Journey to Become the Zenith

Echoes of a Forgotten Life

With events having taken a bad turn, Victor went back to the cave with Diana.

The journey back had been quiet.

A long time before they reached the car, the clamor they had created in the city was diminishing into the distance. In the background of nature, the noise of panicked men, pursing footsteps, and whispering speculation was going away. By the time Victor reached the well-known cave, the sun had already begun sinking beyond the distant mountains, leaving the sky in dull shades of orange and crimson.

Victor stepped inside without saying much.

His mind was heavy with the events of the day. Not fear. Not even tired.

It was irritation.

He had been out, hoping for a good fight, and was going to have to deal with one or two idiot nobles. Now that it was all over, he couldn’t get rid of that all-too-familiar feeling of dissatisfaction.

Diana followed quietly behind him.

Her long, black hair flipped as she moved, and she kept her red eyes glued to Victor. The outside world was noisy and chaotic, but the cave was eerily silent. Somewhere further into the depths, a slight dribble of water echoed in the darkness.

Finally, the cutter drew up alongside his stopping place.

He exhaled slowly.

”That was disappointing.”

Diana’s lips curved into a faint smile.

”You were hoping for a better fight.”

Victor glanced at her.

”Was it that obvious?””A little.”

Victor merely looked at her for a second, before an smiled.

”At least you understand me.”

Diana moved closer.

”I understand you more than you think.”

There was a little raillery in her tone, but there was kindness too.

Victor’s expression softened.

He reached out, ran his hand through it and swept it from her face.

”Then stay beside me.”

Diana’s red eyes softened.

”I was planning to.”

Victor moved toward her and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead.

Diana’s expression became noticeably warmer.

”You’re an absolute legend.”

Victor chuckled quietly.

”Good. Then I’m doing something right.”

Diana rested her head against his chest.

They were silent for a while.

The silence wasn’t even uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that only exists between people who no longer require words to comprehend each other.

At last Victor eased himself down onto the pile of bedding he had made up inside the cave. Diana got down beside him and in a very short while the two were lying next to each other, Diana resting her head on his chest, his arm about her.

Having the warmth of someone else lying in the cot beside him to relax his tense body.

His eyelids became heavier.

”Sleep well,” Diana whispered.

”You too.”

Victor’s voice had already grown drowsy.

Diana closed her eyes.

Within minutes, the cave became completely silent.

Victor fell asleep.

And as before, the world of dreams has opened itself before him.

The same weird feeling he had experienced before.

He was in a place out of the cave.

Wasn’t this world.

Wasn’t even his own life.

The sensation was difficult to explain.

It felt as though he had stepped into someone else’s memories.

Another existence.

Another identity.

Another incarnation.

Victor could see everything, yet at the same time, he wasn’t truly himself.

The scenery slowly became clear.

...

The sky was darkened because of a powerful release in divine energy.

Clouds churned across the heavens like an endless black ocean.

Brilliant flashes of divine light occasionally tore through the darkness, illuminating the landscape below for only an instant before vanishing again.

The air itself seemed heavy.

Every breath carried a strange pressure, as though the world was warning anyone who approached to turn around.

Yet two figures continued forward.

Adam, supposedly one of Victor’s past incarnations, was heading toward the source of that tremendous divine energy.

Beside him was his beloved partner, Eva.

The two had been through a lot together.

Battles.

Danger.

Loss.

Countless situations that should have separated them.

Yet somehow, they had always remained together.

But whatever was waiting ahead felt different.

Even Adam could sense it.

This might be something beyond what they could handle.

Adam’s long black hair moved wildly in the violent wind. His golden eyes remained focused on the distant disturbance, but there was a faint tension in his expression.

He wasn’t afraid for himself.

He was worried about Eva.

He glanced toward her.

Her long silver-white hair danced behind her like a banner beneath the stormy heavens. Her blue eyes were fixed on the same distant source of divine energy.

Adam knew that look.

She had already made up her mind.

He sighed internally.

She wasn’t going to listen.

Adam wanted her to stay behind while he investigated what was causing all this havoc.

But Eva had never been particularly good at following his orders when his safety was involved.

Adam slowed his steps.

”Hey, Eva, I really think you should sit this one out.”

Eva immediately turned toward him.

”Huh? Why should I? Also, if anyone should be not going, it should be you, right?”

Adam’s eyebrows twitched.

He knew this conversation wasn’t going to be easy.

”Hey, if there is danger, aren’t I the stronger one? Wouldn’t I be the most appropriate to go?”

Eva stared at him as though he had just said something incredibly stupid.

”You? The one who knows almost nothing about magic or alchemy, wants to solve a problem regarding divine energy? That’s pretty funny. I, a renowned alchemist and also an able swordsman, am more fit for the job.”

Her tone was confident, but Adam could hear the concern hidden beneath it.

She wasn’t arguing because she wanted recognition.

She was arguing because she didn’t want him walking into danger alone.

Adam looked at Eva for a moment.

The storm raged around them.

Divine energy continued to surge in the distance.

Yet for several seconds, Adam barely paid attention to it.

Instead, he simply looked at the woman standing beside him.

She was stubborn.

Far too stubborn.

And somehow, that stubbornness was one of the things he loved most about her.

Adam finally sighed.

”I really think you should go back, Eva.”