Journey to Become the Zenith

Wolves at the Academy Gates

The noble families that had gathered in Fantom City had directly gone to the knight academy. Heavy silence broke as dawn lost its peace, replaced by something harder to name. Along the broad stone way toward the school entrance, footsteps didn’t just travel - they lingered with purpose not meant to be seen. This route, once only for lessons and routine, slowly filled instead with hunger masked as duty, with glances held too long, with wants pressed beneath polite words.

Carriages stopped one after another. Boots struck the ground. Cloaks swayed. Steel glinted beneath the soft daylight.

Majority of them only brought around five to six men, seeing as the simple girl who held the magic weapon was nothing more than a commoner who had nothing backing her up. That assumption hung in the air like an unspoken agreement. To them, this was not a battlefield—it was a transaction waiting to happen.

Or so they thought.

Even though the girl was a master rank swordsman, the noble families had brought numerous advanced-level swordsmen, and even some three-circle mages—also called advanced-level mages. The presence of those individuals was not subtle. The faint hum of mana, the quiet discipline in their stance, the way their eyes scanned surroundings—it was clear they were not here for negotiation alone.

They came prepared.

Not just to take—

But to crush resistance if needed.

Even though these people were one rank lower than Videl, they had the advantage of numbers. And numbers, when backed by arrogance, often felt like certainty.

With the preparations they made, the noble families felt comfortable.

Too comfortable.

But comfort had a flaw.

It made people forget—

Not just them had thoughts running through their heads.

Now and then, a glance would slip sideways across the courtyard, sharp with intent. Nobles grouped by the gate, murmuring low, words slipping through teeth like secrets meant to be caught. Not friendship in those looks, but measure - each sizing the other, quiet arithmetic behind still faces.

What made it tricky? Lots showed up wanting exactly that.

The Long sword.

And power -

Hard to talk about. It stayed locked inside, far from words.

A hush fell as the man pulled his dark blue hood tighter, voice low but sharp. Not one of us is fooling anyone, he thought out loud, lips barely moving. Same goal pulls everyone here - no need to dress it up in noble words

A different noble, greyer, eyes keener, spoke without rush: ”Maybe the real thought is... whose claim runs deeper.”

”Deserves?” a third one chuckled under his breath. ”You still believe in things like that?”

A faint smirk appeared on someone’s lips. ”No. But it sounds better than saying ’who can take it.’”

A brief silence followed.

Then—

A quieter voice slipped in.

”...And what happens after we take it?”

That question lingered longer than the others.

Because everyone already knew the answer.

How will they get what they want and justify it to the other nobles present?

That was the real problem.

Not obtaining the weapon—

But keeping it.

That was the question all of them had at first, until they learned that Shawn Saulon had come for the same thing.

The moment that name surfaced—

The tone changed.

Not loudly.

But noticeably.

”Saulon...” someone muttered under their breath.

”...The knight commander?”

A few exchanged glances.

”...If he gets involved...”

The sentence didn’t need to be finished.

Everyone understood.

All of the lower nobles present decided to band together and try to persuade Shawn to not join in the chaos.

Not out of unity.

But survival.

A tall noble stepped forward slightly, his expression composed. ”We should approach this carefully,” he said, voice steady but cautious. ”If Shawn Saulon chooses to intervene... none of us will benefit.”

Another nodded. ”Then we convince him this isn’t worth his attention.”

”And if he refuses?”

”...Then we avoid conflict with him.”

A quiet, almost bitter laugh followed. ”Easy to say.”

Still—

Before they could argue about who gets the weapon, they first needed to get the weapon in question.

The nobles and their guards began moving.

Not rushing.

Not charging.

But closing in.

The noblemen and their guards had now surrounded the knight academy. The noblemen and their guards had now surrounded the knight academy.

The iron gates stood tall, unmoving. Beyond them, the academy grounds remained calm, almost indifferent to the gathering storm outside. Students had already been pulled away, instructors watching from a distance, tension creeping into the space like a silent warning.

Boots shifted.

Armor creaked softly.

Mana stirred faintly in the air.

noble glanced toward the gates, his voice slightly impatient. ”Are we just going to stand here?”

”We wait,” another replied.

”For what?”

”...For the one holding the sword.”

But instead—

The gates opened.

A figure stepped out.

Not hurried.

Not pressured.

Calm.

It wasn’t Videl.

But the old knight—

Principal Max.

His silver hair moved lightly with the wind, his posture straight despite his age. There was no visible weapon in his hand, no sign of aggression. Yet the moment he stepped forward—

The noise softened.

Just slightly.

Because presence—

Didn’t always need force.

His gaze moved across the gathered nobles, not with hostility, but with quiet understanding. As if he had already seen this situation unfold long before it reached this moment.

He stopped just before the gates.

Hands resting calmly behind his back.

Then he spoke.

”How can I help you gentlemen?”

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Authors Notes: Dear Readers, Thanks so much for joining me on this adventure! Your enthusiasm, feedback, and encouragement really keep me motivated to keep bringing *Journey to Become the Zenith* into existence. If you’re loving the Chapters, I’d love it if you supported my book with a Powerstone, review, or even a Golden Ticket—it helps me develop as a writer and lets more readers enjoy the story. I look forward to hearing your ideas and thoughts, so please don’t hesitate to share!

With love,

Scorpio_saturn777

Creator of Journey to Become the Zenith

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