Journey to Become the Zenith

The Line That Cannot Be Crossed

”What the hell have you done, Videl?! How dare someone like you attack a noble!”

A cry ripped into the open yard - sudden, ragged, laced with hurt and something harder to name. It hung there, raw, refusing to fade.

A step back came hard for the noble hit by lightning, his hand pressed firm to his chest. Smoke rose in wisps while his fingers shook, skin marked red and slightly burned. Not only pain filled his gaze - something beneath that too - and breaths cut short showed it. Wide eyes stayed locked, unblinking, caught between shock and a quieter fear.

Fear.

But he buried it quickly beneath anger.

Or at least—

He tried to.

Videl didn’t move.

Didn’t react.

Her eyes met his without a word. Quietly, she held his gaze steady.

Then -

Shoulders lifted, just a little, like it didn’t matter at all.

”I did nothing,” she said calmly.

Soft came her voice, not raised at all.

But it carried.

Clean.

Unshaken.

That—

Just ended up making things messier.

”What the hell?!” another noble snapped, stepping forward slightly. ”You attack someone and act like that?!”

One person spoke up, then another jumped in right behind. Voices piled on top of each other, fast and unsteady. The room filled with noise, none of it waiting its turn.

”This is outrageous!”

”An attack on a noble is a crime!”

”You think you can get away with this?!”

The noise grew.

Accusations.

Anger.

Fear disguised as authority.

At the side—

Shawn watched silently.

His gaze never left Videl.

He had seen everything.

Every detail.

Every moment.

She hadn’t moved.

Hadn’t gathered mana.

Hadn’t spoken a single incantation.

Nothing.

The sword—

Had acted on its own.

He saw it clearly.

The moment the noble touched the hilt—

Mana had gathered within the blade.

Condensed.

Focused.

Then—

Released.

A thunder spell.

Precise.

Controlled.

Decisive.

Shawn’s eyes narrowed slightly.

So it’s true...

The sword—

Chose.

He could speak.

Clarify everything.

End this argument instantly.

But—

He didn’t.

Because he had already made his stance clear.

He wasn’t involved.

And Shawn Saulon—

Didn’t go back on his word.

So he remained where he was.

Silent.

Observing.

Nearby—

Max stepped forward.

His presence alone was enough to cut through the rising chaos, if only slightly.

”Videl never used any spell,” he said, his voice firm, steady. ”She did nothing to cause the sword to react.”

He turned his gaze toward the nobles.

”Ask the mages you brought. They will tell you the truth.”

A brief pause.

”I am certain they already know.”

That—

Hit.

Because it was true.

Before Max had even spoken—

Their mages had already whispered it to them.

Quietly.

Urgently.

She didn’t do anything.

The sword acted on its own.

They knew.

Every single one of them.

But—

They couldn’t admit it.

Because admitting it meant—

Acknowledging that the sword truly belonged to her.

And worse—

That they had no claim.

But something else had also taken root.

Greed.

Stronger now.

Sharper.

More dangerous.

Because they had seen it.

A weapon that could act on its own.

That could reject.

That could attack.

A true magic weapon.

Their eyes flickered—some with calculation, others with poorly hidden desire.

”Our mages haven’t noticed anything,” one of them said, his tone stiff, forcing confidence where there was none.

He looked directly at Max.

”I understand that you want to defend your student, Sir Max...”

A faint pause.

”But helping a thief is not something an honorable knight such as yourself should do.”

The words were polished.

But hollow.

Max let out a small, dry chuckle.

”Heh...”

Then his gaze hardened.

”It is you lot who are acting without honor.”

That was enough.

The argument reignited instantly.

Voices clashed.

”You dare accuse us—?!”

”We came here lawfully!”

”You’re shielding a criminal!”

”And you came here without proof!” someone from the academy side snapped back.

The air thickened again.

Voices rising.

Tension climbing.

But in the middle of it all—

Videl stood still.

Silent.

Thinking.

This won’t end.

Her gaze lowered slightly, not in weakness—but in focus.

No matter what she said.

No matter what she showed.

They would twist it.

Deny it.

Push further.

Even if they fail today...

Her fingers curled slightly at her side.

They’ll come back.

Stronger.

More desperate.

And if that happened—

Her thoughts sharpened.

They might go after him.

Victor.

A faint tension passed through her chest.

If they touch him...

Her eyes darkened.

They’ll die.

Not a thought filled with anger.

But certainty.

And that—

Was the problem.

If Victor kills them...

She exhaled slowly.

He’ll become an enemy of the kingdom.

That couldn’t happen.

Not because Victor couldn’t handle it—

But because it would drag him into something unnecessary.

Something... messy.

And even if they didn’t target him—

Her thoughts shifted again.

They might go after my family.

That—

She couldn’t allow.

Not even for a moment.

A quiet realization settled within her.

I can’t end this with strength alone.

Not yet.

Her power...

Her name...

Her standing...

It wasn’t enough.

But—

Her hand moved slightly.

Toward her finger.

Where the ring rested.

Cold.

Silent.

Given to her—

By the Queen.

A symbol.

Of authority.

Of protection.

Of something far beyond these nobles.

Videl’s gaze lifted again.

The noise around her faded into the background.

Her decision—

Made.

”I didn’t wish to use this...”

Her voice cut through the argument.

Calm.

But carrying something heavier now.

”...but you people have given me no choice.”

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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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