Journey to Become the Zenith

The Beginning of Her Path

”Please, Videl! I have nowhere else to go. My village is gone; the people I care for are dead... I... I have no one else... No one... I... Please, you’re my only hope.”

Aria spoke through a broken sound, each word rushing forward like it couldn’t wait its turn. Her eyes filled, drops falling without warning, smudging what she saw. Those passing near the inn stepped slower, drawn by the sight of her fingers gripping Videl’s arm so tight - like losing hold meant vanishing into nothing.

Videl froze.

Those blue eyes of hers lost their edge, yet her jaw set firm. Helping tugged at her, naturally. Deep down, something primal pushed her to draw Aria near, to whisper that everything would be okay.

But promises weren’t light things.

The path she walked was lined with blood, uncertainty, and enemies stronger than reason. Bringing Aria along... was that kindness? Or was it cruelty disguised as mercy?

”Aria, I - ”

She was speaking when Victor interrupted. He stopped her mid-sentence without warning.

Videl, what’s on your mind now? That voice of his stayed low yet cut right through the thick air between them. Going to leave it hanging, unfinished?

Videl stiffened.

”You saved her out of your own selfishness,” Victor continued, his golden eyes calm but unyielding. ”Then you leave her to fend for herself. You think you’re protecting her, but you’re just protecting your conscience.”

The words hit.

”Her village is gone. She has no one left. If you leave her like this... you might as well have left her in chains.”

Fists pressed tight against her legs, Videl stood still. His words stung because they made sense.

What sat there was not rage toward him.

She felt mad, but it wasn’t at someone else - it pointed back at her.

She didn’t want Aria to die because of her.

A figure moved near Aria, eyes tracing her shape - no hunger there, no weight - just quiet curiosity. Then again, something shifted between them, not tension but space opening wide.

Footsteps paused. ”Another thing,” his words dipped lower. A quiet settled between them.”Her body... the way mana moves around her. It’s stable. Clean. She’s suited for warrior training.”

Aria blinked through tears.

”I can sense it,” Victor continued. ”Her mana circulation is smooth, not chaotic. With proper guidance, she won’t slow you down. She’ll grow.”

Videl exhaled slowly.

There it is.

Not pity.

Potential.

After a long silence, she sighed.

”Fine, Aria. You can join me on my journey.”

Aria’s breath hitched.

”Do what you must first. When you’re done, come find me at Fantom City’s Knight Academy.”

Joy crashed over Aria like a tidal wave. She threw her arms around Videl without hesitation, sobbing into her shoulder. Tears mixed with snot in an utterly ungraceful mess.

Videl didn’t pull away.

She simply hugged her back gently.

Aria stepped back after a moment, wiping her face in embarrassment.

”I... I need to return to my village once more,” she said softly. ”There are things I must settle.”

”Now?” Videl glanced at the darkening sky. ”It’s already night. Stay until morning.”

Aria shook her head firmly.

”I need to do this now. It’s important.” She inhaled. ”And... I can see well enough in the dark.”

Then she bowed.

”Lady Vi—”

”It’s Videl,” she interrupted gently. ”Don’t call me lady.”

Aria tilted her head.

”That’s what my companions call me. Just Videl. Or... Val, if you like.”

Aria’s cheeks flushed pink.

”V-Videl... thank you. I’m in your care.”

Her eyes lifted for a split second—and met Victor’s.

He wasn’t staring coldly like before.

He was smiling.

Not the sharp smile that commanded criminals.

Not the calculating smile that terrified enemies.

Just... warm.

”Don’t worry,” Victor said lightly. ”We’ll take care of you.”

Her heart skipped.

Heat flooded her face.

She looked away quickly, bowing again before sprinting off into the night.

Why did she run?

Because when his golden eyes looked at her like that—steady, gentle—she felt something tighten in her chest.

Not fear.

Something worse.

Hope.

Videl watched her silhouette disappear.

”That was sudden,” she muttered. ”Did she really need to leave so fast?”

Inside her mind, Amura’s calm voice echoed.

”You are quite dense, Master.”

”Huh?”

”Nothing.”

Amura had seen it clearly—the way Aria’s gaze lingered on Victor. The way her steps stumbled when he smiled.

But Videl... blinded by ideals and loyalty... missed it entirely.

Victor, meanwhile, said nothing.

He had noticed.

Of course he had.

Later that night—

Back inside their room, the lantern light flickered softly against wooden walls. The tension of the day lingered in the air like unspoken words.

Videl stood near the window, arms folded, pretending she wasn’t replaying Victor’s earlier scolding in her head.

Lane leaned against the bedpost, eyes half-lidded, watching him quietly.

Victor stepped between them.

Without warning, he pulled both of them into a firm embrace.

Videl stiffened in surprise.

Lane blinked once... then relaxed.

”What are you doing?” Videl asked, though she didn’t pull away.

”Resetting the mood,” Victor answered lazily.

He felt it again—the inconvenient storm of hormones that came with this sixteen-year-old body.

Tch.

One more year.

Just one more birthday.

When the system fully awakens...

When the threads of destiny loosen...

Everything will change.

For now, though, he exhaled quietly.

Human bodies were troublesome.

Especially when surrounded by beautiful women.

Lane glanced at him sideways, a faint knowing smile tugging at her lips.

Videl, unaware of his internal irritation, simply leaned against him, reassured.

The night passed.

Morning came quickly.

The air outside carried a crisp chill as they walked toward the Knight Academy gates.

”Are you nervous?” Victor asked casually.

Videl shook her head.

”Not nervous. Excited.” Her eyes shone. ”This is where it begins. The start of my path to becoming a true hero. When people tell my story someday... this is where it will start.”

Victor only shrugged.

Hero or not... the script would try to bind her.

But he would break it.

No matter the cost.

The academy grounds were bustling—students arriving in polished armor, stepping down from carriages, laughing loudly.

When the three of them approached the gates, some students glanced at them with faint disdain.

Commoners, they likely assumed.

Victor didn’t care.

Ants rarely interest dragons.

Videl didn’t even notice, too absorbed in the towering gates ahead.

Lane remained expressionless as ever, walking silently at Victor’s side.

They were about to part ways when a dignified older man stepped forward.

His armor was forged of adamantite, engraved with intricate runes. His presence alone silenced nearby chatter.

”Greetings, Videl and companions,” the man said with a composed smile. ”I am Max, principal of this academy.”

Though he addressed Videl—

His eyes were on Victor.

Carefully.

Measuring.

Weighing.

And Victor met that gaze without blinking.

The game, it seemed, had only just begun.