Journey to Become the Zenith

The Missing Days

Have you accomplished your mission?”

The question echoed softly inside the dimly lit inn room.

Lucien Ashdrake sat near the window of the second floor suite, one hand resting against the arm of his chair while the other lightly tapped the wooden table beside him. The golden flame of the lantern reflected against the dark wine inside his glass, making it resemble blood beneath the quiet night.

Outside, Fantom City remained lively despite the late hour.

Carriages rolled through the streets below.

Drunken adventurers laughed loudly somewhere in the distance.

Music drifted faintly from taverns filled with mercenaries and nobles wasting coin.

Yet inside this room, the atmosphere felt suffocating.

Erick lowered his head the moment he heard the question.

”Unfortunately we have lost track of her. The knights under my and Henrick’s command have been afflicted by a mind spell, they have forgotten what has happened for the past few days. We assumed that Videl was in the area where the knights lost their memories, but after searching the whole area there was no sign of her.”

Silence followed.

Lucien did not respond immediately.

He simply stared out the window for several seconds while Erick remained kneeling.

The pressure inside the room slowly became heavier.

Even the guards near the entrance avoided breathing too loudly.

Finally, Lucien spoke.

”Raise your head.”

Erick obeyed instantly.

Lucien’s sharp eyes landed directly on him.

”Tell me everything from the beginning. No assumptions. No excuses.”

”Yes, my liege.”

Erick inhaled slowly before speaking again.

”When we cornered Videl near the forest north side of Fantom City, everything proceeded according to plan initially. She was exhausted from continuous pursuit. Her mana reserves were clearly dropping.”

”And yet she escaped.”

”Yes.”

Lucien’s fingers stopped tapping.

”That alone already makes this report irritating.”

Erick clenched his jaw slightly.

”I accept responsibility.”

Lucien waved his hand dismissively.

”If I wanted apologies, I would have summoned priests instead of knights.”

The cold remark made the guards tense slightly.

Lucien leaned back in his chair.

”What happened after the pursuit entered the forest?”

Erick frowned faintly as he recalled the strange situation.

”That is where things became abnormal. The knights remember chasing Videl deeper into the forest. Then... nothing.”

”Nothing?”

”Only fragments. Fear. Pressure. Some remember hearing wings. Others remember a voice.”

Lucien narrowed his eyes.

”A voice?”

Erick nodded slowly.

”One knight described it as ancient. Another claimed hearing it made his entire body freeze.”

”And the memory spell?”

”Perfectly executed.”

That answer finally drew genuine interest from Lucien.

”Perfect?”

”Yes, my liege.” Erick’s expression turned serious. ”There was no mana backlash, no corruption, no instability inside their minds. Whoever erased those memories possessed absurd control.”

Lucien remained silent for a moment.

Then he asked quietly,

”Could Victor do it?”

The moment Victor’s name entered the room, the atmosphere shifted slightly.

Erick hesitated.

Not because he feared the question.

But because he genuinely did not know the answer.

”He is the most probable person to do this, but I don’t think he was the one who did so. Based on the information we had gathered about the person named Victor, he wouldn’t have just erased the memories of the knights, he would’ve annihilated them. This means while on the hunt for Videl a third party intervened.”

Lucien’s gaze sharpened slightly.

”A third party?”

”Yes.”

Erick continued carefully.

”I believe whoever intervened had no interest in helping the knights or the kingdom. Their actions seemed focused entirely on removing Videl from the situation safely.”

Lucien swirled the wine inside his glass slowly.

”Interesting.”

His voice became quieter.

”So someone powerful enough to erase memories casually... decided to protect Videl.”

”That is my conclusion.”

Lucien stared at Erick for several long seconds.

Then suddenly—

”Do you fear Victor?”

The unexpected question caught Erick off guard.

He stayed silent briefly before answering honestly.

”Yes.”

The answer caused one of the guards near the door to tense visibly.

Lucien noticed immediately.

”You’re surprised?” Lucien asked without even looking toward the guard. ”Then you are either a fool or inexperienced.”

The guard immediately lowered his head.

Lucien returned his attention toward Erick.

”Tell me why.”

Erick’s expression darkened slightly.

”Because he doesn’t behave like a normal man.”

”Explain.”

”When people gain power, they reveal desire. Greed. Pride. Lust. Ambition.” Erick frowned faintly. ”Victor shows none of those things clearly.”

Lucien listened quietly.

”He doesn’t seek reputation. He doesn’t fear enemies. He doesn’t hesitate before killing. And according to witnesses... he actually enjoys fighting stronger opponents.”

A faint smile appeared on Lucien’s lips.

”A battle addict.”

”No.” Erick shook his head slowly. ”Worse.”

That answer amused Lucien.

”Go on.”

Erick’s voice became heavier.

”Battle addicts seek excitement. Victor...” Erick paused briefly. ”It feels like he’s searching for something.”

The room fell silent again.

Lucien leaned forward slightly.

”And what do you think he’s searching for?”

Erick answered honestly.

”I don’t know.”

That uncertainty bothered him more than anything.

Lucien took a slow sip from his glass.

Then he suddenly asked,

”What about Videl?”

Erick blinked once.

”My liege?”

”The girl. What kind of relationship does she have with Victor?”

Erick thought briefly before speaking.

”She trusts him completely.”

”That much is obvious.”

”No.” Erick shook his head. ”Not simple trust.”

Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”She looks at him like...” Erick paused, carefully choosing his words. ”Like someone who already decided where she belongs.”

That made Lucien quietly thoughtful.

A hero candidate attaching herself emotionally to someone like Victor was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Especially because people driven by emotion were easier to manipulate.

But people willing to die for someone...

Those were harder to break.

Lucien suddenly stood up from his chair and walked toward the window.

Cold night air entered the room softly.

Far away, the royal district stood illuminated beneath silver moonlight.

Queen Amara still ruled the kingdom from that palace.

But the throne beneath her was slowly cracking.

The branch families had already started moving behind closed doors.

Some smiled publicly while secretly preparing alliances.

Others whispered about Princess Aura being unfit to inherit the throne simply because she was a woman.

Cowards.

Every last one of them.

Lucien clicked his tongue softly.

”Pathetic nobles,” he muttered.

Erick remained silent.

He knew better than to speak carelessly when Lucien entered this mood.

After several moments, Lucien finally spoke again.

”Continue searching for Videl discreetly.”

”Yes, my liege.”

”And avoid direct conflict with Victor.”

Erick looked slightly surprised.

”You believe he’s truly that dangerous?”

Lucien gave a quiet laugh.

”No.”

He turned his head slightly.

”I believe we still don’t understand how dangerous he actually is.”

Those words sent chills through the room.

Lucien’s expression slowly darkened again.

”And now someone capable of using advanced memory manipulation appeared beside him.”

His fingers lightly tapped the window frame.

”Interesting times are coming to Skyfall Kingdom.”

Erick hesitated briefly before asking,

”What should we do if Victor interferes directly in royal matters?”

Lucien smiled faintly.

But there was no warmth inside it.

”Pray he chooses a side slowly.”

The lantern flames flickered violently for a brief moment.

”And pray even harder that side isn’t against us.”