The air grew thick, heavy with tension, as Aris felt the fight intensify, her senses on high alert. The scent of damp earth and ozone filled her nostrils, a primal reminder of the battle unfolding. She shifted her stance, her movements fluid and precise, like a river flowing over smooth stones. The moon cast an ethereal glow on the scene, casting long shadows that seemed to writhe and twist like living things.
The next moment, Cyan vanished in a smoke-like form, using the trees as cover to launch a surprise attack from every angle, trapping Aris in a vortex of steel and fury. The sound of clashing blades was a staccato beat, a symphony of death that echoed through the forest, as Aris blocked and deflected every attack that came her way.
Cyan was a blur, his speed too fast to see, his eyes glowing like embers in the dark, filled with an unyielding intensity. Aris couldn't see him, but she could feel his presence, her instincts screaming warnings as he closed in. Her movements were a testament to her mastery, a dance of death that was both beautiful and terrifying.
The fight raged on, with Aris standing firm, Cyan attacking from every side, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. Sparks flew as their blades clashed, the sound of iron on iron ringing through the air, raising a question in Aris's mind: "I can tell it's iron, but I wonder what he's using?" The air was heavy with the scent of sweat and leather, the smell of a hard-fought battle.
As the fight intensified, Cyan felt a sense of accomplishment, a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. "I am going to win!" he thought, his mind focused on the goal. But he didn't realize that he was being studied, his every move analyzed by Aris's keen eyes.
Suddenly, as he charged in, Aris dodged the weapon he was holding and grabbed his arm, her grip like a vice. "My knife," she thought to herself, a flash of surprise crossing her mind. "When did he...?" Cyan was holding a hidden knife she had concealed in her sword belt, one of her trump cards if she lost her weapon in a fight.
The knife was unique, imbued with an invisibility art that rendered it invisible unless the wielder touched it. Cyan tried to seize the moment and land a round kick, but Aris was too strong. She deflected the kick with another one, making direct contact with his face, the sound of crunching bone echoing through the air.
With a swift motion, she released his arm, her mission accomplished. With her question answered, she delivered a devastating punch to his abdomen, the force of the blow sending Cyan hurtling into the sky, his body a ragged projectile.
Aris jumped into the air, her movements a blur, as she delivered another kick, this one landing squarely on Cyan's chest, sending him crashing back towards the ground, the wind rushing past his face like a deafening roar. Before he could hit the ground, Aris was already there, intercepting his fall with another powerful punch to the abdomen, the force of the blow unleashing torrents of wind that fissured the ground beneath them.
Cyan coughed blood, his body hurtling through the air, crashing into tree after tree, the sound of breaking wood and splintering branches filling the air. The scent of freshly chopped wood and earth filled the air, a primal reminder of the destruction they had wrought.
It was a real mess, as if Aris was starting to remove her chains, beating up her little brother out of instinctive habit. A warrior is always a warrior, and somehow she felt threatened, her instincts taking over, her eyes glowing with a fierce intensity.
She walked towards Cyan, her footsteps echoing through the stillness of the forest, as he sat firmly on the fissured ground, his back pressed against a huge, tough tree that was also scarred by the impact. The scent of freshly cut wood and dust filled the air, mingling with the sweet aroma of blooming wildflowers. Cyan saw her approaching, his eyes blurry and blood trickling down his forehead, his vision hazy.
Aris knelt beside him, her hand glowing with a faint green infused with a faint blue, creating a mesmerizing combo color that seemed to dance in the air. The light was soothing, and Cyan felt a sense of calm wash over him, his mind relaxing as he gazed into the radiance. "No doubt, she's too damn strong-...," Cyan thought, his mind slipping into darkness as he passed out, the last thing he saw being the magnificent light emanating from his sister's hands.
NEXT MORNING...
Cyan opened his eyes in a flash, lifting his back out of the furry blankets in a swift motion, the sound of rustling fabric echoing through the room. The first thing that came to his mind was the beating he got from his sister the past night. Memories flooded back, and he winced, his eyes widening in a mixture of awe and frustration. "Damn, I knew she was strong, but that was just too damn ridiculous," he muttered to himself, his gaze drifting towards the window, where the morning sun cast a warm glow.
He wasn't wearing his shirt, and the cool morning air caressed his skin, sending a shiver down his spine. He touched his abdomen, his mind realigning back to the last punch he got. His body reflected his hard work in training, considering how young he was. The division of his abs and muscles showed a supreme level of dedication to training, a testament to his unwavering commitment.
"I have got to make her teach me that last attack, though in the end I couldn't land a single hit," he thought to himself, a hint of determination creeping into his voice. "Well, whatever, I will get her next time, for now I need to increase my speed and agility in order to dodge insane attacks like that last punch!"
He got out of bed and walked towards the window, wearing some black short pants and nothing on top, the morning sunlight casting a warm glow on his skin. He opened the window, and the sun shone on his face, the wind gently brushing his black silky hair, exposing each individual strand of his long, straight, beautiful hair.
Cyan turned around, grabbing an old fantasy vibe t-shirt, and wore it as he exited the premises, the soft rustle of fabric echoing through the air. As he got out, he bumped into Randell, who was holding firewood, resting on his shoulder, the tension between the two instantly becoming palpable.
The scent of freshly cut wood and earthy soil wafted through the air, mingling with the sound of Randell's labored breathing. After a moment of silence, Randell walked past him, his eyes fixed on the ground, the only sound the soft crunch of gravel beneath his feet.
"Wait," Cyan yelled, his voice echoing through the morning air, as he dropped to his knees, his head gently touching the soil, his actions accompanied by a heartfelt apology. "I am so sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Randell turned around, and rushed to his brother's side, grabbing his shoulder to lift him up and embracing him, the warm sunlight casting a gentle glow on their reunion. Cyan was surprised, though a part of him was really happy, a sense of relief washing over him like a gentle summer breeze.
"Don't worry about it," Randell said, his expression a warm smile that complemented the scene, his voice filled with genuine forgiveness. "Let's just move forward, okay?" he added, his words hanging in the air like a promise.
"Just don't forget that sorry compensation, though." Randell's voice was laced with a playful tone, and Cyan couldn't help but chuckle, the sound echoing through the morning air. Aris arrived on the scene, her footsteps a gentle thud on the ground, like a whisper in the silence. Both Cyan and Randell were startled by her sudden appearance, their eyes locking onto hers with a mix of surprise and wariness.
"Good to see you two getting along," she said, her voice soft and gentle, like a summer breeze on a hot day. Randell yelled, "Good morning, sis!" with a goofy grin on his face, only to receive a good morning punch that hurled him like a raging projectile as he crashed to the ground with relentless impact. The sound of the punch was like a crack of thunder, making Cyan's ears ring.
Cyan started laughing at Randell, his mouth covered by his hands, which were doing their best to cover the sound, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Aris turned to Cyan, her expression serious, her gaze piercing. "What's so funny? Do you want one too?" she asked, her voice laced with a hint of mischief.
Cyan shook his head, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Thank you for the offer, but I pass. I believe I received mine yesterday." Aris raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of curiosity and amusement. "Yeah, whatever. Today, I won't be training you brats. Make sure to tell the other two idiots, especially the idiot that received one so early in the morning." Her expression turned serious, and Cyan giggled silently, the sound trapped in his throat.
"Okay, I will tell them," Cyan said, "but do you mind me asking why you are postponing the training session?" Aris's expression turned stern, her eyes flashing with intensity. "I am not postponing. You guys are still going to train, except I won't be there today. Just repeat everything I taught you, and you will be fine. And if I find out you skipped and goofed off somewhere else, I will kill all three of you." Cyan's eyes widened in mock horror, his face a picture of exaggerated fear.
"That last threat was a joke, right?" he asked, his expression a mix of amusement and concern. Aris's expression turned cold, her voice devoid of emotion. "What made you think I was joking?" she asked, her words hanging in the air like a challenge.
After a moment of smirks, accompanied by a cold silent stare, Aris turned around and started walking away, her footsteps fading into the distance. As she walked, she said, "In the world, only the strongest and the fittest shall rule. Whether you choose to train or not is up to you, but know that whichever you choose is going to lead you to a future not too far away. The question is, will you become strong and rule over the weak, or will you be the weak oppressed by the strong? Choose carefully."
Her expression turned serious as she left the scene, the sound of her footsteps echoing through the morning air. Cyan just looked at her as she left, his mind pondering the weight of her words, his expression somber. Cyan's expression turned gloomy as he muttered under his breath, "Damn it, how am I supposed to goof off when you say it like that. Looks like training has been restored to today's schedule." His shoulders slumped in disappointment as he changed his focus to Randell, who was unconscious because of the forced nap by Aris.
Cyan released a deep sigh of relief as he lifted his brother and helped him back inside the house, thankfully they stood on the doorstep. The warm sunlight cast a gentle glow on their reunion, and the fresh morning air carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers. After Cyan put Randell to bed, he came out of the premises and picked up the firewood that Randell had dropped earlier during their funny encounter, gathering all of them in a single place, firmly against the wall of the house.
The sound of the wood clattering against each other echoed through the air, and the scent of freshly cut wood filled his nostrils, mingling with the sweet aroma of blooming wildflowers. With his unexpected chores complete, he finally took off for his training, because in a fantasy world setting like theirs, it was survival of the fittest.
As he walked in the village's street, everyone who was awake at the moment greeted him good morning, as if he was a popular superstar, and their simple "Good morning, Cyan" gave out a magnificent smile across his face. Ranon was his home, and everyone was family to him. The warm sunlight cast a gentle glow on the village, and the sound of birds chirping filled the air, creating a serene atmosphere.
As he walked in the beautiful light of the magnificent morning, with his leather boots gently releasing gentle thuds, a wooden log swung at him, coming from the front, huge enough to knock out a man. It came from a house under construction to his left. He just gently lowered his upper body and head, as if he was bowing, and the wood piece just flew over his head, the rush of air whispering past his ears.
With a swift dodge, he grabbed a rope on the ground, tied a knot, and threw the rope towards the wood piece in a calculated precision that looked like a cowboy's rope swing. The rope gently tied around the huge wood, and Cyan threw the end of the rope back to the kind, gentle man who was on top of the house under construction. "Thanks, lad," he yelled, as he waved his hand, which was occupied by a hammer.
Cyan yelled back, "Always a pleasure!" as he waved his hand towards the builder on the roof, continuing his way to the village gate to start his training session. But before he could reach, he encountered Ryan on the way, who was coming from another side of the road to the right. Ryan seemed busy, holding two wooden buckets of water, and he seemed to be returning back to his home.
Cyan ran across the road, dodging the moving coaches, and grabbed one of the buckets out of Ryan's hand, the wooden handle creaking under the weight of the water. Ryan's eyes widened in surprise, and he exclaimed, "Damn it, Cyan! Don't sneak up on people like that. You're gonna give me a heart attack one of these days!" His expression was a mix of shock and concern.
Cyan chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eye. "What are you old? Seriously what is this world coming to? Now kids can also have heart attacks?" Ryan's expression turned serious, his brow furrowed in concern. "It is rare, but not impossible. A child can have a heart attack." Cyan's eyes widened in surprise, and he replied, "Okay?" His expression was a mix of surprise and curiosity.
They started walking, with Cyan holding one of the buckets, helping out his friend since he too was going to the same direction. The sound of their footsteps echoed through the morning air, accompanied by the clinking of the wooden buckets. Ryan broke the silence, asking, "So, how did the report go? Sorry I didn't go with you. I had to go home before granny had returned. Plus, Mira is fighting off a severe cold. That's what this water is for."
Cyan replied, "Well, there was a bit of a problem, but I guess it went well enough. You just focus on helping Mira, okay?" Ryan's expression turned playful, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Okay, I will take you up on the offer, and next time, don't scare the shit out of me when you approach, or I might truly get a heart attack. I am a delicate flower, after all."
Cyan's gaze turned serious, his eyes narrowing as he glared at Ryan, the morning sunlight casting a warm glow on their conversation. "Yeah, says the guy who slaughtered a lot of monsters and wolves yesterday," he said, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. Ryan chuckled, his focus focused ahead, as coaches passed by them, horses neighing in the background, their hooves clicking on the cobblestone street.
The village streets were getting more busy with each passing second, the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air, mingling with the sound of hammering on metal and the chatter of villagers. As they walked, Cyan filled Ryan in on the information of what happened when he and Randell gave their report to the village elders. He told him everything from beginning to end, all the way to the point where he got knocked out by Aris.
Ryan's expression turned sympathetic, his eyes filled with concern, as he listened intently to Cyan's story. "You have a lot on your plate, huh?" Cyan's shoulders slumped, his expression turning gloomy, like a dark cloud passing over the sun. "A lot is an understatement. I need to find a gift for both of them as soon as possible, a true apology upon apologies. Give me some advice on what to give."
Ryan's expression turned thoughtful, his eyes squinting as he pondered the question, the sound of the village awakening around them. "Yeah, whatever can be a gift. You do you, my man. Just make sure it's something they will like and must come from the heart. That way, it will become something that lasts for a long time." Cyan's expression turned frustrated, his eyes rolling in exasperation, as he let out a deep sigh.
"In all honesty, I think you just made it worse. Now, I am even more confused on what to get?" Ryan chuckled, a playful grin spreading across his face, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hell if I know. You just follow the advice and conquer that fear, yeah."
Cyan's expression turned resolute, his eyes flashing with determination, as he nodded his head in agreement. "Fine, I will do my best on the subject. For now, just tell me if you are planning to join training today." Ryan's expression turned apologetic, his eyes filled with regret, as he shook his head.
"I am sorry, but today won't be possible. I would love to, except I can't leave Mira alone while she's fighting off a bad cold." Cyan's expression turned understanding, his eyes filled with empathy, as he nodded his head in understanding. "Yeah, you are right. Sorry, it had crossed my mind. You should probably stay with her until the cold loses up. I will visit her at dawn after training, how does that sound?"
Ryan's expression turned grateful, his eyes filled with appreciation, as he smiled at Cyan. "Yeah, you should drop by. I am sure she will be more happy to see you more than me."
Cyan's expression turned curious, his eyes narrowing as he asked, "Why's that?" Ryan's expression turned sour, his eyes rolling in annoyance, like a child who'd been denied a treat. "Because it's clear that she sees you as her older brother more than me. She basically calls you big bro, and I get to be called Ryan, just Ryan. You probably don't know how much that pisses me off," he said, biting his jaw on his lip, his voice laced with a mix of frustration and hurt.
Cyan's expression turned amused, a chuckle escaping his lips, as he shook his head in mock sympathy. "Uhh, sorry, my bad. Just try not to pull yourself down, okay?" he added to the conversation, his voice calm and collected, like a gentle breeze on a summer day. Ryan's expression turned skeptical, his eyebrow raised in doubt. "Easy for you to say, Mr. Perfect," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible over the sound of the village awakening around them.
The morning sunlight cast a warm glow on their conversation, and the scent of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air, mingling with the sound of laughter and chatter from the villagers. Cyan's expression turned serious, his eyes filled with empathy, as he placed a hand on Ryan's shoulder. "Hey, I'm serious, Ryan. You're a great friend, and Mira looks up to you too. Don't compare yourself to me, okay?" he said, his voice filled with sincerity.
Ryan's expression turned slightly softer, his eyes filled with appreciation, as he nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I just need to work on being more... awesome, I guess," he said, a hint of humor creeping back into his voice. Cyan chuckled, a grin spreading across his face, as he playfully rolled his eyes. "Good luck with that," he said, his voice laced with amusement.