The sword flashed in his hand.
Michael thought she looked moody. "What's wrong?"
She started to walk out of the alley. "Nothing."
He followed behind her. "Are…you jealous?"
"What?" she abruptly turned around. "What makes you think that?"
"When they talked to me and called me cute?"
"That doesn't mean anything to me."
"Oh, okay."
Her face had a sour expression. "Did you think she was pretty?"
"Did I—what? Thought who was pretty?"
"That girl you talked to," she folded her arms. "Did you think she was pretty?"
"Umm—wait, no, no!" he started to shield himself. "I know what you're trying to do!"
She dropped her fist. "What did I tell you? Did you even mean your promise to me back then?"
"Of course I did! Am I not supposed to talk to any girls, is that what you wanted?"
"Yes!"
"Evelyn, that's impossible!"
She held both of his cheeks, squeezing them together. "Tell me that you love me."
He moved her hands away. "Evelyn, what—"
"Say it."
"I love you."
"Now, say it three times."
"I love you, I love you, I love you."
"Who do you love?"
"You."
"And nobody else."
"Nobody else but you."
She grinned as if she wasn't already blushing.
"Don't tell me we're going to do this every time."
"Is that a problem?"
"No," he smiled. "Not at all."
"Oh, really—"
Michael pulled her close and kissed her. She really loved him to the point it even worried her when he was around other people. She cherished him as much as he did her and Michael didn't want to let her go. He didn't know how the taste of her lips could be sweet, it was practically complimenting her beauty.
He pulled away, giving her a chance to breathe. But Evelyn pulled him right back for a second time. She ran her fingers through his hair as she pressed her body into his. His mind was going blank from the lack of air or because everything just started to disappear.
"Get a damn room!" a voice shouted above. "It's the guild and now this! This damn block is full of crazies!"
Michael finally pulled away, gasping for air as he grabbed her hand and ran away from the resident above. Evelyn looked half-drowsy but she was still stable on her feet. He couldn't have been any more embarrassed being caught but he admitted that was the best kiss they ever had.
They made it back to civilization, joining the busy streets and walking along the sidewalk. It was like they had jumped between two worlds, pretending like the passionate minute they shared didn't happen. He even thought she was holding his hand tighter than usual.
Michael took her along through Aldoria just like he wanted. With the money he earned from the quest, he was willing to spend all of it just for her. One day with her as a human could make up for all the times she's stayed as a sword for his sake. Michael didn't know how far they were from the guild but he didn't care.
They crossed through roads and squares, visiting the city's attractions, and eating from stalls serving hot food more gourmet than the other. Michael thought she was eating twice as many as him but he decided to keep that to himself.
There would be people performing shows of magic, shooting colorful sparks of fire through the air for the public crowd. Michael didn't know how magic worked but he thought it was still interesting to see. Evelyn pointed out some of the bright sparks bloomed into the shape of a dragon, making the crowd erupt in a loud cheer.
Though he didn't understand why there were so many statues around every corner. There was one standing on top of a vast fountain, in the center of the square, with coins sitting at the bottom of the waters.
The statue resembled a woman with hair just as long as her cloak. She had a staff that looked too impractical to use but she held it high in the skies with an inspiring face. The people around threw coins and even prayed with their hands as if they were worshipping her.
Michael wondered how they built the statue and carved around the features. The texture of the cloak was so realistic along with the expression on her face. It was almost too perfect to be made of stone.
Evelyn bumped his arm. "Don't tell me you're falling in love with a statue."
"What—no, I'm not. It's just this one has more people around compared to the last one we saw."
"What're they doing?"
"Throwing…money?"
"Could I do that?"
He reached through his pouch and gave her a coin.
She tossed the coin into the fountain, watching it float and sink to the button along with the others.
Michael thought it was a total waste. He could've saved to invest into a new set of armor. He tossed another in for himself.
"Did you wish for something?"
He turned to her. "I'm supposed to wish for something?"
She nodded, her beautiful golden eyes waiting for an answer.
"Then…I wish to be stronger so I can protect you."
She pouted. "I knew you would say that."
"What about yours?"
Evelyn smiled, holding his arm. "That's a secret."
She dragged him to a vendor, a man serving small cups of frozen custard with a variety of flavors and fruits. Michael figured Evelyn had a thing for sweets because she's always been driven to the nearest source of sugar. She asked for it to be drizzled in chocolate and mixed with berries while Michael didn't find any more room in his stomach for dessert.
Evelyn scooped a very generous serving from her cup and fed it to him.
The people around them gave Michael weird stares when he managed to fit the spoon into his mouth. But he could only mind her smile. Nothing could ever match her smile, not even how absurdly expensive this cup was. She even looked like she was on the verge of laughing because of how full his cheeks were.
His eye was twitching by how cold it was though the taste was pleasant. A rich vanilla cream melting in his mouth along with the hard chocolate. He hoped this was the last time he would stuff his face for her.
He was wrong.
They've only been walking around the area for commoners, he imagined how nice nobles had it for themselves. It was definitely more dignified when he visited last time but Michael hardly had enough money to last him a day up there. Was he ever going to reach that type of wealth as an adventurer? He never dreamed of becoming someone important nor did he give any thought about the border between the classes.
He followed behind Evelyn as she explored more through Aldoria, admiring the tallest buildings and how decorated houses were as they passed by. She would stop by giant bookstores and outside cafes but she wasn't really interested in any of the armor shops that Michael pointed out.
Turns out they had different tastes in terms of entertainment.
Evelyn had an insatiable appetite for food but Michael didn't argue with any of her requests because he couldn't anyways. No part of him wanted to say no to her. With that smile looking back at him, waiting for him to catch up, he would pay anything to see that again.
Was this what Michael had wanted all along? Was he content with this? Or was this the temporary happiness that came out of the remains of his pockets?
Money was definitely one of the issues. The reason why he had become an adventurer was for the sake of money so he wouldn't have to rummage through the streets living off the pity of others. He didn't want her to have that experience, it even pained him thinking about her living in that sort of condition. She deserved a life without worry, a better life where she wouldn't have to be a sword for him.
Michael stopped himself from over-thinking. He reached over and held her hand as Evelyn took him wherever she desired.