Michael watched the man grab another quest and walk away with his party. He looked close to a young adult, and so did everyone else here. None of them were old like Michael imagined. It felt like in a profession like this, it was common for the young to die first.
Evelyn didn't look like she was against the idea to go for a four-star quest so they brought the paper to the front-desk. There were other lines dedicated to receiving your reward, registering, and assigning the quest.
The other receptionist looked more happy about his job, more inclined to the adventurers than the other one Michael talked to.
Evelyn presented their quest and the permission to embark.
"Michael Velo's party," he said, while looking up. "Defeat the lich—sorry, where's the rest of your party?"
Michael pointed at Evelyn.
"It's just you two?"
Evelyn looked offended. "What?"
The receptionist flipped the quest in their face. "Four starred quest, you need more than just two members. And not just children either, I know you two are eager for a quest but I won't permit this."
"Come on," Evelyn groaned. "Aren't the adventurers doing your work for you? What's the problem?"
"I'm not sending you two to die."
Michael looked at the paper again. "Is the lich strong?"
"It's a mana beast, kid, they can manipulate magic like you wouldn't understand. This lich has been terrorizing out west for the longest. Look, if you're concerned, some other party could take care of this. You can find another quest."
"Nope," Evelyn refused. "We want this one."
"Your friend doesn't even have a sword."
Michael and Evelyn exchanged looks.
"Two, I don't know, rogues?" the receptionist said. "Even if you were some gifted child, it wouldn't work."
"Well, actually," Evelyn proudly pointed at herself. "I registered as a mage."
"Can you perform holy magic?"
"No, what's that?"
He irritably groaned. "Listen to me, you two, drop this quest and get it over your heads. I don't have time to argue with you."
"Then just give it to us," Michael said. "What trouble does it make? Adventurers die every day and nobody would even care. The next set would just walk through the doors again."
Michael knew he was right. Adventuring was an easy profession to get into. Michael literally became one without even wearing any weapons. They would accept anyone, if you weren't sick, or chronically injured, you could become an adventurer and serve the Wilmere kingdom. Because, deep down, Michael knew that's all they cared about. If one party would fail a quest, and never return, another would show up and complete that quest. It's an endless cycle that none of them could disagree on.
The receptionist looked into Michael's eyes. "Alright, kid, just don't haunt me when you come back."
Michael watched the quest burn in his hands.
"Michael Velo and his party will defeat the lich, and free Wilmere from its evil. By decree of the great Alexander, you are granted this quest."
They were given a map directed to the general direction of the lich, heading outside west of the city. It was said he was active during the night. They didn't have any means of transportation, so they walked just like usual. It was a far distance but the taste of gold coins kept them motivated. Michael hated the thought of Evelyn being hungry so he'd made sure to complete this quest as fast as possible.
The overview was a skeleton-like mage controlling its own minions, using them to terrorize other minor populations in Wilmere. No available priests, or mage with holy magic, was available so the quest stood still for the while. Michael didn't know many enemies he was going to face but he couldn't even imagine the fight. His arms were already small enough to swing a sword, how was he ever going to take down an army?
You're an ego master, the voice said, did you also forget the sword you're holding?
Michael spun the sword in his hand. They've been walking on a stray road for a while, just glancing at the map over and over to follow the right direction. They would have already made it with a horse before the lich could prepare for their arrival.
He thought about Evelyn's special power. Instead of transforming into a human, there must be something else she powered Michael with. Remembering back to the underground mana beast fight, she had shielded him from the roar that was supposed to kill him. Was it some kind of invisible barrier she could coat around Michael?
You feel it, the voice said, all around your body. That's our bond. That's my power shared with you.
"But what is your power?"
She appeared beside him. I'm invincible to magic, any attacks that's afflicted with mana has no effect on me. And when we're bonded, they won't have any effect on you either.
He held the sword in front of him. "That's how you saved me. I was immune to the mana beast's roar."
That's right, she said, be amazed by the power of an ego sword.
"Yeah, I'm amazed."
She leaned and smiled in his face, then dissolving through the air.
Michael practiced a few swings along the way, warming up his muscles even. He didn't care how funny he looked while Evelyn commented in his head. This was one of the first times he's ever held a sword, and so his life basically depended on it. He didn't know how much Evelyn's magic could protect him from harm but he knew he had to play his role as the ego master. Michael had to get used to her weight.
Wait, the voice said, did you just call me fat?
Michael was too immersed in his own mind, playing the hero and slaying through evil beasts. What if he had reached his full potential and became something even more than a puny adventurer? Now the idea of an ego master was getting too comfortable in his mind.
The sword flashed in his hand. "Yeah, you're stupid."
Michael felt his hand tug back.
"It's over here, through these woods." she tugged him again. "How hard do you doze off?"
He followed after her. "You sound happy about this."
"I'm an ego sword, I'm meant to rule. Something like this is beneath me."
Michael thought he was the only one scared.
"Besides, you said you wanted training. At least you can learn how to use me before you get yourself killed, right?"
"I think I'm already getting myself killed."
"Sure." she stopped. "That's the place. We're here."
It was actually what was left of the ruined church. The vines and vegetation that grew around it made it felt like it had been destroyed long ago. The lich probably nested here to grow his little army before taking over a town. Even the smell coming outside reeked like some kind of evil. Michael even thought this entire place represented the word evil. Grass was already overgrown, masking the stray bones on the ground with the scattered pieces of rubble. He thought he caught the smell of something vile, something putrid that made his nose recoil in disgust.
Evelyn flashed back into a sword.
Michael gripped her hilt hard and moved closer to the church. The moment he stepped through the first pieces of rubble, he felt like he was already in somebody's domain. Someone that wanted him unwelcomed.
He opened the already creaked doors in the church, the only light from the moon illuminating inside the buildings. Windows were long shattered, the rows of chairs collected vines and overgrown roots, and at the altar was a simple pile of dead bodies.
There was another person standing. Its arms moving around the altar as if it was casting some sort of sick spell. Michael realized where that stench was coming from. This was the work of a mana beast.
The lich turned around, its piercing eyes glowing red through the dark church. It was really a skeleton like the picture drawn. It plucked its staff and raised it into the air.
The staff erupted in rushing tendrils of green mist, slithering through the ground into the stray pieces of hollow bone.
Michael gulped. This was his fight. He needed to prove himself for her.
Bones began to conjoin and form the figure of a walking skeleton. One formed after the other, more and more, until it was a small but formidable army. The lich turned around like he didn't need to worry anymore. Because what else could the boy possibly do in this situation?
Michael gripped his sword.
The lich is your target, the voice said, if you defeat him then you win.
Michael already knew that. The swords these skeletons drew, as they walked to him, were real swords. They were rusted and chipped but still jagged enough to tear through his skin.
I don't know much about fighting, the voice said, I just know you can't be this scared.
It was easier said than done. He wished he knew about a method to calm his beating heart down as the skeletons started to surround him. Pointing out his unease didn't make it any better at all.
Michael backed up against the door and turned around. The bones on the outside started to form, that green mist trailing behind and also slithering into the bones outside. Skeletons with more scrambled weapons started to follow after him. He wanted to find somewhere to run. He trapped himself for the sole reason of being selfish.
Calm down, she appeared in his face, they're slower than you think.
Michael watched the skeletons move. She was right. They weren't sprinting at him like regular humans. Even if the holes in their body looked intimidating, Michael was already faster than him by nature. He had muscles supporting the burst of his movements. The skeletons only had bone pivoting around their body.
Take care of these minions, she said, then you can go after the real boss. Sounds simple enough?
Michael spun the sword in his hand. "Got it."
The skeleton raised its sword for a heavy swing. She was right, they were slower. There were no quick movements that Michael couldn't keep track of. The skeleton didn't dash around and flank him from the side. This was the perfect practice for Michael, a mana beast of his level.
Michael weaved to the side and swung his sword across the skeleton. It fell apart to the ground, with a golden sear glowing across its cut ribs. If they had died that easily, none of these could be difficult for him.
"Alright," he laughed to himself. "Bring it on!"