The Conquerors Path
chapter-457

"Um... this isn't bad," I spoke as Farah told me about all the information she had gathered. The main one is about Zelda. I had told her to focus on the information regarding her daily life, and bits of information about her past. With how even Ralph didn't know about her, and it would be difficult to get information from the outside.

"That's all I could gather, master..." Farah spoke. To which I patted her head, a smile filled her face as I did so. I started to think about the possible things I can enact on. Just as I was doing so, the door to my room was knocked upon, and the voice of Ralph was heard.

"Austin, you busy?"

"No, you can come in," I replied. Just as I said so, Farah disappeared back into my body. Along with it, the door was opened with Ralph coming in.

"It would seem that the others are rearing to meet you..." Ralph said.

"How many contacted you?" I asked.

"About 3," he replied. I remained silent for a moment as I asked back.

"What do they want?"

"A simple meeting and a stronger relationship," Ralph said with a sneer. It's natural, after all, the things I have shown. It's quite certain by now that I will definitely become a great powerhouse, which translates to the Dark Night getting more attention. Plus, by now, the demands I made would have reached the ears of those powers. They might even use this chance to gain more power within the War Council.

But I am not worried much. I'm sure that the War Council will definitely make appropriate moves to prevent it from happening.

"What should we do?" Ralph asked.

"Give them an open chance. Don't let me into the mix. Keep them on their toes," I said, to which Ralph nodded his head.

"So when do we leave?" he asked me with a sly smile, to which I replied, "After my date..."

...

"You look beautiful," I said as I looked at Zelda, who walked towards me. Right now, it's the next day after my incident, which once again shook most of the powerful people after they came to know about me and Zelda. A monster that can use the domain before reaching the Imperial realm, and I defeated that monster.

But once again, I turned a deaf ear to all that noise as I focused on my 'date'. With the little information that Farah could give me, I think I can make this date go in a normal manner, at least. Plus, last night, I did extensive research on her past life, trying to get all and any rumors and information. And I have to say that I am very confident about the future.

"And you look hidden," Zelda replied back with a smirk. Her feline eyes focused on the mask on my face. To which I replied, "Well if you're willing, I don't mind taking the risk."

"Oh?... tell me," she said, clearly intrigued by what I had to offer. Hearing so, I replied, "Then come with me, let's go somewhere adventurous."

"Sure," she immediately replied. The two of us soon started to walk towards the main teleportation center close by. Both me and Zelda taking in all the attention as we walked by. Yet, I shrugged it off, and so did Zelda.

"Where do you want to go?" the spatial mage asked as we easily reached the front, courtesy of mine and Zelda's status.

"Here are the coordinates," I said, passing it on. The spatial mage read it, after which he nodded his head. After getting his confirmation, the two of us entered inside the magic circle. After which we were teleported away.

As the magic circle enveloped us, a surge of energy pulsed through our bodies, and within seconds, we found ourselves transported to a breathtaking landscape. We stood on the edge of a magnificent cliff overlooking a vast valley, blanketed with lush greenery. The air was crisp, and the scent of wildflowers wafted through the breeze.

Zelda's eyes widened with excitement as she took in the panoramic view. The distant sound of rushing water drew our attention to a majestic waterfall cascading down the mountainside, creating a picturesque scene. A rainbow arched across the mist, adding a touch of enchantment to the already magical setting.

"I thought we could start our date with a little adventure," I said, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.

Zelda's tail and the ears on her head twitched with anticipation. "I like the way you think," she replied, her eyes gleaming with a mixture of curiosity and eagerness.

I reached into a hidden pocket and pulled out a map, marked with a trail that led to a hidden cave behind the waterfall. "Shall we explore what lies beyond that veil of water?" I asked, holding out the map for Zelda to see.

Her eyes narrowed as she examined the map, her warrior instincts kicking in. "A secret cave, you say? Count me in!" she exclaimed, her competitive spirit ignited, clearly playing along with the ploy that I have set before.

'Those things better be ready.'

I prayed as we embarked on our journey, following the trail that wound through the vibrant forest. The path was dotted with exotic flowers and the occasional cute creature, which added a touch of whimsy to our adventure. As we walked, I regaled Zelda with tales of ancient heroes and mythical beasts. I even focused on her story, touching it with a hint of passion, which quickly earned her attention.

"You seem to know well about Zkirana," she said as we kept walking through this beautiful place.

"Indeed, she struck me more within the heroes of the past," I said.

"Why?" she asked. To which I spoke in a hesitant voice.

"In the stories I heard, she seemed to be just living her life to be a hero for conquest and wars, but..."

"But?" Zelda asked her complete focus on me. My eyes looked at her, seemingly hesitant to speak about a hero she might idolize. But in the end, I started to speak my mind. My voice was gentle yet filled with conviction.

"But it looked like she was looking for fun, for gentle happiness, as if she was seeking to find someone to share her joys with..."

Hearing my words, I could see Zelda's eyes clouding over, her expression seemingly between a dreamy yet nostalgic gaze. Seeing this, I struck while the iron was hot.

"That's why I was attracted to you, I guess..." I said. Hearing my words, her focus turned back to me as she asked, "Why?"

"Well, I could somehow understand the same feeling as I was looking for something like that too, and when I saw you, I could see the same feeling in you..." Saying this, I 'shyly' scratched my mask as I spoke.

"Zelda, you are a force to be reckoned with—a hero in your own right. But even heroes need someone by their side, someone who understands and supports them. I thought perhaps we could begin as friends..." She listened intently, her guard slowly lowering as she allowed herself to be vulnerable.

Zelda's expression softened, and a flicker of something deeper sparked in her eyes. She reached out, her hand gently intertwining with mine.

"I never thought I'd find someone who could match my spirit," she whispered, her voice tinged with vulnerability. "Thank you for reminding me of the past."

'First step is done.'

It would seem that fighting and winning over her had more effect than I thought. Plus, adding to this atmosphere, everything went well. Of course, she isn't in love with me yet, but now she is definitely considering me as a serious candidate for love.

We kept our silence as the sound of crashing water grew louder as we approached the waterfall. With each step, the anticipation in Zelda's eyes intensified. We stood at the precipice, feeling the cool spray on our faces. Together, we took a deep breath and stepped through the curtain of water, entering the hidden cave.

Inside, the cave sparkled with bioluminescent crystals, casting a soft, ethereal glow. Stalactites and stalagmites created intricate formations, like frozen sculptures that lined the cavern walls. The air was thick with mystery and magic, and our steps echoed through the chamber.

As we delved deeper into the cave, we encountered challenges along the way—puzzles to solve, tests of strength, and moments that required teamwork. With each obstacle, Zelda's determination and competitive nature shone through, and she reveled in the thrill of overcoming each trial.

Finally, we reached the heart of the cave, where a magnificent treasure awaited—a huge table with several foods already prepared, its tantalizing smell filling the beautifully decorated center room, with a waterfall to its back.

"Shall we?" I said with a smile, to which she spoke back, "You sure prepared a lot."

"Well, I will need at least this much to impress such a beautiful lady," I replied. Saying so, I stood before the table as I removed my mask, my face being illuminated by the light.

"Shall we dine, my lady?" I said with a light bow.