The town of Paria outside ground was surrounded by many small and large rocks that circled around the town. Some had moss accumulated on them while others were buried deep into ground leaving small crater around.
Smiley and Ananke were out in fields, outside the town, holding wooden swords as they glared at each other with murderous intent.
Ananke yelled out first, 'How dare you!'
Smiley responded with cold eyes, 'I don't know what you are planning but this is going too far' as he raised his sword aiming towards Ananke's neck, showing his intent to kill.
As he glanced at the wooden sword Smiley held while his real blade was missing, 'You fell for right for my trap.' Ananke regretted back with a tiny tear in his eyes, 'What a pity… If only you had listened to me back then.'
Smiley asked confused, 'Huh? What are we talking—' but got cut in by Ananke who launched the attack, 'Don't you DARE pretend nothing happened!' and struck towards Smiley.
Smiley evaded it cleanly and jumped back as he said, 'But I am the kid here.'
Ananke yelled, 'Being a child does not mean the crimes you committed will be forgiven!' as he kept trying to strike Smiley but Smiley easily dodged most of his attacks by his keen observation.
'I get what you mean but…' Smiley yelled, 'WHY DO I HAVE TO PLAY THE VILLAIN??? You are supposed to be the evil monster while letting the kid be the hero.'
Ananke smiled, 'Oh, come on now, because It's fun to try out things that are not normal. Now, don't break your character, carry on like you really are in a real fight.'
Smiley paused, 'You mean to say I should act like my life is in danger? When SHE IS THERE' as he pointed towards Ayla who was watching them from a distance while sitting in shades of trees with a bright smile across her face like she was in a panic.
Her overwhelming bright atmosphere completely overshadowed their dramatic atmosphere as she waved at them.
Smiley waved back as Ananke nodded, 'Think of her as a crazy assassin who is thrilled when your life is in danger.'
Smiley was not convinced at all as he asked, 'But still why do we need to roleplay?'
Ananke struck his sword in the ground, putting both hands onto top of halt as his black coat raced in the wind. He slowly looked up towards Smiley, 'Because it's fun.' posing like a hero.
… Smiley looked at Ananke wondering if he was just messing around but couldn't deny he looked "just a little bit" cool.
Ananke raised his sword, 'Now, give it you all. Don't worry, I have an ability called "Blessings of World" which have given me protection against all wind attacks and also manipulate Wind at will. Most physical attacks are rendered useless against me. I even have a wind shield protecting me all the time so nothing can touch me even if you manage to get past me.'
Smiley felt jealous, 'At this point might as well just say you are invincible…'
But he lifted his sword, 'But that is what I need. I couldn't do anything against Elenbel' as his sword flew past Elenbel's body like he was hitting sand, 'I was too pitifully weak and yet this man defeated him with a single strike'
Smiley had no idea he was the one who had cleared the trail. Elenbel's eerie distinction in his voice that differentiates between "People" and "Humans". Destruction of throne with a flick of finger showing destruction of ranking. Elenbel had called Smiley "a human" as a way to show he had already proven his worth.
Although this motivated Smiley even further to become stronger, 'No… I must be the strongest. That even if everyone turns against me, I must stand on top being able to protect what's important to me.'
Ananke said, 'Woah, I like the look in your eyes.'
Smiley thought of what he could copy… Ignis' speed which was fast enough to leave him completely hopeless.
He raised his heels and lunched himself towards Ananke with the tip of his toes like he was jumping straight forward like a rabbit. Combining his fast walking pace with each step boosted by the power of his jumps. He lunched forward.
Crack.
Ananke was studded by that voice as he tried to stop the fight but it was too late. Smiley was already near him before he even noticed opened his eyes and the blade was about to hit him on the chest straight.
Ananke's eyes widened as he spoke 'This is bad… I need to grab him before he lands—' as he freed his right arm.
Ananke swiped up his blade trying to parry in panic as he tried to grab the collar of the boy to stop him but Smiley disappeared from his sight.
Ananke instantly used his wind to detect Smiley, 'Huh… My wind—' and turned his head backwards to find Smiley's sword about to strike him on the back.
Even his own wind detected nothing, almost as if Smiley had just vanished before reappearing behind him.
Smiley had paused, stepped on the ground and circled around. Changing directions swiftly in just a few moments where Ananke had his guard down and Ayla who was watching them had closed her eyes at the exact moment and was distracted by a butterfly that flew past her eyes.
Just as the blade was about to strike him, the wind protected Ananke and pushed the wooden blade back towards Smiley's face, knocking him down.
Smiley said shocked, 'My head would have been split in half by now if I was using the real sword like you suggested.'
Ananke recalled him showing off that boy should use a real sword instead of fake one to assure him of his strength but seeing Smiley's hesitation, he switched the sword to wooden so the boy wouldn't hold back.
Ananke instead of his usual jokes said, 'Yea— That would have been tragic…'
Ananke snapped back, 'No wait, Smiley don't move. I think you foot broke—'
Only to see Smiley standing just fine, 'No but my head is. I really think something broke.' As he looked at Ananke like a kid whose candy was stolen from him.
Ananke realized the ring Smiley wore might have already healed his injury. Ananke asked, smiling but his hand was shaken by what happened, 'By the way, what did you just do?'
Smiley replied smiling, 'Oh I just copied the movements of someone I fought to death in the past. You know like nodes (joints) and lines (limbs joining those joints)'
Ananke felt a cold run down his spine after realizing that this boy had no idea what he just did was not even considered possible before. For if it were true then everyone would have picked up swords instead of magic which was only popularized as an easy alternative for mana for how difficult it was to use pure Mana while swords required rigorous training only to fight in frontlines.
Smiley seemed to have an overwhelming potential in research. This made him even question why Smiley's Master, Fariz, even made him take up the sword in the first place when he could easily make the boy a Scholar and let him have an easy life without his life in danger.
Smiley puffed-out his cheeks, 'I know I know this is cheating but—' but Ananke corrected him instantly, 'How is that cheating?'
Smiley looked surprised as most adults scolded him for his talent as they got jealous of it but Ananke explained, 'Do you know when we study Magic, We calculate Mana circle formulas and organize them into something called a "Structured Arrays" from which we change its value. It makes it easier to use at the cost of flexibility. I did not think it was possible but what you are doing is using those same principles in swordship. You might be the first ever person I heard to attempt something like this. These "Nodes" and "Lines" might be just formulas and patterns you are calculating. This alone can be revolutionary.'
Focusing on Smiley's blank eyes, 'That is just how you see your world. A way to see the world just like how I see wind in mine and control it.'
Ananke looked at Smiley, 'You might be a genius for this.'
Looking at Smiley's mind already overloaded, he laughed, taking his statement back, 'Maybe not.'
Smiley asked, 'But wouldn't you hate it, if someone copied the efforts you spend years upon'
Ananke smiled, 'I am pretty talented myself so it's not much of a hard work.' but deep down Smiley had seen Ananke discomfort as his heart told a lie. Discomfort he had seen on everyone's face who said they did not mind it. For him, it was better to be ridiculated by others than being lied to when they could not even persuade their own heart.
No actually… Smiley was just lying to himself for he could not persuade his own heart just like others he claimed couldn't. He was making fun of himself without even realizing as he held himself back.
It was just human nature. Just like how Smiley was jealous of Ananke's wind making him invincible. Ananke was wary of Smiley's condition which just caused misunderstanding as both failed to be truthful to each other.
Ananke tried to cheer him up but that instant Ayla came in and said to them, 'What are you guys talking about? It's my turn, you know.'
Smiley said, 'But I have already defeated the "self claimed" strongest person.' which pierced Ananke like an arrow to his heart.
Ananke said, 'Maybe we should—' but Ayla taunted, 'Losers don't get to decide' smiling heartlessly.
Another critical hit to Ananke as he sulked away whispering, 'It's not like I am weak you know… I tried my best, didn't I? No one appreciates me enough~'
Smiley looked at Ayla, 'But are you sure you can fight me?'
Ayla tied her hair behind with her string and asked, 'Why? Are you looking down at me because I am a girl?'
Smiley looked at the strings and responded, 'No, but are you really going to fight me with those strings?'
Ayla smiled 'Oh, you can see them huh?'
'I mean it's pretty obvious but I do not think it is good for an open place like this.'
Ayla thought, 'Obvious? These are supposed to be naked to a human eye…'
Ayla proudly declared, 'You must have pretty amazing eyes but I did not become Saint class for nothing.'
Smiley readied his sword and Ayla opened her fingers, releasing mana filled strings as he thought, 'I might as well go easy on her—'
One moment he sprinted, the next moment he found himself laying on the ground, utterly defeated as Ayla excitedly declared her victory, claiming, 'Yay I won! Now I am the strongest!'
'Huh?'
It was not even a fair fight. Smiley suffered an overwhelming one sided defeat without even being able to figure out why he was staring at the sky.
Ayla claimed, 'I was going to teach you a lesson to never look down upon a woman but good thing you cleared up the misunderstandings.'
Smiley was petrified by the thoughts alone of what she would have done to him but he just closed his eyes, enjoying the sky and its icy winds.