Journey to Become the Zenith

The Meaning of a Hero

Amura turned into her human form sat behind him and spoke.

”Master you do know that this is a trap? I already told you about the man who was eavesdropping while you were talking to those students. With that in mind I’m pretty sure that you already understand that this is a trap.”

The dorm room was dimly lit by the orange glow of the evening lamps outside the academy grounds. Cold wind slipped through the slightly opened window curtains, causing the flame of the small desk candle to flicker gently. Shadows danced across the walls as Videl silently prepared her belongings.

Her Long sword rested against the bed nearby.

The silver-haired spirit, Amura, sat quietly behind her in human form. Her steel-colored hair cascaded over her shoulders like flowing moonlight while the high slits of her silver robe revealed her toned legs crossed elegantly atop the bed. Despite her composed appearance, worry lingered deep inside her eyes.

Videl continued checking her equipment and preparing her bag. She carefully inspected the straps of her leather pouch before placing several mana potions inside. Without even turning around she answered Amura.

”Unlike what everyone thinks, I do understand what’s happening around me, more or less. It’s just that, what I see and what other people see, seem to be different. I can guess that this is a trap, there is too much coincidences piling up one after another, that it’s obvious someone must be pulling the strings from behind the scenes. I’ve been with Victor for years now that I can more or less understand that.”

Amura blinked in genuine surprise.

For a moment, she simply stared at her master’s back.

The calm voice.

The composed reasoning.

The quiet acceptance of danger.

It wasn’t the response she had expected.

The room fell silent except for the distant sounds of academy students outside returning to their dormitories. Somewhere far below, laughter echoed faintly through the stone courtyard.

Amura lowered her gaze slightly.

Unlike Diana, who could synchronize deeply with Videl’s soul and emotions, Amura could not fully see into her master’s heart yet. Something invisible blocked that connection every time she tried to go deeper.

And honestly...

That frightened her.

Because the more time she spent with Videl and Victor, the more she realized there were truths surrounding them that ordinary people could never understand.

Amura slowly brushed a strand of silver hair behind her ear before speaking again.

”Then why master? Why do you still go knowing that it’s a trap? If it’s about those nobles, isn’t this simply karma for doing what they did?”

Videl paused.

Her hand stopped moving for several seconds.

The cold breeze from the window brushed against her blonde hair gently as moonlight illuminated half of her face.

Outside, the sky above Fantom City had already darkened into deep shades of navy blue.

Finally, she exhaled softly.

”Hey Amura... you do know that I want to be a hero, right?”

”Yes, but even so.” Amura’s silver eyes narrowed slightly with concern. ”Even heroes can’t save everyone.”

A faint smile appeared on Videl’s lips.

Sad.

Small.

Almost helpless.

”I understand what you’re saying but...” She paused, seemingly searching for the right words. ”Hmmm, Amura let me tell you the reason as to why I want to be a hero.”

Amura quietly straightened her posture.

Something in Videl’s voice had changed.

It carried weight now.

Not the naive excitement of someone chasing childish dreams.

But the heaviness of someone carrying old scars.

The atmosphere inside the room became strangely quiet.

Even the wind outside seemed softer now.

Videl sat down at the edge of the bed and stared toward the floor silently for a few moments. Her sapphire-blue eyes reflected the flickering candlelight faintly.

”Some might think, I wanted to be a hero because it sounded cool when I was a kid.”

A weak chuckle escaped her lips.

”Honestly... that’s partly true.”

Amura listened quietly.

Videl leaned back slightly, resting her palms beside her.

”When I was younger, heroes were simple to me. They were the people who appeared when everyone else failed. The people who smiled confidently and protected others no matter how impossible things looked.”

Her eyes softened slightly.

”Back then I thought heroes were invincible.”

The words lingered quietly in the room.

Then Videl lowered her head.

”But when I grew older... I realized something.”

Her fingers slowly tightened atop the bedsheets.

”Heroes cry too.”

Amura’s expression shifted slightly.

Videl continued softly.

”They get scared. They fail. Sometimes they arrive too late. Sometimes they save ten people and still lose one person they cared about.”

A bitter smile appeared on her lips again.

”And somehow... people still expect them to stand back up.”

The candle flame flickered harder as wind slipped through the window once more.

For some reason, Victor’s face appeared inside her mind again.

That calm expression.

Those golden eyes.

The way he carried burdens silently without ever complaining.

How many things had he endured alone?

How many wounds hid behind that composed face?

Videl suddenly understood why her chest felt tight whenever she looked at him lately.

Because she admired him.

Far more than she could admit out loud.

Amura quietly watched her master.

For the first time, she realized something important.

Videl was not blindly chasing the idea of becoming a hero.

No.

She understood exactly how painful that path truly was.

And yet—

she still wanted to walk it.

Videl stood up again and resumed preparing her bag.

”I know this could be a trap.”

She carefully attached a dagger to her belt.

”I know someone might be trying to lure me out.”

She checked the mana crystals inside her pouch next.

”And honestly...” she laughed softly under her breath, ”I’m not smart enough to uncover political schemes like Victor.”

Amura almost smiled hearing that.

Videl really did trust Victor deeply.

Far too deeply.

”But when I saw those people crying earlier...” Videl’s voice lowered. ”I couldn’t ignore it.”

The image resurfaced vividly in her mind.

The girl grabbing her trembling hands.

The desperate pleading.

The fear in their eyes.

Videl clenched her jaw slightly.

”If I walk away after seeing that... then what kind of hero am I trying to become?”

Amura fell silent.

Because she had no answer.

Videl slowly picked up her Long sword and attached it behind her waist.

The polished sheath reflected silver light beneath the moon.

”And besides...” she added quietly, ”Victor would definitely help them if he were here.”

The moment those words left her mouth, her expression softened unconsciously.

Amura noticed it immediately.

That warmth.

That trust.

That affection hidden within her eyes.

It was the kind of expression only someone deeply in love would show.

The sword spirit lowered her gaze silently.

A complicated emotion surfaced inside her chest.

Admiration.

Jealousy.

And fear.

Victor truly was changing everyone around him.

Even her.

Amura slowly stood up from the bed and approached Videl from behind.

Her silver robe fluttered softly around her legs as she stopped beside her master.

”Then let me come with you.”

Videl looked at her with slight surprise.

Amura crossed her arms beneath her chest and frowned slightly.

”Don’t misunderstand. I’m not saying this because I think you’re weak.”

”That sounds exactly like what you’re saying.”

”Hmph.”

A faint smile finally appeared on Amura’s usually cold face.

”But if this truly is a trap, then at least allow me to fight beside you.”

Videl stared at her quietly for a few moments.

Then she smiled softly.

A real smile this time.

”Thanks.”

The atmosphere inside the room became lighter for a moment.

Outside the dormitory window, moonlight bathed Fantom City beneath a sea of silver.

Far away—

somewhere hidden within the darkness of the city—

unknown eyes were already watching and waiting.

But inside this small room, amidst flickering candlelight and quiet resolve, Videl’s heart had already made its decision.

No matter what awaited her ahead—

fear,

betrayal,

or death—

she would still move forward.

Because some people only become heroes when the world is kind.

But others...

choose to become heroes precisely because the world is cruel.

Videl tightened the strap of her bag one final time before turning toward Amura again.

Her sapphire eyes no longer held hesitation.

Only determination remained.

”Some might think, I wanted to be a hero because it sounded cool when I was kid.