Journey to Become the Zenith

The Curse That Bound Blood

She gazed at the crimson horn clipped to the side of Victor’s belt.

This was a horn previously used by Niklaus.

One with no relations with demons never had the right to use this thing with so much comfort.

But Victor used it without any trouble.

Every indication pointed to one thing and Victor still did not want to speak about it.

She wanted to ask again.

She wanted to scream for an answer.

However, seeing Victor’s golden eyes distant...

Her heart softened.

”Then...””Alright, I’ll keep quiet.”

Victor glanced at her briefly.

”... Thank you.”

That short response was more than enough to assuage her.

Videl smiled a little.

”I’ll be waiting until you’re ready.”

Victor did not reply.

But in his heart...

He was so grateful for her understanding words.

The rest of their travel was filled with silence.

Aria watched the pair from afar.

Her emerald-green eyes flickered between Victor and Videl many times.

They had a strange feeling when looking at their conversation.

Their conversation wasn’t conducted loudly or full of bickering.

Yet somehow, it felt like they had discussed far greater than what they had actually said.

As a servant, she knew there were things that were beyond her place to ask.

However...

Watching Videl, who walked by his side and had slightly lowered shoulders, it disturbed her.

I wonder if he had to bear such a heavy weight all on his own since the beginning?

Ah...

If only I could do something to help him!

But it felt like she couldn’t do anything...

Whether comforting him or making him trust people other than him...

Everything felt hopelessly beyond her capacity.

Thus, she just kept following them silently behind everybody.

Behind everyone else...

Clara kept his eyes fixed on the unconscious man resting over Victor’s shoulder.

For every few seconds, her purple eyes became narrower.

From the moment Victor identified the man in the tavern...

She was already starting to guess.

The timing... The strange curse... Her father’s death...

It all seemed connected to the man’s body.

But he had not told them anything yet.

Without proof...

Clara suppressed the urge to react.

Yet...

Fists slowly tightened unconsciously.

If her assumption were proven true...

She could not promise that she could forgive the man.

Eventually...

The group reached outside Clara’s small house.

The wooden structure did not change, except the fence that has been repaired, and some new building materials in front of it, reminders of the recently troubled times of Fantom City.

Victor pushed the gate.

”Let’s go inside.”

Everyone quietly followed behind him.

Once the group entered the Clara’s home, the warm, quiet atmosphere in this humble house took over. Medicinal herbs were still fragrant on theair combined with the scent of cooled cooking soup that once had been warm. A few candles flickered dimly giving long, drawn-out shadows all along the wooden walls. It was completely different compared to the street outside.

Here...

Everything was centered around one family. One hope. One miracle.

With great care, Victor carefully set down the unconscious killer onto a wooden chair before binding his hands together with strands of concentrated Zenith Aura. The ties were as if non-existent, yet were more unbreakable than the finest forged steel. Even when the man woke up, it would be useless.

Videl glanced around the room, before her gaze drifted to Clara.

”So...””What had happened here exactly?”

Her voice was gentle. Clara only heard snippets during their journey.

Taking a deep, calm breath, she started from the beginning. Clara told the story of her father’s mysterious passing, her mother’s declining health, the strange plague that kept ravaging the family, the many years of desperately seeking out healers, doctors, priests and scholars...

Nobody seemed able to diagnose her ill loved ones, and many asked for unreasonably large fees just for a consultation while others left with nothing more than a shake of the head, and the last threads of hope withered in Clara’s household until Victor’s arrival.

As Clara told her tale, Videl’s expression grew darker and darker. Aria stood quietly at her side her emerald eyes filled with compassion.

They did not interrupt as Clara’s every word, made the room grow heavier.

When she finished, silence ensued for a long moment.

Videl slowly tightened her fists. ”...

Those guys...”

”...

Deserve far worse than that.”

Clara just smiled wryly. ”I used to want them to regret it but... Now all I want is for my sisters to wake up.”

Victor, silent for the entire duration of the explanation, stepped towards the prisoner on the chair.

”It’s time then.”

He suddenly tapped the assassin’s forehead lightly. A trickle of Zenith Aura entered into the killer’s system.

The killer’s eyelids fluttered, his breath growing unsteady. A moment later, his eyes fluttered open. He blankly stared at an unknown ceiling.

”...

Where is this...”

His gaze eventually moved ahead, widening in panic as he instantly recognized Victor standing in front of him. His gentle smile was still there, same as before, but it was somehow much more frightening than even death to the man. Cold sweat ran down his forehead instantly, he instinctively tried to scoot back...

But then, he realized he was tied up.

”Waaa!

Help me!”

Victor stood in front of him with his arms crossed, his expression was still perfectly placid as always.

”So, Mr. Assassin...

What choice would you like to take?Option one...””...or option two?”

The killer gulped. Victor’s golden eyes did not leave him for a second. ” I’ll give you three seconds to make a decision.”

Terror gripped him.

”Waaiit!

I can-” ”One.”

Victor uttered a single word like a judge’s decision.

He flinched, felt his heart beat so fast it threatened to break through his ribs and his mind raced with chaotic thoughts. He’s serious... I’m not being toyed with...

He’ll actually kill me... Victor’s expression was unchanged, neither did it soften when he declared, ”Two.”

The killer felt his vision start to blur. He knew what was going to happen when Victor’s countdown reached three - no more second chances, no negotiations, and no more chances to plead. This was the point of no return. His lips trembled violently.

But then...

A thought flashed through his mind:If I’m going to die, then those bastards shouldn’t be walking free.

What reason do I have left to protect them?

After all, they were the one who hired and manipulated me.

Yet, he alone had to pay the price! The hesitancy was gone! ”Fine!

I’ll pick option number one!”

Victor gave a slight, almost negligible nod. ”A smart choice. So please... Proceed.

Lift the curse.”

The assassin slowly rose to his feet, his legs were trembling.