Journey to Become the Zenith

After taking the pelt of the Arcane Ashgrey wolf, he and the other members of his party, namely Lane and Clara, started to pull out the teeth of Ashgrey wolves as proof of subjugation. Once they were done with extracting what they needed, the party of three headed back to town.

Victor walked at the front, calm as ever, black hair stirring in the wind, golden eyes half-lidded as though his mind had already wandered somewhere beyond the road.

Too close, Clara thought.

But Clara said nothing.

Powerful.

Lane broke the silence first.

Victor glanced at her.

"That isn’t an answer."

Clara snorted.

Victor smirked faintly.

Bustling voices.

Steel ringing from smithies.

And when they got back, outside of guild they saw beautiful figure Videl was there waiting for them.

Then she saw Victor.

No hesitation.

"Victor!"

She crashed into him with surprising force, arms wrapping around his neck.

Her body fit against his as though it belonged there.

Clara noticed.

Videl buried her face against his chest.

Soft.

The words carried more weight than a confession.

He held her waist and drew back enough to look at her.

"I was considering jumping higher."

Gods, that laugh.

Rare.

Human.

"Hey Victor, why didn’t you tell me you’re back."

Victor tilted his head.

"That sounds suspiciously like a lie."

She narrowed her eyes.

"I was busy."

"I returned."

"That doesn’t cancel the vanishing."

"Were you worried?"

"...Maybe."

"I really did miss you."

He brushed loose hair from her cheek.

Lane looked down.

Neither interrupted.

Then she folded her arms dramatically.

"For surviving?"

Victor nodded solemnly.

"Exactly."

"You waited long?"

"Too long."

Always back to him.

"You did a quest first."

"Among other things." Victor shrugged his shoulders, in which Videl responded with a palm to his face.

Clara blinked.

Videl answered without looking away from Victor.

Victor added,

She elbowed him.

He grinned.

Lane almost smiled at that.

Some staring at the Arcane Ashgrey pelt.

Some at the women around him.

"Is he collecting disasters?"

Then Videl’s expression changed.

Seriousness slipped in.

His golden eyes sharpened.

Like a blade leaving its sheath.

Lane noticed it too.

The dangerous one.

Victor nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Lane, Clara, me and my lovely girl here are just going to have a little chat. You two wait here for the quest confirmation of completion, as well as the reward."

Victor leaned close.

She looked suspiciously pleased.

Victor and Videl began walking a little away from the guild entrance, shadows stretching before them.

Her expression unreadable.

Arms crossed.

Something pinched.

Sharp.

Not anger.

Something stranger.

He trusted Lane enough to stay.

And her?

She hated that it mattered.

Lane glanced sideways.

Clara frowned.

"You are."

Lane’s lips almost curved.

"Annoying woman."

her eyes stayed on the corner where Victor vanished.