Journey to Become the Zenith

The Sleeping Lion Awakens

The underground meeting eventually came to an end.

One after another, the elders quietly left the chamber.

No one spoke.

The image of Sir Randolph’s head falling onto the stone floor remained fresh in their minds.

As the last elder disappeared beyond the stone passage, Ramona remained seated alone.

She slowly closed her eyes.

’Fools...’

’They still don’t understand the difference between courage and stupidity.’

Her fingers gently tapped the armrest.

Trying to assassinate Victor while he slept...

That wasn’t bravery.

It was suicide.

She had witnessed his battle with her own eyes.

Even now, while unconscious, the mysterious pressure constantly leaking from his body required dozens of academy instructors and powerful mages just to suppress.

And beside him...

Lane had not left his side even once.

Ramona had watched the black-haired woman during the battle.

She knew exactly how dangerous she was.

Anyone foolish enough to enter that room with hostile intentions wouldn’t even reach Victor’s bedside.

They would die before taking a second step.

A faint sigh escaped Ramona’s lips.

”Our future now depends on him...”

”If he truly keeps his promises...”

”The Redcliffe Family may rise again.”

She slowly stood.

”Perhaps...”

”...that elder was right about one thing.”

”A marriage alliance would benefit the family.”

Her beautiful face remained calm, but a thoughtful expression briefly crossed her eyes.

Victor was young.

Exceptionally talented.

Handsome.

Possessing strength that defied common sense.

A man like him would inevitably stand at the peak of the world.

Whether fate brought them together or not...

Only time would tell.

Shaking those thoughts from her mind, Ramona left the underground chamber and headed toward Victor’s room.

...

Back upstairs...

The pressure surrounding the mansion had gradually begun to settle.

Outside the bedroom, the academy instructors finally noticed the invisible waves weakening.

One elderly instructor exhaled in relief.

”The pressure is decreasing.”

Another nodded.

”It seems his body is stabilizing.”

Max folded his arms.

”Good.”

”Everyone, remain alert.”

”If anything changes, reinforce the barrier immediately.”

The mages nodded together.

”Understood.”

...

Inside the bedroom...

Lane quietly sat beside Victor’s bed exactly as before.

Her eyes never left him.

Several moments later...

Victor’s fingers twitched.

Lane immediately noticed.

Her expression changed for the first time.

”Victor...”

His breathing became steadier.

Slowly...

His golden eyes opened.

For a brief moment, he stared at the ceiling before letting out a long breath.

”So...”

”I only slept for a day.”

Lane stood up and immediately wrapped her arms around him.

Victor smiled faintly before gently patting her back.

”I’m fine.”

Lane slowly released him.

Her voice remained calm as always.

”You worried everyone.”

Victor chuckled.

”I had no choice.”

He stretched his shoulders before looking around the room.

”What about Clara?”

Lane hesitated for a moment.

”She’s alive.”

Victor nodded.

”I see.”

He immediately became serious.

”Lane.”

”Call Eon...”

”Brinda...”

”Videl...”

”...and the head of the Redcliffe Family.”

Lane gave a short nod.

”As you wish.”

Without another word, she quietly left the room.

...

Only a few minutes later...

Lane returned.

Behind her walked Eon, Brinda, Videl, and Ramona Redcliffe.

Seeing Victor awake, relief appeared on every face.

Ramona stepped forward before respectfully kneeling.

”My Lord.”

”I am Ramona Redcliffe, head of the Redcliffe Family.”

”It is an honor to finally greet you properly.”

Victor studied her for a moment before smiling.

”You’re better than I expected.”

”I expect great things from you.”

Ramona lowered her head.

”I will not disappoint you, my Lord.”

Victor nodded.

”Good.”

He looked toward everyone gathered inside the room.

”Now that everyone’s here...”

”I have something important to announce.”

He gestured toward Eon.

”Eon.”

”Step forward.”

Although confused, Eon obeyed.

Victor’s lips curved into a calm, confident smile as he looked across the room.

”Standing before you...”

He rested a hand lightly on Eon’s shoulder.

”...is the missing prince of Skyfall.”

”The son of the late King Willmot Skyfall.”

He paused, letting every word settle over the silent hall.

Then, with unwavering certainty, he declared,

”And before every one of you, I make this promise...”

”...I will place this man upon the throne as the next ruler of the Skyfall Kingdom.”

Silence.

The words seemed to linger in the air long after Victor finished speaking.

For a heartbeat...

Then another...

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Even the crackling fireplace in the corner suddenly felt deafening against the oppressive stillness.

Every gaze in the room locked onto Victor as though they had just heard something impossible.

Ramona Redcliffe’s emerald eyes widened, the composure she had maintained until now cracking for the first time. She searched Victor’s face, hoping to find even the slightest hint that he was joking.

There was none.

Not a trace.

Beside her, Brinda’s trademark teasing smile slowly faded. The playful glint in her crimson eyes disappeared, replaced by genuine astonishment. She had expected Victor to say something outrageous—he always did—but even this was beyond anything she had imagined.

Lane remained quietly behind him, her posture perfectly straight and her expression as unreadable as ever. Yet her silver eyes never once drifted away from Victor’s back. She neither questioned him nor showed surprise.

She simply stood there.

Steady.

Unshaken.

As though wherever Victor chose to walk, she had already decided to follow.

Videl, however, felt her heart skip a beat.

Her sapphire eyes trembled almost imperceptibly.

She had prepared herself for another one of Victor’s daring plans.

Perhaps another alliance.

Another hidden scheme.

Another gamble.

But proclaiming the rightful heir to the throne...

In front of witnesses...

Without the slightest hesitation...

This wasn’t merely bold.

It was a declaration capable of throwing the entire Skyfall Kingdom into chaos.

Only one person looked completely bewildered.

Eon slowly turned his head left... then right... almost expecting someone else to step forward.

Finding no one, he hesitantly pointed at himself.

”M-Me...?”

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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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