Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

            Anton felt pain in the teleportation and the food he had before was about to make its way out of his mouth. But he stopped gritting his teeth as another figure was above him. If he threw up now, all of it would be on Michelle.

        On the other hand, Michelle had not stopped her raging though she stopped casting the flame spells, but her soft fists were shoving his chest again and again. Though with the armour he had worn, Anton felt nothing, and both of them seemed to know that.

        Anton was not doing anything because he knew he had crossed the line and even though anger had toppled Michelle's head, she refrained from making any more injuries to the list of Anton's already injured body.

        The figure of the two fallen finally and Anton hurt this time as most of the impact was on his body. Yet Michelle did not stop pushing his chest, though it hurt her more than his.

        "Are you going to stop?" Anton asked, relaxing a little. He finally fled away from the watchful gazes of the inquisitors. Michelle did not stop and continued to punch and her fist turned even stronger, not that it hurt him.

        Anton finally saw the tears dripping down from her face and his heart tingled. He really crossed the line. His mind was already messed up with all the pain and fatigue and to anger Michelle. He had used all sorts of slang, not to mention in front of so many people.

        Even though Michelle was a cheerful person, she was a girl who might not even reach her adultery years yet, nor had she felt this sort of disgrace.

        The way Michelle presents herself in many things like eating or even walking told Anton she was from some Noble house though she has not mentioned a thing, because she wanted to stay equal with her friends. She might be some princess of some big shot and he could guess what type of upbringing she had. Yet he used those words on her. He could not help but curse at himself.

        "I'm sure," Anton said and relaxed on the ground, and caught her fist. She was only hurting herself with all that

        "Do you know how worried I was?" Michelle said in between her tears, trying to take away her arms from Anton. "Do you know how worried I was when all of these crazy things were happening? My gut told me all of these were somewhat related to the things you three were doing.  And when I saw you with those wounds, do you know how worried I was?"

        "I did not," Anton said slowly and let go of her palms.

        He was only thinking about not getting her involved with all this, nor did he ever think she would be worried for them. At least not this much. He admitted from last month he had been a horrible friend.

"I am sorry." Anton touched her cheeks and tried to wipe the tears from her eyes.

        He never saw her like this. All the time the two of them were almost arguing or pulling another prank on one another, she was cheerful all the time with all sorts of arguments they were in or at the prank. But one thing was sure, the tears did not look good in her eyes nor the depressed expression.

        After a few more seconds, Michelle calmed down and started moping her own tears.

        "Will you mind getting up from my body?" Anton asked slowly, seeing her calm down. "I don't know if you have noticed, my body is in a terrible state."

        "Sorry," she said and got up.

        Anton released another breath and tried to sit upright. Looking at the face of the redhead, he asked, "So, did you forgive me for what I've said?"

        "No," Michelle said at once, glaring at him. His phrase reminded her again of the humiliation.

        "You know I have no other option," Anton said, biting his lips. "I have to get away without the cheeking and not to mention I did not want to get you involved with the crazy stuff. . ."

        "So you humiliate your friend before a couple of hundred people." Michelle glared at him again.

        "I'm sorry," Anton apologised again with a dejected expression.

        "You know, what would happen if my father or uncle knew about this?" Michelle said to him. "They might not kill you, but they would leave you in such a state that you will never be able to use that filthy mouth of yours."

        Anton's expression twitched. The way Michelle said those words, it did not seem like she was joking. "Little lady, your father is the boss of some underworld or what?" Anton could not help but ask.

        "Something like that," Michelle said, smiling.

        Finally, she smiled. Anton felt gratified just seeing that.

        "I will not forgive you for now," Michelle said, giving him a cute glare. "Not until you make up for it."

        "And about your Mafia father and uncle?" Anton asked hesitantly. He did not know why he had some fear against all the fathers of any female. Not to mention here they were talking about an underworld lord.

        "Don't worry, they don't have time for these sorts of things, not that they know I'm here currently—" Michelle stopped figuring out she let out something she should not have, and looking at the look this rogue was giving her he pretty much guessed what's the case.

        "Don't tell me you ran away from your home?" Anton could not help but give this little lady another look. "You actually ran away to climb this dangerous tower. Even though I, as a reckless person, had to confront my aunt. Michelle, you are just. . "

        "What? Outstanding? Awe-aspiring? Impeccable?"

        "I was going to say audacious, but whatever that makes you feel better."

        Michelle snorted. "Tell that to me when you feel like imprisoned in the same house for all your life."

        "Right, getting back to the topic," Anton said and stood up. "I need to hide and tend my wounds first."

        Michelle stood up as well and scrutinise him from head to toe. At least he could walk on his own, though barely. "It should be the time you open your mouth about what's going on with you and the others."

        Anton stopped and thought. He was still sceptical about bringing her on about all those things. Not because he did not trust her. They had been through a lot from the first encounter at the underground dungeon to the awful test of the first floor, even on the verge of unlawfully getting imprisoned they were together. No one blames the other. But he was still having second thoughts. Telling her might be the best choice for him, but it would not be for her. Seeing her regaining cheerful face, he just did not want to pull her into the mess.

        "You do not trust me?" Michelle took his silence for grunting and asked, arching her brows.

        "It's not about trust," Anton shook his head. "This game is a lot more complicated than you think, even more than what I think."

        "So you will act like a noble person and protect me from that?" Michelle snorted contemptuously. "Listen Mister Blaciel, if I just make one call, my father would bring me out from here, even if the path is broken, and a thousand inquisitors stopped his path. He would break the floor if he had to, but he would not let anything happen to his only daughter. Do you still fear for my safety?"

        'She's a lioness alright,' Anton thought and sighed. In the end, he came clean about a lot of things, from the heist to how things went wrong. He did leave out some part about Ryat being the mastermind, as his contract would not allow that.

        "Oh, Maha," Michelle said, her eyes widened and glittering. "You have done so much stuff and did not even invite me. Did you think I would be a burden?"

        Anton thought he would get this sort of reply from the redhead. Still hearing from her own mouth made a difference. If it was a normal person other than Michelle in this place who would still be a good friend, they would be yelling at him for doing such a dangerous thing, yet all Michelle did was yell for not bringing her with them.

        "I guess she's a daughter of an underworld lord, alright," Anton muttered.

        "What did you say?" Michelle glared at him.

        "Nothing," Anton said. "Let's get going." 

        "So, what's your plan from here?"

        Anton thought and answered briefly. "Hide, tend my wounds, climb to the ninth floor while waiting for Wrik to arrive."

        "Oh, crap!" Michelle cursed in the middle of his saying. "I did not have the freaking map of these places again."

        "What are you talking about?" 

        "YOu don't know, but the mage you are in the sixth-floor was only baby compared to this humongous titan here."

________________