Ananke and Smiley made their way to the bazaar.
Ananke recalled 'Ring, Sword, Clothes and… Am I forgetting something… I feel like I am forgetting something' as he kept on repeating the items he needs to buy for Smiley like an anxious mom.
Smiley said 'Hey. Hey! we are here'
Ananke snapped back as he looked around 'Oh…'
He shook his head to wake himself up and said 'Let`s start with a sword. I will buy you one for keeping it a secret
He took him to a well established shop with all kinds of weapons and relics. Smiley kept on looking around for some time.
One was named Soul Sword (100,000) excluding material cost and made upon placement.
Smiley turned his face around to another.
Elemental Sword (300,000)
All of them were above the normal price range. Smiley calculated that he could buy 1.10.100 1,000…
His face turned pale… 10,000. He could get 10,000 loaves of bread (36) for that much. It's more than enough to live multiple years without worrying about food.
After looking at those hefty prices, Smiley ultimately decided he was not "interested" in any of them. After all, beggars can be choosers, right?
Ananke asked 'Found anything' to which Smiley responded almost worried 'No… Nothing'
Ananke seemed confused and said 'This is one of the best shops they have in town. You sure you did not find anything at all? There is another floor. Let`s go check that out then'
He took Smiley upstairs and noticed Smiley's first sight went to the price before the sword itself.
Ananke walked up to him and said 'Do not worry about price, despite how I look, I am pretty loaded.'
Smiley asked as he looked at his wooden sword 'You seem more broke than me.' as he stared at his wooden sword.
Ananke said proudly 'Haha. I am just too strong for the real one. During my school years, I almost accidentally killed someone.'
Smiley ignored the obvious red flag as he joked, 'Says the one who got beaten up the moment they entered the their own house'
Ananke said proudly 'Sometimes you need to let yourself get hit when you deserve it. That`s the essence of growth or else you will grow numb to your faults thinking you are always right.'
'Said the strongest man, surely his words carried meaning others could not…' is what Smiley tried to think but responded back, 'Sounds wise and all that but your face really throws it off', Ananke was smiling proudly with his usual foolish prideful smugness ruined the moment they were supposed to be having.
Smiley sighed 'This place is too expensive. I might not be able to touch the blade.'
Ananke looking at his concerns responded, 'Alright you win' and thought 'Is that why she gave me the gold bag for… well I am dead either ways if I show her my face again', Rhina had already found the coin bag he left behind which she gave Ananke for Smiley personal use. Ananke could still feel her deadly stares from afar.
Well not like her yearly earning could even buy a few of those swords to begin with.
Ananke took Smiley to a blacksmith shop where he usually goes. The blacksmith greeted him and said "I thought you had already left the town."
Ananke said 'Some other plans showed up so I delayed it'
Black smith glaze shifted towards Smiley and he said "Oh… You came with someone."
Ananke responded 'Yea, I would like you to make him a sword.'
"Sure thing, let me just get over with this one"
After a few moments, he came out with different weapons. A sword, spear, daggers and an axe.
Black Smith gave him a dagger, axe and spear as the boy tested it out yet could not even hold them properly.
Smiley used a sword with ease to which he proudly told Smiley, "That's more like it. Every weapon has its own purpose, Spear is made for stabbing from far, daggers are for close range but overwhelming them with haste and axe is for using your body weight to cut something blunt. If you try to use it differently from its intended way, they will lose their purpose, No?"
Blacksmith opened his eyes just to find Smiley spinning the spear from center, balancing on his pinky and stuff that normal people wouldn't ever think…
He mumbled "That's— Not how… you" with pauses but seeing him clueless.
He closed his eyes, accepting the fact as he nodded "I am surprised… You might secretly be a genius for knowing how to hold a sword correctly."
He continued "Well I guess, sword it is. You can look around the swords I have already made. Pick any you like."
Smiley looked around but was not able to find a single price tag in the shop. He looked at Ananke, who acted oblivious to that fact.
Blacksmith told Smiley "Just go with your guts on this one. A sword chooses its owner. No matter how strong you are. If your sword does not connect with your body, you will only hold it back from its true potential."
Smiley walked while looking at the swords. He grabbed onto the halt of one and closed his eyes as he took it out.
He opened his eyes and said 'I guess– this one?'
Blacksmith responded, "Haha, you know your swords well. This is one of the few swords I made years ago trying to make one of the hardest orders I received. This is a failure but still an replica of the soul sword I made for one of the strongest and most talented swordsman of that time. It's my pride. Even if it's a replica and a failure, it will not break that easily as your very soul would strengthen it.'
Smiley asked 'Why are you telling me it`s a failure? Do people not usually lie about these kind of stuff'
Blacksmith smirked "Do not compare me with one of those greedy merchants. Honesty is the best price you can receive in return." while rubbing his hand like those greedy merchants he differs himself from.
He glanced towards Ananke, "And the man who brought you here only means that either he accidentally broke your sword in a duel or he has seen something in you and is willing to show you the ropes"
He paused, "Oh… Or he is just being too soft again and can not ignore a child's request…"
He continued "But for teaching you all this. You must promise me one thing. Every time you need to repair or make a sword, you will come to me" as he smiled brightly at the opportunity.
Smiley thought 'So he is just trying to gain a returning customer…' and responded, 'Sure. I can come back here. After all, shop keepers mostly lie to me for how I look.'
"Haha that's more like it. Sheath is on me."
Smiley asked 'by the way… this swordsman you talked off— what was his name?'
The blacksmith thought for a second "Hmmm, Kael or something?"
Smiley thought 'Yea… No way it was my master' while ignoring the Blacksmith who kept on going "He always wore a mask to hide his identity so I am not sure myself but he was pretty popular among mercenaries. Though he just disappeared after going to a void. They say he got trapped inside one and was sent to another world but rumors are rumors—"
Later, Ananke and Smiley walked out the door where he questioned Smiley, 'Any reason why you choose this sword?'
Smiley was smiling 'This felt most familiar in my hands.'
Ananke nodded but thought 'I hope that old man did not put any weird ideas in his mind…'
Ananke said 'By the way you do know Soul Swords are useless right?'
'Huh?'
'I mean you need to know how to use "Soul Bound" and become one with your sword or else it's just a regular sword'.
He noticed Smiley pausing on the road as he mumbled something to himself, 'But he didn't seem like he was lying… I can never trust anyone. I am alone in the end. Just me and my sword… oh— my SWORD!!!'
Ananke accepted the fact that Smiley might be immune to many things but sweet talk is not one of them.
As for Smiley and Ananke, these two fools were completely oblivion to the fact the boy knew Soul bound and he even used it against Ignis.
Ananke said, 'I don't think it was even a Soul Sword.' as he chuckled, 'Well it was cheaper than normal one so it's not a loss.'
After all, Soul swords cost a fortune to make and only even lesser people can even use them that is why they are only made when ordered.
While the blacksmith schemed that no one could repair a soul sword easily so he got a swordtime customer, laughing to himself.
Three… Three fools had no idea Smiley could use soul bound.
He had already cut off the wooden stand when he pulled up the sword which went unnoticed by all.
Smiley snapped back upon hearing Ananke comment on it being cheaper than most swords. His face turned hyperrealistic like it was from another dimension, 'I see, he must be pretty smart to fool someone like me.'
…
===================
SideStory - [Gold Coins By Rhina]
===================
After Ananke and Smiley left the village. Rhina went back in to find a small pouch left behind on the table. Rhina thought to herself 'It couldn`t be… could it?'
She went closer to inspect it and found coins inside them. She angrily said 'That… absolute BUFFON!'
She had given it to Ananke as money for Smiley but Ananke had rejected it completely.
She forced it into his hands telling him it will be easier for him to spend that way.
Ananke accepted it but just before leaving, he managed to sneak in and leave behind the pouch.
Ananke now regretted it and thought 'I guess a mother knows the best' still smug-ing, ignoring the death that awaited him.