Over the next week I closed my eyes to what was gradually becoming solidified in my mind. Eve was disappearing, bit by bit, day by day, she slowly became less and less Eve and more and more Ever.
I subtly asked the others if they had noticed it and they simply rejected the possibility, Halsan was the only one to either humour me. "Adam, don't take this the wrong way, you deny it and I swear to sit and listen to every point you make..." He offered as I paced around his office.
"Fine. Don't take what the wrong way?"
"I learned long ago not to underestimate you, so I admit even I'm sceptical this could be the case, but is there even a slither of a possibility that this is cold feet? You get married in under two weeks my friend and Eve has been saying that her plan is working... I only mean that maybe she has unlocked just enough for you to be nervous about the biggest day in your life."
I couldn't argue, it was a solid possibility, I had changed considerably and if it was her doing this warped perception of her could also be a side-effect a safe guard woven in to make me suspicious of anyone with the power to undo what was done.
I sighed. Throwing my head back into my cradled hands. "No, I cannot honestly say that."
"Good, at least whatever it is hasn't made a liar of you. How about we do something, share a drink or two, I'll hear you out still. Maybe you need some time apart to process the changes your experiencing."
"That sounds like a good idea." I admitted.
"Grand! It's been too long! Go tell the girls to have a night over the other side, the men can take this world. It's been a heavy week, it will do us all some good."
"Sure." I smiled, warming to the idea more and more. "I'll go spread the word, oh! I'll grab Rein while you grab Leeson and Byurik, the others are probably at the clinic anyway."
With my spirits on the rise thanks to Halsan's, sage as ever, advice, I made my way around town spreading the word and in truth the night was a blast; Scotch, songs, cigars, good food and games were exactly what I needed to clear my head. (Or rather poison what was infecting it so much.)
As Leeson stumbled out the door we were still both singing one of the garrison's favourites, then he turned suddenly, bowed so aggressively he nearly passed out, said "My liege! I bid you achoo hic!" and then passed out, and I was so annoyed by the statement, I shut the door and stumbled to bed.
When I got to my room, my clothes practically exploded off of me, leaving me in nought but my undies in the cold of night, then I heard a voice come from the bed. "I admit I was hoping the first time I got you this bare would be a bit more... sexy. You know... little more blind passion and less blind drunk." She chuckled.
I fell back and scrambled even further back as she stood from the bed genuinely shocked by reaction. "Don't lie, please. If I upset you Ever, I'm sorry, but don't lie anymore."
"I'm not lying dummy! It's me, your Eve, and you're my Adam... So come over here, it's a cold night."
My mind went blank. I was mostly sobered up already, but I was at my emotional limit and not being able to trust the words coming out of her mouth was destroying me. I was at my lowest, then I remembered. I started slapping my pockets looking for the letter I had burned, apparently still drunk enough to think that was how fire worked.
"What are you doing, love? Do you need your clothes? Have something in your pocket?" she gathered them and passed them to me and I sensed genuine sadness in her eyes.
I began to doubt myself again, but no, no no! That was the moment, I was sure of it. I tripped over several times and Eve grew undoubtedly worried about the state I was in. Was it even possible for alcohol to have such an impact on me?
'I need to clear my somehow... Wait! Clear... Clearing that was it...uhm! Hand holding in the clearing, yeah trust daughter, go clearing, hold hands... Eve, I'm a dummy, I trust you.' I still think that is the most romantic thought that has ever crossed a man's mind whilst he was in such a state, the others disagreed.
"Eve....Woods... Hands...." Also, in practice my execution was so bad it wouldn't have even qualified me for the participation trophy. Luckily, the woman I was speaking to was an absolute treasure and followed me.
As we ran my body began fighting the intoxication, but the more sober I got strangely the more suspicious I got of her again, then in a blink I was running at full speed, I felt the urgency to say what I needed them both to hear, grow.
When we practically sprinted past the guards I told them we had to get some ingredients and were headed to the usual spot if anyone needed us, then used enhancement magic and lifted Eve to move quicker. Arriving in the middle of nowhere before we knew it.
"Adam? What's this about?" her voice was soft, filled with tender concern. "I might know how you are feeling, but I don't know why." I was certain this was her, this was my Eve.
'Right she couldn't be specific in case it hurt the possibility relax just act and answer naturally.' I thought.
"I don't want to lose you, every day since Abelegia, you've become a little more Ever and a little less Eve." I was whining like a brat throwing a tantrum and I knew it was pointless which made it worse. "Ever, I would love to see you again, I have so much to thank you for, but please don't take Eve away from me."
"Adam, Ever isn't taking me over. We talk more and more, I guess I have accidentally started to talk and behave a bit like her. I'm sorry, I didn't know." She couldn't help but chuckle, though I didn't know if she was enjoying seeing me so open and vulnerable, or if she was just happy at such a sincere display of affection.
Her words didn't help much though, my mind was completely jumbled. I put her down and hugged her. "I promise to do all I can to give you your own life back, but please don't take Eve."
Eve sighed and asked Ever to take over. "You really need her more than me don't you. If I'm not mistaken this is the first time you've asked someone to sacrifice something for you." She was clearly a little wounded, but her voice had a twinge of mischief knowing I wasn't thinking clearly enough to really hear what she was saying.
"I would never ask you to sacrifice anything. I'm just scared, I'm confused and my ignorance is anything but blissful. I don't want to lose either of you because I know I won't be able to cope as I am and whether it's you or her you'll blame yourselves for my weakness."
She gave a long tired sigh. "That was your chance to make me give up on life after all these body-less years, you truly are a cruel man. Eve, please keep this idiot alive long enough to realise he loves you and I both, even if it is in different ways. I would like to hear it at least once after all this time."
I didn't like Ever's tone, it seemed like she was preparing to disappear and filled me with grief, but then I heard Eve apologising and pulled away to find out why.
Before I had time to ask however, I felt the caress of some kind of magic, similar to a paralysing spell but I retained full sensation. I knew the spell well, it was one of the Eves. "The roots of the tree of knowledge". The spell overloads the brains ability to comprehend its own motor functions.
She then moved behind me and pulled me backward, leaving me to sit resting against a tree and sitting between my legs facing away from me as she moved my arms to hold her. "You're wrong, it isn't that one. This spell is called 'Endless Moment'. Do you want our journey to end here? We can stay here, holding each other until we wither away. Be selfish this once and you can have your wish; holding me and Ever in your arms for the rest of our lives."
It was a tempting offer, this is exactly what I was asking for… But, was it what I wanted? No, it was a mere facsimile of my wish. "Now this was cruel. Please break the spell, I'm sorry." Despite asking for it, when she broke the spell and made to stand up I pulled her back. "I didn't ask you to move yet, let me enjoy this a while longer, you're warm and your hair smells nice."
I could see the tops of her ears turn red as she relaxed into me. "I guess we can stay a while, you don't smell as nice, but you're comfy." She sighed again, but more like the sigh of someone sinking into a hot bath.
As we sat, the world at large seemed to melt away, leaving only us and that place to exist alone. Out of nowhere Eve suddenly declared she didn't like telling people how they feel, that her empathic talents meant she often knew people's hearts better than they did. "That said, you love me, You aren't the first person to not understand or recognise emotions, but why don't you react at all to it, it's not natural."
I scoffed as I thanked her sarcastically, assuming she was playing with me. "I guess I'm just weirdo. Not that it matters, we're here now and our contest is over..." Her body tensed with fear. We had both played our cards close.
I pulled her back. "Don't worry. we're both going to win this." I then kissed her cheek and gripped her hand.