The Conquerors Path

Austin POV:

'Looks like it worked'

I thought as I looked at the cute girl that was brawling her eyes out as she curled herself into a ball, a little bit of guilt filled my heart but this was the only way, any other methods were more brutal than this, and the ones less severe would take an extremely long time to be completed, there would be no guarantee that things won't go out of control.

Hence I went for the most simple and direct method, ever since I came here I have been keeping tabs on the girls, well the ones that tabs could be kept on, taking small actions which they noticed yet not, small actions that would later snowball into powerful ones, truthfully Sonia's feelings for Leonardo can be called ones that grew because of admiration.

Ones like those are the easiest to break, if Leonardo had ever tried to respond to her feelings then perhaps it would have bloomed into true love, one that would be unbreakable but that idiot was well too idiotic to do anything and he's lost the love of a tender and strong girl, shaking my head I walked towards Sonia and in one sweep I took her into my arms,

"Are you okay?"

I asked but I didn't get a response, instead, Sonia held onto my neck strongly as she started to brawl her eyes out, tears and snot filling my chest but I didn't push her back, since I was the cause for it I would also be the one to heal it, truthfully I am thankful that she's crying right, which meant that she was pushing out her feelings, this meant that she wasn't a lost cause.

My biggest fear was that she would lose herself and become an empty shell but thankfully I was wrong, of course even then I had a plan, just that it would have been hella annoying to get it done, pushing my thoughts away I focused on the weak girl on my arms as I walked towards the sofa taking a seat, I didn't say anything as just hugged her back, silently implying that I was with her.

Time in such manner passed by, and I didn't even focus on it as I just kept hugging Sonia, patting her back or at times speaking consoling words, finally, after an unknown amount of time the crying stopped, and only silence remained in my room, as Sonia still held onto me, 

"Are you okay?"

I didn't get a response but I did feel a tiny nod on my chest, keeping my hug on her I patted her back, smoothing her, 

"I'm sorry"

My words were heard across the room, a minute of silence remained before which I got a response, the voice hoarse and lost, 

"Why are you sorry?"

"It's because of me you heard what you shouldn't, maybe Leonardo didn't mean it, maybe he was feeling a bit out"

I responded, as Sonia still clutched onto me, her face hidden in my chest, again time went by, and it was only later did she speak,

"Do you think so?"

I didn't reply to her words, making it such that even I didn't believe my words when I clearly did, 

"Why were you in my cupboard?"

My question caused my body on me to flinch, 

"Clara wanted some help"

And the answer came in a low voice that was still hoarse, 

"Clara.?....sigh....looks like I need to speak to her"

"No!"

This time the voice was a pitch higher, as her hands clutched onto my shirt,

"Don't blame her, she just wanted to surprise you, plus it's better this way, at least I got to know his true face"

Again her body started trembling, while some more tears filled my dress, feeling that she held for so long isn't easy to give up, it would take some time for her to even be back to normal and during all this time I will be with her, supporting her, 

"Sigh.....you know he didn't deserve you, he wasn't worthy of you, such a beautiful and kind girl such as yourself deserves someone thousands of times better"

My words seemed to have calmed her down a bit, as her body returned back to normal and a quiet yet disturbing voice was heard,

"Back then at those times, were you the one who took me to the infirmary?"

"Yes"

I replied back not hiding, again silence fell, and a few seconds later she spoke again, 

"Wa-Was it true?"

This time I felt a hint of shyness from her words,

"Yes, I indeed like you, and I think that I am falling in love with you"

My words seemed to be like thunder to her as her body started trembling, this time the reason was different than before, this time the silence was longer as I didn't yet receive a response, just as I was about to speak again, Sonia's voice sounded, more meek and quiet,

"Do-Does Cl-Clara know?"

"Yes, I already spoke about it to her and she didn't have any problems, in fact, she even seemed happy but when I heard that you had someone you like and it was going on for such a long time I gave up, I didn't want to hurt you"

After I finished speaking I started to pat her back, my voice, in the end, contained inexplicable feelings, which I made sure that Sonia would understand, 

"Why?"

An extremely quiet voice filled my ears,

"Um?"

"WHY DO YOU LIKE ME?!"

A shout like no other was heard, Sonia's voice filled with so many emotions that it was blasting out, her hands started to tap on my chest, 

"WHAT DO I HAVE THAT WOULD MAKE ANYONE LOVE ME?"

"I AM NOT THAT BEAUTIFUL! MY TALENT IS AVERAGE AT BEST! I AM NOT CONFIDENT! NOT THE BEST AT ANYTHING AND I AM THE BIGGEST IDIOT TOO"

The more she spoke the more her voice cracked, and the speed of her hands hitting my chest increased, hearing her outburst I didn't react, only finally after she seemed to have calmed down did I move, hugging her tightly, while I patted her back as I spoke, 

"What is there not to love about you? you might not know this but I started to keep an eye on you since I started to have feelings for you and the more I learned about you the more I fell for you"

"You have a never bending will, I like the way you cutely eat your sweets, I love the kindness that still exists within you, even though you have been through much, you are steadfast and strong, I like the way you cutely blush when someone compliments you"

"I know that you love to spend your time skating, I know that your favorite sweet is the special delight Romeene chocolate, I love to your eyes light up whenever you find something fun and..."

As such I spoke a few more words shocking Sonia who my now had raised her head, looking at me, her appearance completely pitiful, her brown hair was stuck to her face, her eyes and nose were red, her brown eyes that always seemed to contain a twinkle now lost, the cheerful personality that surrounded her was diminished, her current looks were more than enough to make even stone-hearted men move,

"Surprised?"

I asked as I took out a handkerchief and started to wash away the tears that filled her eyes.