such money. That is why we will give you a choice. Become a condemned working as a slave for the mines of Galzea, or a thrall blade, a man that would lose all of his freedom, fighting elementals and daemons living under the ruins where various treasures can found. But in any case, it still won’t be enough to pay up the four million gold coins you owe.”

The silver-haired collector said while smirking.

“Ah, that is maddened, inhumane...”

“Indeed, but it due to your carelessness that you now owe seven lifetimes worth of gold to the Bank of Brewrael, having your soul cindered, sold won’t be enough to pay it back. Be lucky, that in your life you will be able to get a choice.”

“I choose death.”

“Invalid choice, we are unable to grant you such relief until you at least pay the gold that you owe. So what will it be, a condemned slave, or condemned thrall?”

Light has already left Tulobis’s eyes.

“Ah, my master will probably wonder where I will be going.”

“No need to worry.” said the silver haired man. “We have our friend deliver a parcel to the lady of Lubis that you owe the Bank of Brewrael and if the lady is smart then she will indeed immediately leave your life. In fact, it would be easy for a noble like her to abandon a servant like you.”

“I see...” said Tulobis or Tuyon in a dejected tone. “I choose to become a condemned thrall, maybe dying under the ruins are better than picking on ores.”

“A wise choice”

The Silver Haired man said, crossing his arms.

“Very well, then I, in the power of this spell.” A black ring of light appeared on the blonde-haired woman’s palms. “You are now condemned as a thrall serving for the bank of Brewrael. Within the sigil, you shall obey, and thus your life, is now owned, managed until the gold has been harvested upon your soul, and under the name you sinned, you shall now be named: Tuyon the Thrall.”

The black light flew and encircled Tulobis’s neck. It dug on to his neck as it then made vein-like lines that extended on to his arms and legs. A sigil that is like a cross with a coin on a center appeared on Tulobis’s chest, it grew bright, as if it got tattooed on his chest.

“I Tuyon serve.”

Tulobis or only known as Tuyon the Thrall lowered his head at the two. The two smiled at the thrall they now own and shall deliver to the Bank of Brewrael.

...

Avilina sipped tea out of her cups. The smell of fresh eastern tea left her smelling the aroma that it gives. The maid standing near her gave a light smile as she watches her lady sip her tea. Black haired, wearing a long skirted maid garb. The servant was close to her lady.

“Did you find the tea to your liking milady?”

“Yes, good job.”

Avilina responded as her eyes point at the bright blue moon outside the patio windows. She was enjoying herself and tea made her tired body feel refreshed.

But suddenly the sound of knocking made her wake up from the feeling. The servant of hers appeared and when she looked at the back of her servant, there was a man wearing a black-wooden-mask with a jester smile drawn on it. She almost dropped her cup of tea but was swift enough to catch it.

“Who goes there, and who is that behind your back?”

The black haired, long skirted maid wearing servant of Avilina said.

“I am sorry for disturbing Milady's cup of tea...but this man is a ‘helper’ of Debt Collectors, from the Bank of Brewrael?”

“The Bank of Brewrael?” said the maid servant in shock. “What does that greedy bank wants with milady?”

“He came here with a parcel for the milady.”

The servant said with a stutter, clearly fearing the man behind her back.

“Give it to me.”

Avilina said as she puts the cup of tea on her table. The man clad in black walked silently towards the lady. As he moves the moonlight seems to give him a light. This light made the man grimmer than he should be. He was tall, about six-feet and two tall and the mask and the tattered cloak along with that eerie dagger on his waist made him look like a laughing wraith.

He gave the parcel to Avilina.

“This is from the Bank?”

Avilina asks the man clad in black nodded in reply.

“I see...”

She started reading the parcel. Inside there was a detailed account of what her servant owed to the bank. Seeing such figures made Avilina widen her eyes, even her family, the House of Lubis could not possibly have such amount of gold if they sell two or three of their lands.

“He owed all of this?”

The man nodded his head.

“Unbelievable...to think that I would hire such a goon in my service without knowing this...” Avilina said as she shrinks down on her seat. “So does this mean that he will condemn, or does your bank want to have us pay for him?”

The man in black shook his head. He then presented a new parcel. Avilina took it. She read the parcel and learned that all they wanted is a mere hundred gold for ‘hiding’ the man and signing the contract of his release.

“This is good enough. I shall sign it.”

Avilina said as she orders her servant to get some quill and ink. Her servant responded immediately and brought her the things she needs. Avilina read the parcel again to make sure she wasn’t being played by the bank. After confirming it she signed the paper and gave it to the man clad in black.

“Is that all?”

The man clad in black nodded his head.

“Good, then if you can please leave helper, I have a bad mood now.”

The man in tattered cloak nodded and let the servant that took him take him out of the room. Avilina sighs in irritation, the maid behind her named Azalea said.

“Are you alright milady?”

“Yes, please bring me wine...I want to drink this frustration away.”

“I see...please wait for me milady.”

With that as her cue, she left the room. Avilina sighed as she then took the cup of tea and drank it. She felt refreshed, and there was a thin bitter smile on her face. It seems that the night has given a surprise for her.