The Conquerors Path

"How's an Imperial doing?"

I asked as I entered the well-decorated room, where a beautiful woman sat, her silver eyes sparkled as she gazed at me, while a found smile graced her face,

"Better than ever"

Mira replied as she stood up, walking forward I gave her a hug after which both of us took a seat,

"How's mister popular doing?"

Mira asked me, her voice laced with amusement, hearing it I shook my head as I lazily starched down upon the sofa,

"It's so tiring, I want my normal life back"

"Well, I can sympathize with you on that but sadly things are only going to be harder for you"

Mira spoke with a piteous gaze, being a successor herself, she too had to go through the things that I am now going through, I sighed in laziness as I spoke,

"I know but it's just a pain"

Hearing my words Mira smiled as she replied,

"Well, you have to put up with it, with greater position some greater responsibility"

"Why do I feel that I have heard that somewhere?"

I asked back to Mira's words as she winked at me, soon we just had some small talk among ourselves, enjoying and making up for the time that we missed with each other, it was a scenario I came to create where I slowly became the outlet of her worries, the person close to her that now at all times would run up to her, no matter the time or problem,

"So how does it feel to get an extended life?"

I asked, its the great boon of being an Imperial, just reaching the first stage of the Imperial rank would grant you extra 500 years, its the main reason that many people are mad to reach the Imperial realm, a basic rebirth takes place, and both in mind and body,

"It's amazing, the power and magic I could hold now are far beyond my dreams"

Mira spoke, her eyes becoming gentle as she gazed at me

"And I have you to thank for all this"

Mira completed her words with a deep look, making me shake my head,

"I didn't do much, it was all you"

I replied but Mira firmly shook her head,

"No if it wasn't for you I might have taken another 20 years to reach an epiphany, plus even if I did without the law stone I would have taken another 10 years to pass beyond my shell, in this case, it was all you"

Mira said, her eyes now containing a certain feeling that is hard to grasp, seeing it an evil smile broke within me, my feelings of 'bashfulness' and 'pride' at Mira passed on to her but soon that was converted into a 'nervous' feel filled with 'complex' emotion as I spoke to Mira,

"In that case don't I deserve a reward?"

My words were spoken with a cheeky grin, while on the inside a 'complex' feeling of truth lay, it was as if I had reached a decision and was about to act upon it,

"What do you need?"

Mira asked with a serious voice, something I could tell came from the feelings that I was giving her. My eyes looked directly into her as I spoke,

"Well I want to go on a date with you"

"A date? Austin I told you..."

Mira replied back with surprise upon hearing my demands but I didn't let her finish,

"I know, I know that I should give up my feelings, and I am, actually this date is so that I could suppress the last of my feelings for you"

I spoke, my words containing deep love and reluctance, the 'pain' in my body was immense as I transferred them all to Mira, who was now looking to the ground filled with guilt,

"You know aunt, I recently started to date someone and I think I am coming to like her, this date of ours would be the last thing I need, after this we would go back to normal"

"You fo-found so-someone?"

Mira reacted heavily as her head lashed upwards while I could see her eyes trembling,

"Yes"

I responded, as a unique feeling of closeness started to fill my body, a feeling of 'losing' my 'love' for Mira, while I try my best to 'like' the girl I am going out with,

"Th-That's go-good"

Mira spoke, giving me the worst smile I have ever seen from her,

'Bullseye'

Hiding my true feelings while giving out a wry smile I spoke,

"Yeah, the girl I met is kind and truly she's a good girl, hence aunt Mira can you grant me this one date?"

My words were pressing down on her, cutting down all her retreat paths, it would normally be impossible for me to get a date from Mira, it's not easy to shake up the will of a woman such as her but right now's the best time.

By now she had already formed some sort of higher affection for me, the debt of me helping her reach Imperial rank filled her, the guilt of her pushing me away, my 'feelings' that were being pumped into her along with the sudden news that I am already starting to like another girl has completely trapped her in a confusing fight of emotions.

A minute of silence remained between us as Mira seemed to be deep within her thoughts but seeing that she hadn't answered me in some time, my 'feelings' turned sad, with a forced smile I spoke,

"I see, it would seem that my request was too much, then you can forget abo-"

"No, we can go"

Abruptly I was cut off by Mira who seems to regain her calm look as she gazed at me, my feelings burst froth with 'happiness' as I responded,

"Good, I am happy then"

"Whose the girl?"

Mira suddenly asked, every look from her gave me the feeling that she was just a normal aunt talking about her nephew's love life but my instincts were screaming something else,

"Well I actually one day happened to meet her during a training time, something about her had clicked with me"

I spoke, not giving many details but it would look like Mira didn't want to back out now,

"No, tell me more about this girl that caught your focus"

Seeing that I couldn't back out I gave her the story of Sonia, with many twists, such that I met her training hard, finding out about her bullying, about how Sonia was fighting back, things such that I trained with her, helping her as our 'relationship' got closer, basically some romance slice of life story was thrown out.

It was added with the hint of how Sonia's life and story were healing my 'broken' love, it was truly a masterpiece,

"Interacting with her actually helped me in a way get over you, she's being very friendly and it's only recently that we went on one date, for now, I just want to see how the thing would go with her"

I gave the last words of my 'love story', making Mira silent,

"I see, that's good, it's good she's helping you"

"I know, she's being very helpful to me"

I replied back to Mira, acting as if I couldn't see how that mana around me was actually bubbling forth, while there was in no smile on Mira's face.