"You know, I'm starting to hate waking up in need of an ice pack." Michael remarks, an ice pack over his head as he sat by the door of Ahros' store.
Ahros giggles in his hand. "Take it as an excellent lesson for overconfidence."
"Lesson? Yeah, sure, the punishment is pretty harsh." Michael mutters, his eyes turning to the book before him. The story taking its first dark turn.
"As you say. Though the rewards seem to excite you more than anything. Yes?"
Michael nods with a smile, his finger lighting up in delight. "Yeah, didn't really think that I'll get magic, ever. Maybe this time when I-."
"Will be rejected for all the same reasons. No one wants to get a Level .5 anywhere near them nor their daughters." Ahros remarks, a teasing smile on his face.
Michael tsked at the jab before sighing, "Yeah, you're right." He lies his head down on the table before looking back up in realization. "Oh yeah? What happened after I passed out?"
He shrugs. "They left for the Imperial Capital. Have to prepare for everything."
"Oh really? What's their plan with all this, though?" He gestures around him, the Streets of Shade. An underground assortment of illegal magical items, a prized possession for any noble.
Ahros leans back, "Apparently, the little organization they're building here would be left in my care. An endeavor I would gladly undertake."
Michael shudders. "The thought of coming back here with you in charge brings me chills." He smiles, "But the thought of being away from you almost makes me happy."
Ahros holds his chest in mock hurt, an equal smile with his. "That'll hurt me if I wasn't coming along with you. Don't forget, I can still project myself."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm stuck with you."
With those words, the doors flies open to reveal a surprising guest. A woman of immaculate beauty standing by the door, whose eyes fleeted across the store only to end up locked with his.
Michael's mind turns to a halt as he stands. "Eliza!"
The said girl nods, her eyes locking with the god as she walks to Michael's side, her silver sundress fleeting blowing behind her. "Michael, it has barely been a day, yet you seem to have changed so much already."
Michael gives her a cheeky grin. "Really? How big is it?"
She sits beside him. "Big enough to make a splash, I suppose."
His grin widens. "Really? Then can you tell me something?"
She gives him a glance, "Sure."
"Did you miss me?"
She taps her chin in thought before nodding. "I suppose I did."
He purses his lips. "Wow, without missing a beat. Almost feel like you don't care."
"I do. But as things stand, I came here for something more important." She crosses her legs. "Your brief interaction with Lady Roux has pushed two kingdoms into war."
Michael's smile shatters as surprise and concern comes over him. "What!" He holds his head in horror. "How the hell do the two events even relate?"
"You'd be surprised. How little it takes." Ahros remarks.
The two of them glance at him as Michael asks, "Did you know this would happen?" His eyes narrow in disgust. "Is that the reason you let all of that happen?"
Ahros waves away his concern. "Now, now. I didn't plan for it to happen. Though the risk of it happening came to mind, after all, one must always make plans..."
"T-that's." Michael then looks back to Eliza, "The Emperor wouldn't let it happen, right?"
Eliza nods, "He wouldn't if he could have his way."
Michael heaves a large sigh before ruffling his hair in frustration. "What the hell!" He grabs her hand, his eyes locked with hers as he spoke. "Let's go somewhere!"
She hesitatingly nods glancing at the smiling god as they left, the books sitting behind, untouched.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"So? Where do you want to go? I could bring you to a restaurant?" Michael asks, hand behind his back, his eyes swaying across the street.
"Ignoring it won't push away the problem." Eliza remarks beside him. Her eyes watching the carriages pass by, her eyes stuck on the rows of restaurants that came into view.
"I know that. It doesn't mean I have to acknowledge it." Michael remarks, his eyes forward as it zooms in at another restaurant coming into view.
"Let's eat there! It might not be the fanciest one out there. But it sure as hell is one of the tastiest here in the city." Michael exclaims, his smile excited at the prospect.
Eliza shrugs, "Sure, I don't see why not."
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
It took a while for them to get their seat by the window and yet once they did so. The restaurant's attention zoomed into her, an immaculate beauty, a fairy that deigned to give them her presence.
Michael snickers at their expressions. Her kind of beauty was hard to find in this kingdom. He then realizes something, tapping his hand in thought before he asks. "How did you get here?"
Her eyes roam the menu as she replies, "My friend."
"Wait, your friend? Your friend that can teleport?" He taps his hand before he nods. "That's good. At least you don't have to travel all the way back to your estate."
He stops, eyebrows raised as he asks. "But you're not suddenly going to be summoned back, are you? Because your friend seems to have a sick sense of timing."
She chuckles darkly at the jest, her eyes shifting to the clock. "I assure you, she will not. I have made sure to give her a specific time to summon me back. Two hours from now, I believe."
Michael slides up beside her, his smile excited as he exclaims, "That's awesome! Then I'll make sure we enjoy our time then!"
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"Say aaaah." Michael chirped as he sits beside her. A spoon floating before her mouth.
Eliza takes a bite and nods, a book in her hand as she spoke, "You know, I am more than capable of taking a bit of my own food."
Michael stops. "I am aware. But if you wish for me to stop-"
"No one said such a thing. I merely reminded you of my capability." Eliza interrupts, her eyes never leaving the book before her, her cheeks reddening.
"Oh, sure." He chirps another spoon in his hand as he looks at her with a smile, "How about this, a beef steak perfectly dripping with sauce?"
"That would be desirable."
She takes another bite as Michael smiles at her, looking at her as if watching a painting, his eyes glued to her every movement.
She reddens, "You know, you could just eat with me? Some might think you are a servant."
He rest his face on his hand, the smile never leaving his expression as he spoke, "It's fine, it's fine. I'm more than happy to serve you, milady."
Eliza shakes her head before taking a spoonful of the soup before her. "If you are adamant about this, I cannot help but reciprocate the gesture."
Michael smiles, opening his mouth in response. Only for a shout to stop their peaceful lunch together.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"How insulting! Why would you bring me into this establishment? A place filled with commoners with barely any manners." A shout resounded through.
With green eyes fleeting across the store, a man walking from the door. With arrogance emanating from him as he spoke to the men beside him.
One such man wiped the sweat off his brow as he replied, "Apologies for this, milord. I was told this was the most important restaurant in the city. I wasn't aware that it would allow in commoners."
The man looked to his side. "Rivel! Were you aware of this?"
The attention concentrates on the man on his left, with red hair and crimson eyes. He nods. "I was, but I believed that the taste would have offset such a setback."
"I see." The man mutters as he looked around, his eyes looking around for the perfect spot, only to end up with a table by the door, a silver beauty sitting back.
The man that was named Viriel walked to her side.
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
"Just ignore them." Michael waves away the noise.
The three new guests disturbing their peace came to their side, a green-haired man walking to their side, hand offered as asks, "Hello there. My name is Viriel Grotie."
Eliza looks up to him, "Ok."
Viriel twitches at the lackluster response, grabbing her shoulder in anger only to be stopped by a hand, Michael looking back at him in irritation.
"Let me go. Commoner." Viriel sneers.
Michael glares, his hand tightening over his wrist. "I don't think I will."
"You think you can win?" He sneers, the man beside him stepping forward.
Eliza turns, frost bursting at the edges as her icy voice cuts through. "Fuck off."
"You dare!" Viriel raises his hand.
Before a voice cuts through the tension, "Viriel. Is that really wise?"
Viriel freezes as he turns to Rivel. His eyes widened in surprise in anger as the fear strikes him to his core and he turns away, "Fine!"
Rivel watches him leave before he turn to Michael and nods, "Apologies for his behaviour. If it's any consolation, I hope to meet the both of you again."
He shakes his hand. "The name is Rivel Roux."