Journey to Become the Zenith

The Queen’s Shadow

Still Clara somehow felt a bit hurt, even though she didn’t understand the reason why she was feeling that way.

It was an absurd feeling.

Irritating.

Childish.

And worst of all—unexpected.

She folded her arms beneath her chest and leaned against a guild pillar, trying to smother the emotion before it formed into something she had to name.

Why should I care?

Victor distrusted nearly everyone.

That was simply how he survived.

And she herself had never fully trusted him either.

So why did that subtle exclusion sting?

Her brows furrowed.

Then, almost against her will—

she smiled.

A small smile.

Barely there.

’Well it doesn’t matter, if we don’t trust each other right now. As long as we stick together, sooner or later we will learn to trust each other.’ Clara didn’t notice but at that moment she was actually smiling. Lane who saw Clara’s smiling face knew that something was up.

Lane narrowed her dark eyes.

That smile disturbed her more than it should.

She knew that look.

It was the beginning.

The dangerous beginning.

She was really irritated that she couldn’t do anything to stop this. She really wanted to accept Clara as a comrade, but because she was going to be Victor’s woman in the future, she was having difficulty liking her. She was thinking that Clara’s fall was inevitable.

Lane almost sighed.

Another one.

As if fate itself kept feeding women into Victor’s orbit.

Clara glanced over.

"What?"

Lane answered too quickly.

"Nothing."

Suspicious.

Clara narrowed her purple eyes.

"You’re thinking something strange."

Lane replied flatly,

"I am always thinking something."

That somehow made Clara more uneasy.

...

The noise of the guild faded as Victor and Videl slipped into a narrow stone alley where sunlight barely reached.

The walls were old.

Cool.

Weathered.

Only distant market sounds filtered through.

Victor’s golden eyes swept the rooftops, alley mouths, windows.

Every shadow.

Every possible listening point.

Habit.

Instinct.

Predator caution.

Victor and Videl headed to an empty alley and started talking.

"So what is it, that you want to tell me?" Victor asked as he was scanning the area double checking if they were really safe from outstretched ears.

Videl crossed her arms, but her sapphire eyes had none of their usual teasing.

Only seriousness.

"I met the queen a few days ago."

Victor hearing this new piece of information had his eyes widened. This was something he had expected to happen, due to Videl’s unusual skill. Still Victor wasn’t expecting Videl to acquire the queen’s attention this quickly.

For a heartbeat silence lingered.

Even the air seemed to tighten.

Then Victor spoke lower.

"What did she want?" Victor asked wary of what kind of queen the queen of Skyfall truly was. Though he heard the rumors, and other fantastical tales about the woman, hearing it from Videl would be different.

Videl leaned against the wall.

And began.

She told him everything.

How she had been summoned.

How the Warrior Queen Amara had tested her.

How she survived three strikes.

How silver-red eyes watched every weakness.

How that strange ring had been given.

Payment.

Bait.

Protection.

Threat.

Perhaps all at once.

Victor listened without interruption.

Only once did his fingers tap lightly against his arm.

Thinking.

Calculating.

When Videl finished, a faint wind stirred through the alley.

Victor’s gaze lowered.

His thoughts moved elsewhere.

Fast.

Cold.

Precise.

’The queen is obviously using Videl as bait, to lure out those that are potential enemies to the crown. The gift she gave Videl is more like payment than a gift. A warrior queen is it... When I heard the rumors I only thought that she was a ruler that was the same as me, who only lives through battle, but based on what Videl said, she’s more like my former son. A warrior that schemes is no longer a warrior, well she really isn’t one, since she is a queen.’

His lips curved slightly.

Not amusement.

Recognition.

Respect, perhaps.

Danger recognized danger.

Videl watched him.

"You’re smiling."

"Thinking."

"That smile is worse."

Victor looked up.

"So the queen interests me."

"That worries me."

A low chuckle escaped him.

Then Victor spoke to Videl.

"So the queen has the same ailment as Eon, and she didn’t call it a curse, instead it’s a blessing... I see, how interesting. An ability only given to her bloodline. The more mana she has the greater the power, but she would be unable to use even the simplest of spells. Well I guess that’s a fair exchange for such enormous power."

Videl studied him.

"You’re taking this calmly."

"Should I panic?"

"Normal people might."

"I’ve never had much talent for normal."

She laughed softly.

Then lowered her voice.

"There’s more."

Victor’s gaze sharpened.

"What?"

"She invited me back."

That made him pause.

Not outwardly.

But she saw it.

The stillness.

The dangerous kind.

"She is watching you," Videl added. "I felt it."

Victor folded his arms.

"Good."

Videl blinked.

"Good?"

"If a queen notices a pawn, the board is already moving."

"That sounded disturbingly pleased."

"I am."

Videl shook her head.

"You’re impossible."

He leaned closer, voice low.

"Tell me truthfully. What did you feel from her?"

Videl hesitated.

Then—

"Pressure."

She swallowed.

"Like standing before a mountain deciding whether to crush you."

Victor’s golden eyes gleamed.

"Yes."

That.

That was the answer he wanted.

Not politics.

Power.

A worthy sovereign.

He almost seemed energized.

Videl noticed.

And frowned.

"You look like you want to fight her."

"Maybe."

"You are insane."

"Possibly."

She smacked his arm.

He laughed.

But then his expression darkened again.

"Anyone else know about the ring?"

"Some noticed."

"Enemies?"

"Maybe."

Victor nodded.

"We move carefully then."

His voice changed.

No warmth.

Only command.

Videl unconsciously obeyed.

As always.

"You really think she’s using me as bait?"

"I know it."

"And you’re not angry?"

Victor looked at her.

"No."

"Why?"

"Because if she plays games..."

his smile returned—

"...I can play too."

A silence followed.

Charged.

Alive.

Even Videl shivered slightly.

Sometimes she forgot how dangerous he truly was.

Then remembered all at once.

She stepped closer.

Lowered her voice.

"Victor..."

"Yes?"

"If it comes to choosing between the crown and me?"

He answered without pause.

"I burn the board."

Videl stared.

Speechless.

Then looked away to hide a smile.

"...Idiot."

But her cheeks betrayed her.

The alley seemed suddenly smaller.

Too intimate.

Too full.

Victor broke it first.

"We should return before Clara decides I’m plotting treason."

"She probably already assumes that."

"And Lane?"

"She’s probably imagining stabbing me."

Victor considered that.

"Fair."

Videl laughed outright.

Then together they turned toward the guild—

while above them, unnoticed,

a raven shifted once upon a rooftop beam.

Watching.

Listening.

And the game beneath the Queen’s shadow moved one step further.