Some time later, Stefan and Michael returned to the inn which they were actually an hour late but Ellis didn't seem to care. It was like he knew the both of them were incompetent at time management.
Mave had the luxury of her own room because of that unwritten rule between men and women, but primarily because she refused to share a room with them. Michael, Stefan, and Ellis ceremoniously shared a room instead. There was no absolute way they would stretch their budget by spoiling each party member with their own room. Privacy was always going to be at stake if it meant saving every gold coin.
"So," Stefain laid comfortably on the floor. "What'd you find out?"
Ellis focused his eyes on tending his shortbow. "Nothing in particular. These locals are just as oblivious as I imagined. They had no clue that their town was under the rule of quest. Makes me think there actually might be a lurking mana beast under this town, waiting to swallow it whole."
Stefan exasperatedly pointed his finger. "You better quote me on that when we find that out."
"But what about you? Find any adventurers to pick fights with?"
Stefan turned around with a frowning smile.
Ellis smacked his pillow. "Oh, come on, that was a joke!"
Stefan went on to explain their meeting, describing each and every one of the adventurer's faces in great detail. There were some parts that sounded fabricated and obnoxious but Ellis was smart to figure that out.
Michael sat on the other side of the room, on his own bed, which was only a few feet apart from Ellis. Stefan laid and was going to sleep in the open space in front of them. In another perspective, it looked like he was being a kind father to his two little boys. Michael still couldn't get over the fact that someone thought he was Stefan's child.
"Espion?" Ellis stopped. "The Espion guild is here? With us?"
Stefan sat back on the hard floor. "Is that something wrong?"
"They're sixth place in ranking, just one above ours."
"What the hell?" Stefan abruptly sat right back up. "They were talking so high-and-mighty, when they were just one rank above? Oh, I'm really going to show them—"
"They didn't know. I hardly doubt anyone could keep up the news about the Adventuring guild. You can pick a fight with them later, just not when you actually managed to have a decent impression. You mentioned this Luca person, he's been some talk of the town, who is he?"
"A pain in the ass."
"Stefan, for once, can you hold a conversation like a normal human being?"
Michael turned over on his pillow, facing the depressing wrapping of the wall that was probably older than him. He hated to admit the setting of this really sucked. His attic back in Aldoria was actually bigger than this whole room. And with that, he had to share it with two of the forces that clashed at every second. How was he going to spend his time with Evelyn in this quest?
Then are you going to keep me in this room again, the voice said, or do I get to have a chance to go outside?
He forgot he was holding onto his sword. Now that he's thought about it, the population of Alaris could have been in the thousands. There weren't any lousy adventurers wandering around in every corner like what he experienced in Almore. He could walk freely, just like a normal civilian in the background without anyone suspecting him of anything.
Ellis noticed his jump of energy. "Michael, where are you going?"
Michael rushed to close the door. "I'll be back!"
"What's gotten into him?"
"How should I know?" Stefan said as he sprawled over Michael's empty bed. "Let the kid do whatever he wants."
Michael studiously walked down the hall and locked himself inside one of the bathrooms. He leaned his back against the door and held out his sword.
His ego sword shimmered into pure light, forming a body of a young girl with dark brown hair. As her face materialized, he couldn't help but stare into those beautiful golden eyes.
"What's wrong with you?" she giggled. "It's only been two days, did you already miss me that much?"
"Those two days felt like forever."
She smiled, holding his hand close. "So, what now? Are you locking me inside here instead?"
Michael creaked open the door and stuck his head out, checking the halls if anyone would inconveniently pass by. Without seeing anyone, he led Evelyn through the lobby then on the streets of Alaris. It was already easy to blend in with the commoners. He didn't wear anything out of the ordinary, maybe except for the empty sheath that rested on his back.
There was still some feeling of unease having her outside though, as much as he didn't like to address it. He's gotten so accustomed to only seeing her body in the comfort of his own room, seeing her elsewhere always made his skin crawl.
But that was him being an obsessive overthinker. Nobody even knew who they were. In a normal person's perspective, as he hoped, the two of them just looked like a young couple on a stroll. Who would ever expect the girl could magically transform into a sword?
Evelyn tugged his hand. "Michael?"
"Sorry," he silently shook his thoughts away. "Could I get you something to eat? If…you're feeling hungry?"
She tilted her head in reluctance.
"What?"
"Would you even have enough money for that?"
He suppressed a laugh. "Well, it's not like I'm trying to buy the whole restaurant—ow, hey! That was a good joke!"
"If it was a good joke, then I would be laughing!"
"I'm sorry!" he said as he shielded himself. "I'll buy you whatever you want, really, just stop hitting me!"
Evelyn pouted, pulling her fists away. She didn't seem to care for the strange glances from the people passing by.
Michael dusted his wrinkled long-sleeved shirt, wondering if they would think he was the victim of this abusive relationship. Looking at her face, he caught a glimpse of a smile. He didn't know if it was worth being beaten over though.
After walking around for a while, they settled at an outdoor cafe with tables and chairs laid spaciously out front. There were a few other people that sat along the other tables with them, enjoying their tasty and delectable pastries accompanied by a colorful drink. Then looking back at Evelyn, she had almost three times of their serving. She also sat right beside Michael, pulling her chair around to practically bump his shoulder every time she moved her arm.
It seemed like no matter how long they were together, she would never understand the definition of personal space. But Michael also never said he hated that.
Michael picked along the spare pastries and desserts Evelyn had ordered. Seeing their small sizes and outrageous prices, he wasn't sure if she picked this place on purpose. His tastebuds would have gone numb looking at the colorful decorations on the miniature plates.
Evelyn ate happily, shoving spoonfuls of creamy cakes into her mouth. It appears she would never understand simple etiquette either. She scooped another generous portion, moving the spoon towards Michael.
He politely declined. Eating that full plate of sugary toast a few hours earlier took a toll on his stomach. But she shoved it into his mouth anyway.
"So, what do you think," he chewed along his words. "About the quest?"
Evelyn turned her head to him, her mouth slathered around with bright jam and frosting.
He resisted the urge to clean her face. She looked ridiculously adorable.
"I think it's a waste of time. I'm having more fun being with you here than walking around with them."
"No—Evelyn, I mean like the quest of this town. What do you think about it?"
"Are you asking me to help you with the quest? I'm an ego sword, Michael, what do you expect me to do?"
He quickly glanced around them. "I mean, you've been along with me and heard just about everything, right? And also, you're a member of this party now so I just thought maybe you could help everyone else."
"I am helping your party. I help them by being your sword."
"But…that's when you're a sword. Remember the quest before when you said you could help us find the mana beasts, were you lying to me?"
"Oh," she spooned another generous portion of cake. "You were talking about that. Yes, Michael, I was lying."
"Evelyn—"
She shoved the cake inside his mouth before he could talk again.
Michael wiped the residue off the corner of his lips, chewing away at his defeat. Hearing her laugh sort of melted away his frustration.
"I'm kidding," she repeatedly poked his cheek. "I can help you find the mana beasts, but I'm not doing it for free."
He swallowed. "Really? You can help us?"
"Are you stupid? I just told you I'm not doing it for free."
"But I had to pay for all of this."
"Duh, that's what a good boyfriend does."
"Then…" he looked confused. "What do you want?"
Evelyn finally wiped her mouth and turned her suggestive gaze into his eyes.
"Wait—no, you can't do that! That's breaking the rule!"
"What rule?!" she complained. "How many more rules are you going to make up on the spot, Michael, you're so stupid!"
"The quest, Evelyn, you can't use the quest to break my challenge!"
She shook him around in his chair. "Just kiss me already! Why are you making this so hard?!"
A waiter approached them. "Excuse me, you two."
They stopped and turned to the slim dressed waiter, also noticing the stares of the other people nearby. It turns out, nobody really enjoyed hearing the cries of two kids arguing back and forth, especially with something indecent and making a mess. They had to realign the chairs and clean the smudges from the edges of the table.
Michael didn't know why they were given this job but he assumed it was better than being seized by town guards for cake. Then the two of them were removed from the cafe. Not after when Evelyn scarfed the rest of the leftovers into her mouth.
With her appetite satiated, they continued to walk through Alaris, admiring the tall cathedral from afar, and noticing how mild this town really was. But also they tried not to cause any more trouble. The last thing Michael would want is more attention being drawn between them.
"You can help us, right?" he asked, holding her hand as he walked a little short behind her.
She didn't respond.
"Evelyn, what if the people's lives here were at stake and…you didn't want to help them—"
"Oh, I didn't want to help?" she angrily glanced back at him. "You should ask yourself that, because no kiss means no help. That means you are the reason why we're all going to die here."
He wanted to argue with that ignorant logic but what if she was right? Was he just being immature to himself? Setting up a challenge, restricting himself from her, just because he thought it would make him a better person did sound absurd.
But who was to say Michael wasn't stubborn, especially if the matter was about him? Maybe she was the one being unreasonable.
Michael paced right next to her, staring into her face.
She stopped. "What?"
"Can you please help us?"
"I already told you, I will help after you kiss me—"
"Evelyn, come on," he lowered his voice. "You would rather let these people die over a kiss?"
"And because you want to keep to your stupid challenge."
"Evelyn…"
"You promised me." she gripped his hand. "I would let you go on quests, find new ways to scare me to death, and what do I get in return? Nothing. I get nothing in return, Michael, doesn't that sound unfair?"
Michael gulped. "That's a lie."