He lost. Just like any duel against Mave, he lost.
How long was he knocked out for? It was morning whenever he woke up. The taste of faint blood lingered in his mouth as he swallowed.
He sat up with his body aching, trying to pull him back to sleep. Apparently, Mave just decided to vent out all of her anger on Michael and nobody wanted to stop it. What was her request again from the duel? He couldn't even remember what she told him when they started, neither could he remember anything that happened after. It must have lasted only a few minutes because he could barely recall himself fighting.
"Michael?" a voice muttered beside him. "Michael!"
Michael felt his body being squeezed. He thought he was going to die on how tight she was hugging him. Every spot around his arms, chest, and back were sore than ever. Did Mave even bother letting him sleep or did she also kick his body around when he ate the dirt? Michael didn't know what her problem was when it came to beating him senselessly.
Evelyn felt his face. "You weren't waking up…"
"Sorry."
She held back her tears. "I don't get how she could do this to you."
"That's how Mave is." he rested his face in her hands. "It's my fault anyways, I shouldn't have talked to her like that when she could lay me flat this easily."
"I said some things too."
"No, it's okay," Michael wiped his mouth. "It's not like you were wrong."
Evelyn hugged him again. He didn't want to point out how much pain he was in.
"Are you okay?" she noticed his weird face. "Does it hurt?"
"Nope." he subtly groaned. "It doesn't hurt at all."
"Michael…" she sighed, looking into his uneven eyes. "You're so stupid."
"Do I still look good?"
She snorted. "You looked worse."
He smiled despite the stinging pain across his cheek.
She leaned in closer to kiss him. He moved his lips away, refusing to drown himself in ecstasy.
She suddenly frowned. "Michael?"
"I want to try something different for myself."
"Oh, right now?" she said in a suggestive tone. "Really?"
"No—Evelyn, I mean something else. A challenge."
"A challenge? What are you talking about?"
"I've been losing every time and it's getting annoying. How about…we don't kiss until I win?"
"Excuse me?"
"Evelyn—"
She shook him around despite his irritating bruises. "No, don't do that!"
"Are you saying," he tried to keep his voice stable. "I can't win any of my fights?"
"I'm not—" she stopped herself. "I'm not saying that."
"Then why do you sound so upset?"
"Because how long is that going to take? A few more months? Do you really think you can hold yourself back from me?"
He looked to say something in response. He couldn't. She was right, he couldn't resist the urge to kiss her every time their faces came so close. Though that was all the reason for him to get stronger.
Evelyn saw his face turn compliant. "Are you serious?"
"What about our promise, Evelyn? You said I could do whatever I want."
"But stopping yourself from kissing me? That's breaking the rule!"
"It's what I want!" he complained louder. "I'm not going to lose with you watching me! That's more embarrassing than anything!"
"And you would rather avoid me for that?" she pulled him closer. "You would really want me to stop kissing you so you can get stronger?"
"Yes!"
"Then try to stop me now!"
Michael yelped, pushing her away as she tried to kiss him. She didn't even care how filthy his face looked. He couldn't believe he was actually trying to stop her from kissing him. But every time he's lost or felt defeated, she was the one to comfort him in her love.
He's been sheltered with his weakness and rewarded with affection, there was no real sense of clarity. He needed to struggle. He needed to know what it really meant to fight for something, as much as this kiss.
Evelyn pushed him on the ground, sitting on top of him. He never understood why she was so strong. Did ego swords just have some type of overwhelming strength that came with them?
"Evelyn—" he desperately pleaded, turning his face away. "No, stop!"
She pinned his hands to the ground. She leaned her face in closer.
"Am I interrupting?" a voice said.
They both turned their attention to the door. Stefan was standing there with an amused smile on his face. He was already fitted in his armor.
Evelyn sat back. "What do you want?"
"We have a quest. Hurry up and finish what you're doing and meet us outside."
"I thought we were both kicked from the party."
Michael suddenly remembered Mave's ultimatum before he was knocked out. He slipped out from under Evelyn and stood back on his feet.
"Are we…" he hesitated. "I lost, right? Mave said that we were out of the party if I couldn't beat her."
"Look around," Stefan gestured. "If you were really kicked out of this party, did you think she would let you sleep here? You would've been in the dump when you woke up."
Michael thought he was right. Knowing what type of person Mave is, she would've thrown his body across Aldoria the moment he lost.
"You're just as valuable to this party as any of us," he continued. "Who was there to help us retrieve the magical scroll? Who was there to help us shovel around horse-shit for the people of Almore? Come on, kid, did you think we would kick you out of the party?"
"But…I lost."
"She must have hit you pretty hard in the head. It was a good fight, no matter if you lost or not. It only matters if you're willing to get back up. You've been doing that ever since you joined this party."
Evelyn mumbled something under her breath.
"Evelyn, was it?" Stefan nodded to her. "Some advice for you, don't go calling people bad names. You might anger someone in this party again."
She gave him a disappointed look. "Don't tell me what to do."
"But your boyfriend can—"
Evelyn tossed a wooden sword at him.
"Woah!" Stefan quickly moved behind the door. "I'll see you two at the front!"
The door closed behind him. Then followed the silence of the morning breeze and cold. Michael walked back to Evelyn and kneeled in front of her. He reached out his hand.
She looked at him with her beautiful golden eyes. "You're serious about not kissing me, right?"
"I am."
"Could we kiss one last time before you make me wait?"
Michael thought her face was so attractive. There wasn't any part of his body that wanted to say no, let alone give up the opportunity to kiss her. His face was drawing closer to hers without any effort. It was like they were being pulled together by some invisible force.
But he turned his face away again, biting his tongue with all his strength to pull himself away from her irresistible allure. If he was going to kiss her right here, he wouldn't be able to discipline himself for the rest of the challenge.
She opened her eyes in the absence of his lips. "Did you just…"
"I'm sorry," he awkwardly apologized. "I can't—"
Evelyn tugged his collar, pulling him even closer to her face. He thought she was going to bite his tongue right from his mouth.
He closed his eyes shut and winced his face. He expected to either be beaten again or be kissed like there was no tomorrow. But nothing came. Opening his eyes, she had that look of remorse again.
She heavily sighed and tossed him back. She extended her hand, ready to turn back into his sword.
Michael reluctantly grabbed her hand. She flashed back into an ego sword. He never thought he would feel relieved seeing her as a sword again.
Is that how you feel, the voice said, maybe I should stay as a sword forever.
"No—I didn't," he groaned. "I thought you were going to…"
Going to what, the voice said, kiss you?
He felt a little guilty.
I'm going to honor our promise, the voice said, I'll wait until you win your fight. But when you do, you can't blame me for what happens next.
Michael didn't know what she meant by that but he decided to leave it there. He took his sword inside and quickly washed the dirt from his body, strapped on leather armor in the attic, and rushed back to the front with everybody waiting outside. His face was still visibly bruised but none of that stopped him from being an adventurer.
Stefan grabbed his arm and pulled him to the front of the wagon. Mave still laid in the back along the seats as Ellis directed them where to go. Michael would be lying if he wasn't terrified to turn around to face Mave. Without Evelyn in his hand, he felt like she was going to unleash her wrath every time he spoke about anything that would piss her off.
Other than that, the party had just pretended nothing had happened last night. It's not like his sword could transform into a girl or Mave had beaten Michael worse than before. They were back to questing like normal adventurers.