Journey to Become the Zenith

A Choice That Refuses to Break

Out of nowhere, conversation sparked among the four on where to go from here. Still, talk ran in circles, no real answers showing up despite hours passing by.

A tightness pressed in from the walls, making space seem less.

It isn’t about how much room there is

Yet under strain.

Heavy, it leaned on the walls. Inside each breath they took, a quiet guest. Between sentences, it stayed - never rushing, never asked.

Stillness pressed down here, though beyond these walls the campus moved. Students passed by under open sky, voices layered one over another like wind through trees. Faint ringing of blades echoed up from below, sharp but far off. Yet within four walls, air thickened. Sounds dulled. Steps slowed. Even breath seemed louder than it should.

Here’s what they face - the issue right there -

Effort by itself would never fix it.

”The opponents this time...” Dira muttered, pacing slowly, ”...aren’t just arrogant nobles.”

Kira shifted her weight, leaning a bit on the wall behind. Her arms crossed loosely. A quiet frown tugged at her eyes as she stared off, thinking hard.

”...A marquis,” she said flatly.

Niva added quietly—

”...And several earls backing him.”

Silence.

That alone was enough.

Among them—

The highest noble rank they had was a viscount.

A gap that couldn’t be bridged by willpower.

Or courage.

Or friendship.

”...We’re outclassed,” Dira said bluntly, exhaling through her nose.

”...Not just in strength.”

”...In influence,” Kira finished.

Videl stood quietly, her hand resting lightly against the hilt of her Long sword.

Her gaze lowered slightly.

Not in fear.

But in thought.

Because she understood it too.

Perfectly.

The discussion dragged on.

Plans were suggested.

Torn apart.

Rebuilt.

Discarded again.

No matter how they twisted it—

There was no clean answer.

Until—

”...There is one way,” Niva said slowly.

Her voice was calm.

Too calm.

Videl looked up.

”...What way?”

Niva met her gaze.

”...You leave.”

The words settled into the room like a blade pressed against skin.

Dira looked away slightly, jaw tightening.

Kira didn’t speak.

But her silence agreed.

”...Run,” Niva clarified softly.

”...Disappear for a while. Let things cool down.”

Videl didn’t respond.

Didn’t move.

But something in her eyes—

Hardened.

”...No.”

Simple.

Firm.

Unshaken.

Dira frowned slightly.

”...Videl—”

”I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Her voice wasn’t loud.

But it carried.

Clear.

Steady.

”...So why should I run?”

Silence.

Niva took a step forward.

”...Because they don’t care about right or wrong.”

Her voice softened, but her eyes sharpened.

”...Videl, we might not have known each other for long, but I know you’re a good person. So I don’t really want you to die like this.”

The words didn’t sound dramatic.

They sounded honest.

And that made them heavier.

Dira stepped closer, crossing her arms tightly.

”...Yeah, listen to her. Aren’t we already friends?”

A faint scoff left her lips, but her eyes stayed serious.

”...And as friends, we just want to do what’s best for you.”

Kira’s voice came next.

Lower.

More grounded.

”...Dying because of something like this is foolish.”

She looked directly at Videl.

”...Once you’re dead, you can never achieve anything. Not even those ideals you carry around like armor.”

A pause.

Then—

”...Do you really understand what you’re getting yourself into?”

The room fell silent again.

Their words lingered.

Not as pressure.

But as concern.

Raw.

Unfiltered.

Videl didn’t answer immediately.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the sword at her side.

Her thoughts moved quietly.

They’re right.

A marquis.

Earls.

Power that could crush her without consequence.

If she ran—

She could survive.

If she stayed—

She might not.

Her chest rose slowly.

Then fell.

”...Still no.”

Her answer came softer this time.

But somehow—

Even more unbreakable.

Niva’s brows furrowed.

”...Why?”

Videl lifted her gaze.

And this time—

There was something different in her eyes.

Not defiance.

Not stubbornness.

But conviction.

”...Because if I run now...”

She paused.

Searching for the right words.

”...Then I’ll keep running.”

Silence.

”...Not just from them.”

Her voice dropped slightly.

”...But from everything.”

The room stilled.

Because that—

Was something they couldn’t argue against easily.

Dira clicked her tongue, turning slightly away.

”...Damn it...”

Kira sighed quietly, rubbing the back of her neck.

”...You’re really not making this easy.”

Niva closed her eyes briefly.

Then opened them again.

”...Then we need another way.”

More suggestions followed.

”...We could report it,” Niva offered. ”...Bring it to the academy authorities.”

Kira shook her head almost instantly.

”...They won’t act against a marquis without pressure.”

Dira added—

”...What about finding backing? Another noble house?”

Videl shook her head.

”...That would just turn this into a political fight.”

”...What about Victor?” Dira muttered suddenly.

The room paused.

Videl’s eyes flickered for just a second.

”...No.”

Too quick.

Too immediate.

”...I won’t drag him into this.”

Her voice softened slightly.

”...Not for something like this.”

Niva studied her for a moment—

But didn’t push.

The room fell quiet again.

Options thinning.

Time running.

Until—

Videl moved.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Her hand reached into her pocket.

And pulled something out.

A ring.

The moment it appeared—

The atmosphere changed.

Niva’s eyes widened.

Dira straightened instantly.

Kira’s expression sharpened.

”...That’s...”

No one finished the sentence.

They didn’t need to.

The symbol engraved on it—

Was unmistakable.

Royal.

Absolute.

”...That’s from the royal family...” Dira whispered.

”...No,” Kira corrected quietly.

Her gaze locked onto Videl.

”...It’s more than that.”

Because they all knew what it meant.

Whoever held that ring—

Was not to be touched lightly.

Even dukes—

Would hesitate.

Videl watched their reactions silently.

Then spoke.

Calm.

Steady.

”...This was given to me.”

A pause.

”...By the Queen.”

Silence.

Pure.

Total.

Niva blinked once.

”...The... Queen?”

Dira let out a low breath.

”...You’re kidding.”

Kira didn’t speak.

But her eyes—

Didn’t leave the ring.

Didn’t leave Videl.

”...Why?” Niva asked slowly.

”...Why would the Queen give you something like that?”

Videl’s fingers closed slightly around the ring.

”...Because I earned it.”

No arrogance.

No pride.

Just truth.

The weight in the room shifted.

Not gone.

But changed.

Because now—

This wasn’t just about a sword.

Or a student.

Or a conflict.

It was something bigger.

Something far more dangerous.

Videl looked at the three of them.

Her gaze steady.

”...I didn’t want to use this.”

A quiet admission.

”...But if they push too far...”

Her voice lowered.

”...Then I won’t hold back either.”

No one spoke after that.

Because now—

They finally understood.

This wasn’t a situation where Videl was cornered.

No—

This was a situation where two forces were about to collide.

And neither side—

Was willing to step back.