Liam finally opened his eyes, revealing green, gem-like eyes which shined bright.
'So you finally decided to use them. Those Bleeding Rose Eyes.'
He set Smiley free and Ananke instantly leapt forward Smiley while Liam stepped backwards.
Ananke took Smiley behind him as Liam found his cheek bleeding, 'You really tried to kill me huh. You do remember when I die. This world gets reset with us.'
He rubbed his palm against the blood and the wound healed in an instant.
Ananke told Liam. This time not under fear but with determination.
'I Believe you, Liam.'
Liam seemed confused.
'I suspected his body was able to remember the past timelines while his mind could not. That is why I made him give one of the hardest exams for his age group and he passed barely knowing anything. But as you said the "Ethics and Morals" were recently added because of you so I checked his paper myself to see how badly he failed that part.'
'I even told him 20% were the passing marks to see if his OG could manipulate it and how his Mockery might be just him learning what his body already knows… But this isn't something he needs to know.'
Ananke called out:
'Liam, The Gentle Hero of the Past. I believe you. That there exists past timelines. But if that boy is someone you never knew of despite him being this strong. I am afraid I can not leave him in your care.'
He looked up with deadly intent, 'And do not even try. If you try to take this boy away, this or any other timelines. I will be your enemy for all timelines to come.'
Ananke whispered something which shocked Liam to the point he felt like a fool.
Liam was surprised: 'So you did– befriend a Guardian Shadow.'
The dark shadow was still looming far behind Ananke like a stalker. Daring not to step any closer after Smiley had spotted him back in the village.
Liam surrendered, 'I guess I better be grateful to my saviour. And I do want my Guardian Shadow to stop shadow boxing me to death.' as he walked away.
Ananke stopped the windy storm as he took a breath of relief.
Smiley saw Liam back as he thought, 'So he also has a pet huh? Guardian Angel of whatever he called it.'
A white shadow followed Liam which looked like a white silhouette shining bright as it waved back at Smiley.
Smiley looked at it with narrowed eyes focusing on it only to recognize that body shape and features from somewhere, 'Wait… Is that Fero?'
The white silhouette was the Pink hair angel named Fero who rode the skateboard down from sky when Smiley was falling down after entering Liam hero's statue.
Smiley waved back nervously at Fero who followed Liam, wondering, 'What is she doing here? I guess she was trying to protect me…'
Ananke said to Smiley, 'Are you alright? I am sorry you had to see that.'
'I am fine but so much of becoming a hero.'
Ananke patted him on the head, 'It's alright. You did well now. I am not letting them take you away.'
Smiley finally relaxed down as he slightly trembled behind a brave face, 'Yea~'
Ayla came rushing in, 'What happened?'
Ayla saw Smiley and was confused, 'Oh. How did you grow 3 cm tall all of a sudden?'
Smiley looked at her, 'Creepy! Just how much do you see with those eyes of yours.'
Ananke said, 'We might have made enemies of the most troublesome enemies out there.'
Smiley seemed confused, 'But it's odd. He was rather in a good mood after you stood up like that. He was even smiling when you cut off his bandage showing your googly red eyes and called me savior—'
Ananke suddenly realized his eyes were still glowing and covered them.
Meanwhile Liam and Aliena sat near a campfire surrounded by complete darkness as they talked among themself, 'Ananke has finally started walking down the road of becoming the "strongest" and it's all thanks to the boy.'
Aliena asked, 'But why did you push him that far?'
Liam answered, 'He thinks he is the strongest, and it caused his growth to stop. For the calamities that have yet to come. We need to be the strongest we can get. Compared to those monsters, Ananke is nothing more than a bug who will be swept away by his own winds. There is a reason why I taught him wind in the first place since fire never suited his nature despite his looks— I want him to be strong enough so he can carry the title of "The One Who Dances with Fate"'
Liam was curious, 'But still it's weird seeing you ask that.'
'That boy… he gave off a warm feeling like a cozy campfire where we can rest safely in this cold prison of a world. A place where no one can harm us.'
Liam stared at her, 'Woah, after all these years, you are now talking about some boy like that. Is that why your Mental world looks like this?'
'No that is not what I meant—'
Liam laughed, 'I was teasing you… But I felt that way too. Not only that but the emotions I had long forgotten returned back to me… I had forgotten how to laugh like that.'
'It doesn't feel bad experiencing the joy of disappointment.'
'It feels like the real port-agonist has showed up…'
Aliena stared into the campfire, 'I just hope we can find a soul bound user. One strong enough to kill those Celestials.'
'I have given up on that. I doubt anyone's soul is strong enough to kill those Celestials and Void. They have already killed every single Soul Bound User. Even Andere…'
A spark leapt out of the campfire and drifted past her unfocused eyes, lost in flames.
'But it does not mean we can't dream.'
Aliena laid on the ground, staring at the empty dark sky while the sparkle refused to die, separated from their world. Overlooked by their sight, as it shined bright.
Smiley was swinging his twig carelessly in the air.
Anake noticed him, 'I am curious why you are playing around with that?'
Smiley threw away the twig in expression of sadness
'It feels calmer this way.'
'I was only curious. You always swing around a twig when you get bored and I never said you can not do that…'
Smiley paused in realization but it was already too late. By the Unspoken Street Laws, once you let it go, you can not stop to retrieve it back… He made his peace knowing he would think about it all night.
The twig sat on the ground all alone as Smiley walked away like a hero who sacrificed his all without looking back.
The dead twig spouted out a new bud, carrying life where nothing exists by Smiley's soul bound.
Ananke felt defeated, 'But it is discouraging to see my wife finding out you had grown 3 cm tall instead of my obviously glowing red eyes…'
Ananke peeked at her with side eyes to find Ayla flabbergasted, 'Even I didn't notice he played around with twigs.'
She took out her secret notes, 'Don't be a cry baby now. Let me write this down.'
Smiley nervously laughed and looked at Ananke
'You looked like a real hero back then.'
Ananke smiled, 'Of course~ wait what do you mean back then?'
'Don't worry about it. You are reading too much into it.'
Ayla said what Smiley tried to hold back, 'I mean he isn't wrong. You are more like a goofball always saying he is strongest but afraid of using his powers.'