Chapter 1 : Shadows of the Starry Sky Guild

## The Tenth Anniversary

The autumn dusk draped Radiant City in a golden cloak, casting long shadows from the castle spires. In the study of the Starry Sky Guild headquarters, Samuel Yang sat in his wheelchair, staring at the portrait of Lady Sarah that hung above the fireplace.

Ten years. A decade since the ambush that had taken his adoptive mother''s life and left him with legs that would never walk again.

"Master," Tim''s soft voice broke the silence. The blond youth stood in the doorway, his expression somber. "The memorial flowers have been placed at Lady Sarah''s tomb. And... there''s news."

Samuel turned from the portrait, his deep brown eyes sharp with focus. "What news?"

"Lord Taylor''s ship arrived at the river docks an hour ago. He''s come to receive a shipment of rare ore from the Western Frontier."

Samuel''s hands tightened on the arms of his wheelchair. Lord Taylor—the noble whose family controlled the eastern iron mines, the man all evidence pointed to as the mastermind behind Lady Sarah''s murder. The man who had escaped justice through wealth, connections, and forged evidence.

"Ten years of waiting," Samuel murmured, his voice cold. "Ten years of building the guild, gathering evidence, preparing. And he chooses today of all days to return to the capital."

Tim approached, concern in his young eyes. "Master, what are you planning?"

"Justice," Samuel said simply. "Prepare the carriage. We''re going to the river docks."

"But Lord Taylor travels with armed guards. He''s a knight, trained in combat. And you—"

"And I am a merchant in a wheelchair?" Samuel finished, a faint, bitter smile touching his lips. "Yes, Tim. I know what I am. But I also know what I have become. Lady Sarah didn''t raise me to hide from bullies, noble or otherwise."

He wheeled himself to the window, looking down at the bustling streets below. The Starry Sky Guild emblem—stars and scales—gleamed on the building''s lintel. From a small trading company nearly bankrupted by Lady Sarah''s death, he had built it into one of the kingdom''s most powerful merchant organizations. But wealth and influence meant nothing if he couldn''t achieve the one thing that mattered: justice for the woman who had saved him from the streets, given him a home, a name, a purpose.

"Besides," Samuel added, turning back to Tim, "I have more than a wheelchair. I have the wind."

He raised a hand, and the papers on his desk stirred as if touched by a gentle breeze. Then, with a flick of his wrist, a stronger gust sent them swirling into the air before settling neatly back into place.

Tim''s eyes widened slightly. He''d seen Samuel use magic before, but it never ceased to amaze him—the way his master could command the air itself, despite being bound to a chair.

"Very well, Master," Tim said, bowing. "I''ll prepare the carriage."

## The River Docks

The river docks were among the busiest places in Radiant City, where merchant ships from across the kingdom and beyond unloaded their goods. Today, the Taylor family banner flew proudly from a luxurious merchant vessel, and a crowd had gathered to watch the unloading of rare blue ore that gleamed in the afternoon light.

Samuel''s carriage, marked with the Starry Sky Guild emblem, drew attention as it arrived. Merchants made way, some nodding respectfully, others whispering behind their hands. The story of the disabled guild master and his quest for justice was well known in certain circles.

Lord Taylor stood on the docks, a burly man in his forties with a meticulously trimmed beard and lavish noble attire. He was supervising the unloading, barking orders to his men. When he saw Samuel''s carriage, a mocking smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Well, well," he boomed, his voice carrying across the docks. "If it isn''t the crippled merchant prince. Come to inspect my shipment? Or perhaps your wheelchair needs new wheels?"

Low laughter rippled through his entourage.

Samuel''s expression remained unchanged as Tim helped him from the carriage into his wheelchair. "Lord Taylor. I''ve come to speak with you about Lady Sarah."

The laughter died abruptly. Lord Taylor''s face darkened. "That matter was settled ten years ago. The royal court ruled it an accident. Bandits on the northern road."

"Bandits wearing Taylor family insignia?" Samuel''s voice was calm, but each word was sharp as an icicle. "Bandits who were later seen receiving payment from your steward?"

"Lies and slander!" Lord Taylor roared. "You dare accuse a noble based on merchant gossip?"

"I dare seek justice for murder," Samuel said, producing a scroll of parchment from his robe. "I have new testimony. From one of the knights who participated in the ambush. He''s willing to speak before the royal court."

A flicker of panic crossed Lord Taylor''s eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Forged testimony! You think you can buy justice like you buy silk and spices?"

"I think the truth has a value beyond gold," Samuel replied. "And I think the royal judges will be interested in hearing this knight''s account. Along with seeing the correspondence between your family and the so-called ''bandits.''"

Lord Taylor''s hand went to the sword at his waist. "You overreach, merchant. You may have built your little guild into something respectable, but you''re still a commoner. And I am a noble of the realm."

"And Lady Sarah was a woman who deserved to live," Samuel said, his voice dropping to a dangerous quiet. "A woman who took in an orphan from the streets, taught him trade and honor. A woman you had killed because she refused to be intimidated by your ''noble'' threats."

The dock had grown silent. Even Lord Taylor''s men had stopped working to watch the confrontation.

"You have no proof," Lord Taylor said, though the confidence had drained from his voice.

"I have enough to demand a retrial," Samuel said. "And I will have it. Today, on the tenth anniversary of her death, I swear by the stars and scales of my guild: you will face justice for what you did."

For a long moment, Lord Taylor simply stared at Samuel, his expression a mixture of fury and calculation. Then he drew his sword.

"Then let it be justice of a different kind," he said, his voice cold. "I, Taylor von Sterling, challenge you to a duel. Here and now. Knight''s honor against merchant''s... whatever you claim to have."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. A noble challenging a commoner to a duel was unprecedented—and according to kingdom tradition, a commoner could not refuse without dishonoring the noble''s honor.

Samuel''s hands tightened on his wheelchair. A duel. Against a fully armored knight. With his legs useless beneath him.

But to refuse would be to admit weakness, to give Lord Taylor the victory without a fight.

"Very well," Samuel said, his voice calm despite the racing of his heart. "I accept your challenge."

More gasps. Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire. A disabled merchant accepting a knight''s duel? It was madness.

Lord Taylor''s smile returned, cruel and confident. "Then we meet at noon tomorrow at the dueling grounds outside the city. Bring whatever... assistance you require."

He turned and strode back to his ship, his men following. The crowd began to disperse, casting glances back at Samuel—some pitying, some admiring, all disbelieving.

Tim wheeled Samuel back to the carriage, his face pale. "Master, you can''t—"

"I already have," Samuel said quietly. "Help me in, Tim. We have preparations to make."

As the carriage rolled away from the docks, Samuel looked out at the city passing by. Ten years of planning, of gathering evidence, of building power—and it came down to this. A duel he had little chance of winning.

But as his fingers traced the Starry Sky Guild emblem on the carriage door, he remembered Lady Sarah''s words from long ago: "True strength isn''t in the legs, Samuel. It''s in the heart. And yours is stronger than any knight''s armor."

He would find a way. He had to.

Because some debts could only be paid in blood—or justice.

And Samuel Yang intended to collect.

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