Journey to Become the Zenith

A Will That Must Stand Alone

Fresh sunlight cut across the floor when Videl tied her boots - then it hit her: the academy had started hunting her Long sword again. The air felt heavier suddenly, like before thunder rolls in.

Light from dawn crept in through a slim window, laying golden patches on the worn wood below. Quiet settled, just for a breath, like stillness could mean safety. Mornings such as this one pretend time stands still.

But it had.

The moment her thoughts settled—

So did the weight in her chest.

”...Right.”

Fingers curled, just a little, perched on the mattress rim. Sunlit strands slipped past her collarbone, pooling by her arms. Those blue eyes - steady most days - held something quieter today, a thin wire of strain threading through.

Stopping wasn’t in their plans.

Last night changed everything.

Still stuck on how their eyes lingered, cold and sharp. Never quite the same since that moment froze in place.

Not how the words came out. More like when silence fell between them.

As if she belonged to them, ready to be claimed.

A weapon hung by her leg, yet it felt foreign. As if it had never known her hand.

Breath left Videl’s lips like smoke in winter, eyes sliding sideways to where the long sword lay. Still as stone - yet humming beneath the surface. Not a sound came from it, still, she sensed its weight. There was awareness there. Maybe even patience. Something waited just behind the metal.

”...I need to figure something out.”

Soft came her words, measured in pace. A quiet tone carried each phrase, shaped by reflection.

Things had gone too far to just look away now.

They would push.

Test.

Corner her.

And eventually—

Push her toward a moment that demanded an answer.

A hush followed each step she took across the planks, rising from stillness without hurry. The quiet tap of skin on wood broke the room’s calm like a slow breath let out.

”...What do I even say?”

A small crease appeared between her eyebrows.

A choice showed up early.

”...I could say the sword has a will of its own...”

She paused mid-step.

”...And that it chooses its owner.”

It sounded convincing.

It even carried a certain weight.

But the moment she thought about it deeper—

Her expression darkened.

”...No.”

She shook her head slightly.

”That would only make things worse.”

Because if they believed that—

Then they wouldn’t back off.

They would become more desperate.

More reckless.

Some might even think—

”If the sword chooses... then killing the current owner might give me a chance.”

Her fingers curled slightly at her side.

”...They might actually try to kill me.”

The thought didn’t scare her.

But it irritated her.

Because it would turn everything into something messy.

Something unnecessary.

She resumed pacing.

”...And if they find out it’s actually sentient...”

A faint tension crept into her shoulders.

”...They’ll go insane.”

Not everyone.

But enough.

Greed didn’t need logic.

It only needed an excuse.

”...So telling the truth is out.”

She muttered it like a conclusion she didn’t like—but accepted.

Her thoughts shifted again.

To something else.

”...The ring.”

Her hand instinctively brushed against it.

The cold metal felt heavier than it should.

”...If I show it...”

A pause.

”...And say what the Queen told me...”

Would it work?

Would they stop?

Would they hesitate?

Her brows furrowed slightly.

”...Or would it just make things more complicated...”

Because power—

Always attracted attention.

And attention—

Was exactly what she didn’t want right now.

She stopped pacing.

Her gaze lowered slightly.

”...Damn it...”

A quiet frustration.

And then—

Without warning—

A thought slipped in.

’If Victor were here...’

She froze.

Just slightly.

”...Wait.”

Her eyes narrowed faintly.

”...What am I thinking?”

The realization came sharp.

Clear.

Uncomfortable.

”The moment things get rough...”

She let out a small breath.

”...I start looking for Victor for answers.”

Her lips pressed together.

”It’s like...”

A faint pause.

”...I’m a kid.”

Her fingers tightened.

”...And Victor’s my dad.”

The thought made her frown deeper.

”That’s not right.”

Her voice hardened slightly.

”I’m the older one.”

Yet—

She knew.

”...And I still act like the younger one.”

Silence settled in the room.

Not heavy.

But honest.

Her gaze shifted toward the Long sword again.

”...Amura was right.”

A quiet admission.

”...I rely on Victor too much.”

There was no denial in her voice.

No attempt to escape it.

Just truth.

Simple.

Uncomfortable.

Real.

She stood there for a moment longer.

Thinking.

Not about solutions.

Not about strategies.

But about herself.

”...When did that even start...”

The question came quietly.

And lingered.

Because it wasn’t sudden.

It hadn’t happened overnight.

It had built up slowly.

Through battles.

Through moments.

Through the way Victor moved through the world—

Unaffected.

Unshaken.

Uncertain of nothing.

”...He always just... acts.”

She murmured.

”...And I...”

Her fingers loosened slightly.

”...I hesitate.”

That realization didn’t feel good.

But it didn’t break her either.

Instead—

It grounded her.

She exhaled slowly.

Then straightened her posture.

”...No.”

Her voice was calm now.

Steady.

”I’ll deal with this myself.”

Not out of pride.

Not out of stubbornness.

But because she had to.

Her gaze sharpened slightly.

”...If I keep relying on him...”

A pause.

”...Then I’ll never stand on my own.”

And that—

Was something she refused to accept.

Behind her—

The Long sword remained still.

Silent.

Amura heard every word.

Every thought.

Every hesitation.

But she didn’t speak.

Because she wasn’t asked.

And beings like her—

Didn’t break that line.

There was a certain decorum of those weapons that have a contract needed to somehow follow.

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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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