Conquering The Novel

"Let's start with hard difficulty, and you can't use mana, okay?" Diana informed.

Ares nodded, "Alright."

With that, Diana set the difficulty to hard on a screen in front of them, and the targets surrounding them changed instantly as they found themselves in an open green field. The targets were set at varying distances and heights, some of them moving and some of them stationary.

[Get ready!] they heard the game-like voice.

[Three, two, one, start!]

As soon as the countdown ended, the targets began to appear out of thin air. The first target was set at 25 meters, and both Ares and Diana aimed carefully before releasing their arrows simultaneously.

Swish— Swish

And their arrows hit the bullseye.

Thwack— Thwack

The game continued with targets appearing at varying distances and speeds, each one more challenging than the last. Ares and Diana were evenly matched, with their arrows hitting the targets with impressive accuracy.

As the game progressed, Diana's shots were still precise, hitting the bullseye every time, while Ares struggled to keep up as the difficulty increased.

Ares couldn't help but admire Diana's skills. She was indeed the best archer he had ever seen. And he also knew that even if he was allowed to use his mana and Hawkeye skill, it would still be difficult for him to defeat her.

Finally, the game ended, and Diana jumped with excitement. "Yay! I won!" she exclaimed, raising the bow in the air.

Ares just smiled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You are amazing," he said.

"Here's your prize, Sir Ares!" The stallkeeper handed Ares a small, cute stuffed figure of himself as a prize.

Surprised, Ares looked at the stuffed figure for a moment before accepting it, "Thank you," he couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of it.

"And here's your prize, Princess!" The stallkeeper turned to Diana and presented her with a small jewelry box.

Diana wasted no time and opened the jewelry box, her eyes sparkling as she found a sword charm inside. It was a small, intricately detailed charm with two tiny katanas hanging from it that could be attached to a sword or katana's hilt.

"Oh, it's a sword charm! What should I do with it? I don't really use swords," Diana exclaimed in an exaggerated manner, giving Ares a playful pout.

Ares just smiled at her antics, knowing full well that these prizes were no coincidence.

"Wanna trade?" He asked with a grin.

Diana's eyes lit up at the idea. "Aww, my love, really? You'll trade this with me? I already loved your prize. Here," Diana said as she passed Ares the jewelry box and hurriedly snatched the cute stuffed figure from him.

"Thanks, I'll cherish it," Diana said, holding the stuffed figure close to her heart.

"I appreciate this as well. I'll put it on my katana's hilt," Ares said, his gaze fixed on the sword charm.

"You promise?" Diana asked playfully.

"Yeah, I promise," Ares replied with a smile before carefully placing the charm in his inventory.

"Hehe," Diana continued to giggle excitedly, thrilled with the trade.

She took Ares' hand and led him through the bustling festival, eager to explore everything it had to offer. They meandered through the colorful stalls, taking in the sights and sounds and sampling various foods along the way.

"Would you like to try this fried squid?" Ares asked, holding out a skewer of crispy golden-brown squid tentacles to Diana, who was just staring at him with a smile while he eat.

Diana's eyes lit up as she eagerly took a bite while Ares held it for her. "Mmm, this is so good! Oh, have you tried the grilled corn over there? It's amazing," she said, pointing to a nearby stall.

They continued to try new foods and explore the festival until they stumbled upon a small stage where a local band was performing. The crowd was dancing and swaying to the music, and Diana couldn't resist the urge to join in.

"Come on, Ares! Let's dance!" she said, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards the crowd.

Ares hesitated at first, but seeing Diana's infectious enthusiasm, he finally gave in and started dancing along with her. They moved together in perfect sync, twirling and swaying to the beat, Diana's laughter mingling with the music.

As they danced, Ares felt a sudden pang of longing, as if he was reliving a distant memory. He tried to shake it off and focus on the present moment with Diana, but his mind kept wandering.

When the song ended, the crowd erupted into applause, and Diana beamed up at Ares. "Fuu~ I didn't know you could dance so well, Ares," she said, breaking him out of his reverie.

He smiled at her but remained silent, lost in thought. Diana noticed the change in his expression and quickly suggested, "Oh, look, there's a fortune teller over there. Let's go try it."

They walked hand in hand towards the small tent at the edge of the festival, where a wizened old woman sat with a deck of tarot cards.

Ares had a bad feeling just from seeing her; the old hag fortune teller before him reminded him of fortune tellers from anime who would never give any good news.

Diana's heart raced with excitement as they sat down, their hands still intertwined. The old woman shuffled the deck and started laying out the cards. Ares was skeptical, but Diana was intrigued.

The fortune teller began to lay out Diana's cards, and as she did, she started to speak in a melodious tone. "My child, you have a heart of gold. You are destined to be a great leader, a champion of justice and truth. Your passion and courage will inspire many to follow in your footsteps, and you will leave a lasting impact on this world."

Diana listened intently, her eyes bright with wonder. The fortune teller's words seemed to resonate deep within her, affirming her purpose and giving her a sense of fulfillment.

The old woman then turned her attention to Ares and started to shuffle his cards. Ares looked hesitant, but Diana gave him a gentle smile, urging him to give it a try.

As the fortune teller laid out Ares' cards, her expression grew serious. "My son, you have a complex past, filled with pain and suffering," she said, her voice filled with empathy. "But you also possess immense strength and resilience. The cards suggest that you will find solace and redemption in the embrace of the one you love."

Diana's heart skipped a beat as she heard the words, and she saw a flicker of emotion in Ares' eyes. She wished she could be that person, the one to bring him the peace he deserved.

Suddenly, the fortune teller spoke again, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Ah, young love. It is written in the stars," she said, looking at Diana and Ares with a knowing smile. "Your paths are intertwined, and your bond will only grow stronger with time."

Diana couldn't help but giggle at the fortune teller's words, her cheeks turning pink with a mix of amusement and affection.

As they left the fortune teller's tent, Diana took Ares' hand once again, a smile spreading across her face. The warmth of his hand in hers was comforting, and she couldn't help but feel grateful to be here with him. The festival had turned out to be much more enjoyable than she had expected, especially with Ares by her side.

"What do you say we forget about the tournament and just enjoy the festival?" she asked, looking up at him with hopeful eyes.

Ares looked at her and smiled, his heart feeling light and content. "I couldn't agree more," he said, squeezing her hand gently.

They spent the rest of the day exploring the festival, trying different foods, and playing games, but it was their time spent together that made the day truly memorable.

As the sun began to set, they found themselves drawn to the Colosseum, where the names of the teams qualified for the semifinals were announced. The atmosphere was electric, with music and fireworks lighting up the sky.

As the dazzling fireworks display began, they found a quiet spot to sit and watch. Diana leaned into Ares, feeling his arm wrap around her. She felt safe and loved, her heart swelling with happiness, she knew at that moment that she wanted to be with him forever.

"It's been a perfect day," Diana whispered, gazing up at the sparkling sky. "I never thought I'd get to have a day off from training and fighting."

"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Ares replied, looking at her with a gentle smile.

Diana took a deep breath and met his gaze, her eyes full of sincerity. "Ares, there's something I need to tell you," she said, taking his hand in hers.

Ares looked at her, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "What is it, Diana?"

"I don't know what you think of me, a mere pawn or just a girl sticking around you like everyone else," she said, her voice soft and vulnerable. "But I want you to know that my love for you is real, and I hope that one day, you'll feel the same way about me. I'm not asking for much, I just want you to be a part of my life."

!?

Ares was taken aback by Diana's words, but he smiled and took her hand. "I already am a part of your life, Diana. And as for your love, I will wait for that day to come," he said, meeting her gaze.

'Falling in love again? It doesn't sound so bad,' Ares thought with a smile as he moved his hand to brush Diana's hair away from her pointy ears.

Diana looked at him quizzically as Ares tenderly caressed her ears and leaned in closer to her.

As the last firework faded away, they shared a sweet kiss, their lips meeting in a gentle embrace. It was a moment Diana would never forget, a moment of pure bliss and happiness amidst the chaos of their lives.

Diana felt like her heart was about to burst with joy as she deepened the kiss, her fingers tangling in Ares' hair. Ares' hand moved from her ears to her waist, pulling her closer to him.