The Conquerors Path

809  Chapter 807-Zora's Position. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As Zora moved aside, I entered inside her office or scientist workplace in a sense, it was not my first time, but the whole place definitely looked cleaner than the last time I was there, and I made sure to let Zora know it. "Looks cleaner than last time," I spoke, my words making Zora smile a little, the whole place having the sense of understanding and arrangement as Zora, different books spread around, some small accommodations that looked not that much comfortable to sleep in, arranged within the area. This was just within the main office, and further into it; there lay a lab where Zora does her tests and stuff. "How is it going with any of your new projects?" I asked with a light smile on my face as I sat in one of the chairs that looked okay for now, Zora did the same as she went forth to sit in one of the chairs, looking at me with those piercing black eyes of hers focused on me. At the same time, Zora seemed to be taking much better care of that red hair of hers, flowing beautifully within that cute witch hat of hers. "It's going well. I am currently onto something big, just some more, and those people who rejected me six times will learn how amazing I can be!" Zora spoke, and as she said those words, her eyes burned with a certain powerful light, one of ambition and another of having to prove herself. She was a failure in the sense when I found her, having been rejected a lot and having lost her chance to join the church, her ways and thinking did not match with how things were produced and run within the witch's world. And it's her being unique that led her to not being able to become a success. That decision had branded Zora as a witch without talent, and if it wasn't for my intervention, then Zora would have gone through a hell of a lot worse in her desire to reach toward the top, a lot of adversities in her way, which would have finally led her to activate her unique bloodline and her blessed eyes. Though the scenario of all that happening goes with the help of the protagonist, and it takes a lot of years, and she barely scrapes by to enter the academy as the worst, her innovation somehow catches the eye of a certain witch of the academy that took Zora in poorly and just started to raise her as is. Her unique method was found by the witch who thought of exploiting Zora, taking away her findings, using her research, and even more. Even within the academy, everything was worse for her; even her family suffered. The backstory of the game goes with Zora's father passing away from all the tension and debt. Her mother goes to do jobs that break her back and make her bedridden, things escalating and becoming worse for her siblings, who even start to hate Zora, and a lot of bad comes along until Zora is able to reach the highest peak of where and what she wants. But none of it exists now; there is no longer the Zora of the game in front of me. This is a new one. "What are you thinking so heavily about?" Zora suddenly asked me, making me look at her with a low-turned smile as I spoke with a nostalgic expression. "I was just thinking about the first time I met you and where we are from there." My words widened the eyes of Zora, who too took on a more thoughtful look, which soon went into a small yet gentle smile on her face, her more mature expression just once again reminding me that Zora is a bit older than me, her mature side slowly flowing out even though Zora looks and acts more on the petite side of things. "I, too, have slowly started to think about those times, and I shudder to think how my life would have been if I didn't meet you that day, or it's more appropriate to say, the day you found me..." A low whisper to her voice as Zora said this, she went forth to take her hat from her head and hold it in her lap, her back straightened, and her eyes filled with only gratitude for me as she looked at me. I shook my head at her words as I replied. "That might not just be the case; I believe that with your talents, you would have eventually succeeded, just later withoutme by your side..." A small teasing remark at the end made Zora chuckle as she responded. "Narcissistic till the end, but I also like that side of you. The fact is, I can't even begin to express how much debt and gratitude I owe you, and I know in my heart that I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you, too." I just smiled at those words of Zora, knowing how well it's true. The current parents of Zora live the richest and happiest life there is. At first, it was from all my support and help, but now, with how high Zora is reaching, she has already reached a position of power and money to look after at least ten generations. Her siblings are having a much better life right now. Zora, in a sense, has three brothers and a single sister, with the two brothers being older than her, while the rest are younger. All of them are living beautiful lives, with two of those brothers of hers married and happy, while the others are studying and living the life they want, all because of me and, later on, Zora. "I got the better of the deal, didn't I? Having the great risen star genius within the witch world as my friend?" My words made Zora smile, and none of it had even an inkling of falsehood to it, too. The truth of the fact is that Zora is just that famous and even above the other. Just having her with me, working under me, had shocked others much more than what is seen on the outside. It was just about three years ago that the true genius of Zora had started to shine, and even the very church that had rejected her had asked for her to join one of the high positions in the church, and Zora took it. Taking that position doesn't mean she should throw away her current one; it's just more of a higher power in the world. Being part of the church is paramount and the greatest dream of all the witches, especially climbing higher and higher, where the most intriguing witches live with their experiments and their knowledge. And Zora, the very explorer, wasn't one to just let it go, and from then, there has only been a rising position for Zora. She made some changes and brought innovative looks into potion-making, all of them on small levels affecting everything. But for one of her age, it is amazing enough that she gathered a lot of attention and a lot of people wanting to sponsor her and get on her good graces. Having a witch like Zora in your corner is never a bad thing. But she had rejected all that and stayed attuned to just me, and it didn't take long for others to understand that a big player was already supporting Zora, and she just wasn't going at it alone. The fact that it was me has only been brought to light when I came, which had caused the huge wave of power I am building, not to mention the several talks that took place saying that I might compete with Nora for the position of the next Duke. And many even wanted me to take it, too. After all, with my position, power, and people in my hands, how could anything ever go wrong with the dukedom? I even got a lot of support requests from the vassals under my household, all saying just to give the word before which they would join under my banner, all of which I straight away sent to my sister, who dealt with it perfectly. After some time, it became clear that I wasn't taking the position of duke, and many called me like an idiot. But the moment the truth of me being the successor of Eleanor came out, they did another 180-degree turn and started to wag after me like dogs. Anyway, the main thing about it is the fact that Zora is a very good celebrity in fact, and she has yet to still bring out all the big guns. The main act of getting Zora's affection in the game comes with us guiding the protagonist alongside Zora to fight against the witch who had stolen and tried to use the most important research of Zora that would change everything. It's the situation in all this that earns her attention, her awakening her bloodline and her eyes and shooting through the rankings of the church, everything is done with a plan. But now, the small changes have taken place, and it's time I start focusing more on Zora. After all, aren't I her holy son? "Please, you give me too much credit. If it weren't for you, there would be no position for me to hold. In the end, your believing in me has given me what I need." As Zora spoke of this, she held her hat tighter, her glinting gaze focused on my face, seemingly unable to look away.