After a few hours of waiting in the dark, Michael and Stefan were finally found. Thanks to Ellis's skill of tracking, they didn't have to spend the rest of their lives decomposing in that uncharted cave.
Michael couldn't recall any memories on the way back. His mind was so deserted, he had completely slept the entire way home. When he woke up, he was back in his room and it was already morning. Apart from his body being incredibly sore, the majority of his wounds were patched along with any deep cuts that he had during their fight in the uncharted.
He gently moved his right hand into view. It was wrapped in a cast with some of the fingers tied into a splint. Though it still throbbed in pain, it didn't hurt as much like before. He was just mainly concerned about where his sword was.
He hopped off his bed and steadily walked. It was like he was trying to use his legs for the first time again. He looked around his room, searching for a golden sword and listening for the hum. The longer he couldn't find her, the more panicked he became. Every second that passed without him knowing where she was killing him from the inside. His heart felt like it was being crushed, just thinking about what she was feeling while separated.
Someone opened the door after hearing the heavy rummaging in the room. It was Ellis, his face was surprised to see how frantic Michael was moving despite his injuries.
"Where is she?" Michael said. "Where's my sword?"
Ellis stood at the door. "Your magical sword?"
His heart started to feel heavy. "Did you—"
"It's under your bed."
Michael awkwardly kneeled to look under his bed. It felt like his knees were on fire but he still persevered. But there it was, his sword waiting for him just under the bed.
Ellis closed the door behind him. "So, how do you feel?"
"Uhh…"
"I know you were attacked. I assume it was Rowe's party, right? They got away before we could find them but I doubt you'll see them again. Other than that, I'm glad that you're okay. You must have been scared."
Michael sat back on his bed, holding his sword aside.
"You're probably thinking that it's my fault. I paired you up with Stefan so you two could at least spend time reflecting on yourselves. If I would have known that some other party would take their time and sabotage your shift, leaving you in the middle of the uncharted so you could die…I'm sorry, Michael, I should have seen this coming. You shouldn't have gone through that."
"I don't think it's your fault."
"To some degree, it is my fault. I thought I could space Stefan and Rowe apart, but knowing these adventurers and their fragile ego, it's almost impossible for them to let something like that go. Of course, what you and Stefan started at the tavern is still unacceptable."
Michael frowned. "Sorry."
"It's fine," he sighed. "Nothing like this can happen again. It's just normal shifts and following the quest from now on, you won't have any other parties that's coming for your throat. Here's just my only concern—"
Michael noticed his sudden change in tone.
"Stefan is wasted, too drunk to listen to anyone. He's doing that again and he only does that whenever he talks about Harper. Do you know who Harper is?"
"Cerra Harper?"
"So, you do know. He talked to you about her, didn't he?"
Michael nodded.
"What'd he say?"
"That she was his teacher…and she died protecting him."
"Oh," Ellis looked off. "That's not what happened to Harper."
Michael furrowed.
"Stefan killed her. Cerra Harper was murdered by Stefan Jaegen."
"Wait—what?"
"Just don't bring it up around him anymore, understand? I don't want a party member moping around, especially when we're trying to work."
Michael watched him leave the room. Why would Stefan lie about something like that? It didn't make sense to Michael. The way he talked about his teacher held so much emotion just to hide the fact that he had murdered her. But the confusing part was Ellis wasn't a liar either.
Instead, he hopped over to the door and locked it, preventing anyone from suddenly entering his room. He crawled back into his bed and held the sword in his hands.
The sword flashed, turning into the girl he loved. Even if they've been sleeping next to each other every night, it felt like an eternity waiting to hold her again after what happened.
Michael hugged her. His thoughts were getting foggy again. He didn't care about Stefan's backstory or anything else.
"Michael," she said his name softly. "You're crying."
He didn't want to let her go.
"You said you hated whenever I cried. It's unfair."
"I'm sorry…"
She pulled his head back into her eyes. "Why are you apologizing?"
He felt her hands. "Because I really love you. I'm sorry, Evelyn, that they tried to take you away. I'm sorry I'm so weak."
Her face looked remorseful hearing him stumble on his words.
Michael pushed away her hands and slumped into her chest. He couldn't stop himself from crying. He knew he was terribly in love with her even if he looked pitiful spilling out his feelings. She was the greatest thing to ever happen to him. And for someone else to take her away, it terrified him to the core.
Evelyn caressed the side of his hair, leaning against a pillow. "That's the first time you said you love me other than inside your head."
He wanted the world to disappear around them. He wanted to lay here for the rest of his life, in her arms as she brushed his cheek.
"I was also scared, Michael, about the thought of me being separated from you. But we're okay now, right?"
He sat up, wiping away his tears. "No, we're not okay."
She still had a remorseful look on her face.
"This is going to keep happening unless I get stronger. They're going to keep trying to take you away from me. I have to—"
"Michael, stop," she held his hand. "Listen to me."
He looked into her eyes.
"Did you really want to become an adventurer? Because every time I'm in your head, you're always saying that you're doing this for me. What if…I don't want you to do this? What if I don't want you to get stronger anymore?"
"I want to protect you, Evelyn, I don't care what happens to me—"
"I care, Michael!" she raised her voice. "Did you think I liked watching them beat you? I hated it every time time you were hurt, I hated it every time you complained about your bruises when I touched you, and I hated it whenever you said it was because of me."
"It's not because of you—"
"Stop lying to me, Michael," her voice cracked. "This all started because you just wanted money to buy me food. I can't get hungry, I'm an ego sword that's immortal. You know what I want, Michael, I want you to stay alive. I just want…you."
Michael watched her cry. He felt like his chest was getting heavy again.
"I tried playing along," she choked. "I wanted to be the sword that made you powerful. But if I have to watch you get hurt, and they take me away from you…I don't think I can handle it."
Michael leaned over and hugged her.
"Please…don't die, Michael."
He felt her sob in his chest. He didn't understand why she was crying. None of this would have happened if Michael was stronger. The reason why he was beaten, bruised, and bled was because they were consequences of being weak. But she hated that, she hated his obsession of trying to protect her. He's been trying to help her realize that this world wasn't built so he could stay by her side in peace.
There was always going to be problems if he liked it or not, it was up to him if he wanted to solve them. Becoming an adventurer was inevitable. He had a magical sword and he needed to learn how to use it, as fast as possible, even if it meant for him to lose over and over again.
Evelyn wiped her tears on his shirt. "Why aren't you saying anything?"
Because Michael hated it whenever she cried. Even if he was the first to draw tears, it felt entirely different if it came from her.
She pinched his arm. "Say something."
He snapped back awake.
"You're thinking about something, are you?"
"Sorry."
She sniffled. "I know what you're going to say…that you won't stop being an adventurer. I'll always be your sword but sometimes, I just want to be your girl. And I don't want to see yourself being hurt again."
"I can't promise that—"
"Yes, you can." she faced him. "Stop getting in trouble with other people. You know how nasty these adventurers are and you're letting it get into your head. I should be the only one doing that, right?"
He thought she was pretty, even if her eyes were sore with tears.
"I know you're stupid but you can get stronger without getting yourself killed. Be smart, Michael Velo, don't pick fights that you can't win. You aren't a hero, you're my ego master."
He nodded. "Right."
The sword flashed back into his hand.
He slung the sword around his back and headed downstairs. He assumed that he couldn't go on any more shifts due to his minor injuries and broken hand. It even looked like he limped as he walked down the stairs.
Though, none of this really bothered him, not as much as having the dread of not being able to feel Evelyn again. The sound of her sobbing voice still lingered in his head.
"Oh, my!" Mrs. Hayes shrieked. "This is unbelievable!"