They stopped in the middle of a bridge over slow waters. It must have been late in the afternoon seeing how dark it became. Looking over the soft glowing lamps across the street and the low murmur from the commoners around them, he felt like everything had calmed down for once. He had spent the entire day with Evelyn going through the city that he practically forgot that she was a sword.
Michael rested on the ledge, watching the yellow lights burn into the night sky. It's been a while since he has been out this late.
Evelyn shared his view.
He glanced at her. Her face couldn't have been any more beautiful at night.
"Did you have fun?" she suddenly asked.
"Yeah, why?"
She leaned on his shoulder. "I don't know."
"I had fun, Evelyn, I've been wanting to do this ever since we came home."
"To do what?"
"To take you around away from your sword form. I didn't realize how long we were going to spend in Almore and you didn't even get to move around."
She softly laughed. "You never learn do you?"
He thought he did something wrong.
"So, taking me across Aldoria, buying me all of this food, and letting me roam free was enough to justify my time as a sword?"
"Uhh…"
"Michael, we had this conversation before."
"I know but…I just can't—let you stay as a sword, right? It doesn't feel right to me."
"Because you think I'm a human."
Michael felt like his throat was being clenched by thorns. It wasn't that great eating his own words.
"How many times do I have to say this?"
"I'm still not going to believe you."
She let out a small sigh, resting alongside the ledge. Her face didn't look disappointed. It was just that he was too much in love with her for his own good.
"You matter a lot to me," he said. "I want you to be happy. Don't you feel tired as a sword, you know, sitting on my back as the world passes you by? I just thought you would like to get a break from that."
"That's really cute, but that's what I'm designed to do. I don't know much about my creator but my purpose is to be a sword."
"Do…you feel right saying that about yourself?"
She felt her hands. "I'm an ego sword and you're my ego master. My purpose is to serve you, that's what I've been doing ever since our bond was created."
"Does serving me mean having to kiss me every time we sleep?"
She laughed, punching his shoulder. "My way of serving you is keeping you alive and that's already been hard. I'm not sure if any other ego master likes to get themselves killed everytime."
Michael smiled to himself, taking in the sound of her laugh.
"Neither do they share the bond we have. I love you, Michael, even if you're stupid enough to play around with your life, I'm still going to love you."
He leaned in and kissed her. His chest felt warm and her lips were still soft like he remembered. Before they could get too passionate, he pulled away before the stares from the commoners found them indecent.
"Evelyn," he held her close. "Could you promise me something?"
She looked into his eyes.
"Don't get worried about me, please, whatever happens to me is my own problem, not yours."
Her face turned pensive.
"I feel horrible when you cry because of me. If I want to get stronger to protect you then I throw myself in danger, and I can't do that if you're going to stop me."
She pressed the side of her face on his neck. "Michael…"
"I don't want to stay as an adventurer but it's the best I can do for the both of us. When I have enough money, maybe we could leave Aldoria to somewhere quiet, away from whatever war is happening. We could live together with just the two of us and…you can be yourself."
"You're so stupid," she said softly. "Someone would imagine a magical sword would change their life and their goal would be to become the strongest warrior alive. And here's you, trying to live with your sword because you like them so much."
"But, you did change my life."
"I know," she faced him again. "And you changed mine. I'm not just a sword to you, am I?"
He shook his head, falling for her endearing smile again.
"Then, what am I to you?"
"The love of my life."
She smiled even brighter, wrapping her arms around his body as he was surprised by her squeeze.
He hugged her. It almost felt like they had become one, completely merging the two of their bodies together.
She moved her head away. "I can promise you, Michael, to what you said before. But I'm still going to touch you even if your bruises hurt."
"You can do anything you want with my body."
"Oh," she deviously grinned. "If you say it like that…"
He suddenly turned his attention around. "Don't you think it's getting pretty late? Should we head back now? It's about time for curfew."
"Really?" she frowned, rubbing her hands on his back. "But we just got started, I don't wanna go home yet."
"We've been out for the entire day, I haven't said anything to the guild before I left."
"I don't think they would have cared about where you went."
"Ouch."
"Come on," she moaned. "I'm still hungry."
"Really?"
Her eyes narrowed. "Are you making fun of me? Don't think I won't beat you in front of everyone here, believe me, I will."
"I believe you."
Evelyn walked away, turning her face into a sour look.
"Evelyn?" he followed behind her. "Where are you going?"
She started to pick up her pace.
"Evelyn?" he walked faster. "Wait—"
She started to run. She bumped against the moving crowd, gathering scowls and sharp yells from the people behind her as Michael had to quickly apologize as he chased after her. What was she doing? Was this some type of test to prove his love? She was laughing so loudly, he couldn't take her seriously anymore.
Michael even stopped caring about how hard he was bumping into the commoners. He didn't know what they were running to, he just kept following her as he shouted her name again. They crossed through bridges and around tall fountains.
The sounds of their laughter and names were the only thing that could be heard from the night. The commoners even thought they were crazy, seeing two kids, one laughing, and one desperately chasing after her.
But she kept looking back at him with that face. That face was all Michael could remember. It was happiness, wild joy, and a burning love that she had for him. She was even making sure that he could keep up with her.
Though Michael refused she was faster than him. He was a boy, raised from the pitiful streets of Almore and thrown around by the slaves at the union. He's been running around ever since he was a child, he wasn't going to be outdone by some magical girl that thought he was too slow.
He started to catch up behind her. By the look of her eyes, she started to look concerned on how close he started to get.
She stopped by another bridge, looking over into the river.
His eyes widened. "No! Evelyn—"
She jumped over, screaming as she plunged into the water.
Michael rushed over the ledge and looked under. She was utterly crazy, completely irrational, and had no regard at all. What was wrong with her? One second she was in love with him and now it was time to throw herself off a bridge?
He cried her name over and over. He pulled himself over the ledge, ready to jump in after her.
She surfaced to the water, laughing and coughing the water from her mouth. Her dark brown hair was wet, waiting for him as her golden eyes glowed in anticipation.
He thought the weight in his chest lightened. He couldn't understand how she could laugh at something like that. A rush of anger washed over his body, along with a sudden impulse of thought.
When was the last time he had swam? Or even jumped this high into a body of water? Was he ever going to get this opportunity again, especially jumping in after a girl?
But Michael did exactly just that, jumping off the bridge for this girl that he couldn't help himself over with. The air whistled in his ears as his body had an immediate shot of adrenaline. He crashed into the waters.
It was definitely cold, too cold for his comfort. He swam up to the surface, gasping for air on how hard his body hit the water.
She swam over to him, still laughing.
"Are you crazy?" he coughed up. "What's wrong with you?"
"What's wrong with me? You jumped in with me!"
"That's—you can't just do that!"
She swam closer to him and held her arms around his neck.
He thought the way her wet hair stuck to her skin was unusually attractive.
"Your promise," she said. "Do whatever you want if you want to get stronger for me."
His body rocked back and forth from the water's waves. He stared into her mesmerizing golden eyes.
"But I want you to love me, Michael Velo, with everything inside of your heart. If you're going to get yourself killed, give me the part of you that wants to stay alive. Does that make sense?"
"Yeah…it makes sense."
"Tell me that you love me."
"I love you, Evelyn."
She leaned in closer to his face.
"Hey!" a guard shouted from above. "What do you two think you're doing?!"
Michael turned to the bridge. More guards started to scatter across, reporting about two delinquents that's been causing noise and trouble for the commoners. He grabbed her hand and swam to the shore of the town's river. He pulled himself up and then Evelyn, quickly running away as the guards chased after them. He was more concerned about being caught other than how Evelyn could laugh in this situation.
The two of them were fast. Michael's fear of being caught gave him enough energy to outrun the guards behind them, turning and swerving through the oncoming crowd. He didn't get Evelyn's strange thrill of being chased through the city.
But her laugh, and how tightly she was holding onto his hand, he didn't ever want to let her go.