"How long do you think it'll take you to reach that level, Tristan?"
Tristan was taken aback but swiftly moved towards the cabinet, grabbing his sword. He skillfully spun the sword with one hand, scanning for the source of the voice.
Whispering to Dagger, he asked, 'Can you find the voice's origin and identify the person?'
Tristan spun his sword while vigilantly watching his surroundings, anticipating an attack. Dagger responded, "I can't locate the source, but it's coming from your left!" Dagger's warning alerted Tristan of an imminent threat.
Reacting swiftly, Tristan rolled and slashed his sword, striking a flying blade with a resounding "clang!" His caution heightened as he successfully deflected the incoming blades. However, the relentless attacks intensified.
Moving with remarkable speed, Tristan matched the assault, relying on instinct rather than Dagger's guidance. He spun, slashed, and evaded with precision, the sound of metal meeting metal and hitting the floor echoing in the room. Despite dozens of blades littering the floor, more continued to come.
After what seemed like an eternity, the assault abruptly ceased. Gasping for breath, Tristan removed his helmet while remaining on high alert. Sweat poured down his forehead, but he retained his energy, firmly gripping his sword, ready for any further confrontation.
"Show yourself! Attacking like a coward, are you? You should know better!" Tristan's shout aimed to intimidate his unseen assailant. Suddenly, applause broke the silence.
A tall man with a brown beard approached. Clad in a dark-golden royal robe and armed with a sword and pistol, the man's emblem revealed his allegiance to Cresentia. His face resembled the King's but bore subtle differences, leading Tristan to wonder if he was the King's brother.
"You've improved since our last sparring session, Tristan," Alexander Moonstone's deep voice startled him.
"Who are you?" Tristan asked, seeking validation for his guess.
"Ah, so the rumors were true. You have amnesia. How peculiar," mused Alexander to himself.
"Are you Alexander Moonstone?" Tristan ventured.
"Yes, indeed. How did you guess? Is your memory starting to return?" Alexander inquired.
"No, it was merely a guess based on your resemblance to the King, Uncle Alex," Tristan replied, briefly easing his stance.
"Enough talk. Let's spar," Alexander declared, disappearing momentarily from Tristan's sight. Tristan immediately returned to his alert stance, spinning his sword while scanning for any movement or sound.
"What are you searching for, Tristan? The source of my voice?" Alexander's voice echoed, but its origin eluded Tristan. Then, he detected the subtle disturbances in the air—something swiftly approaching him.
"Clang!" Instinctively, Tristan's sword intercepted the attack, colliding with a blade held by Alexander.
"Excellent reflexes, Tristan," praised his uncle. "Something changed while you were comatose," he observed, noting Tristan's heightened speed in anticipating his attacks.
"When we last sparred, your movements were significantly slower. My first attack would have struck you multiple times under normal circumstances," Alexander remarked, his curiosity evident. He then spun his sword and returned it to its holster.
"I-I don't know what you mean, Uncle. I just follow my instinct." Tristan replies. He is now worried the man will find out about his actual condition.
"With your speed, you are in level 4 now, Tristan. Did you know that?"
"I don't know what you mean, Uncle. I simply follow my instincts," Tristan replied, his concern growing that his uncle might uncover his actual condition.
"With your speed, you have reached level 4, Tristan. Are you aware of that?" Alexander informed him.
"No, Uncle, I don't know. My amnesia has erased many memories, and this world is all new to me. I hope you can help me remember," Tristan expressed, hoping for more information about Tristan Moonstone and their realm.
"I noticed you were wearing your armor. How did you come to possess it?" Alex inquired.
"Pure coincidence, Uncle," Tristan replied casually.
"Did Dagger inform you about this place?" Alex continued his questioning.
"No... I-I mean, yes! Yes, I learned about this place from Dagger, which sparked my curiosity. I immediately came here, even in the late hours of the night," Tristan nervously responded, fearful that Alex would catch his lies. He spun his sword, attempting to conceal his unease.
"Hmm... alright," Alex calmly responded, seemingly unperturbed by Tristan's answers. Something else was clearly troubling him.
"By the way, I'm still puzzled by your speed and swordsmanship. It has increased dramatically," Alex finally revealed his concern. "But let's not dwell on that. We have a more pressing matter at hand. Do you remember what that is?" he continued.
"I wish I did, Uncle. Could you remind me?" Tristan confidently requested as he was telling the truth.
"You were gravely injured because you were rushing to increase your level, aiming to become strong enough to bear significant responsibility. A responsibility passed down to you by your father—to guard the Forbidden Gate. I've been safeguarding the gate until you are ready," Alex explained.
"Do you recall anything about the gate, Tristan?" Alex inquired.
"Not even a trace, Uncle," Tristan replied confidently, honestly admitting his lack of recollection.
"Alright, I will explain along the way. For now, I want you to return to your room and rest until we meet at lunch. We will embark on our journey to expedite your level once again, Tristan. So put away your weapon, retrieve your helmet, and let's head back upstairs," Alex instructed.
Both Moonstones ascended the stairs in silence. Tristan secretly pondered why his uncle had come to the dungeon in the middle of the night.
"Because I always train after midnight, Tristan," Alex's voice suddenly interrupted their silence.
Tristan was taken aback to discover that this man could seemingly read his mind.
"No, I shouldn't be able to read your mind, Tristan. Not when you are this strong. However, your mind is still as easily accessible as before. You appear physically stronger, but your mental resilience remains as it was during our previous training," Alex expressed his worry.
"Mental mind? What does that mean?" Tristan blurted out without much thought.
"It's something we will train extensively during our journey," Alex replied, now looking at Tristan with doubt. "So that it aligns with your physical abilities," he added.
As Tristan and Uncle Alex parted ways to their respective rooms, they agreed to meet for lunch in the main dining room of the castle.
Trusting his instincts rather than relying on Dagger's guidance, Tristan found his way to the tower leading to his room. Stepping inside his bedroom, he noticed it was still dark outside, hours away from sunrise.
The concept of the "Mental Mind" occupied his thoughts as he removed his armor and changed into comfortable pajamas.
'What if I confess to Uncle Alex about where I had come from when our journey begins? That way, I won't have to worry about him reading my mind...' Tristan whispered to himself.