There was little to no pain when his memory of his time in that theatre returned. Rather it gave him a feeling much similar to a relief, that one has after finding something that have been lost for some time.

  Not that he wasn't miffed about it, but this was more or less what was expected. Now having all the clues provided made him let go of the building suspicions, and just left him with an indescribable pain regarding all that he went through. Making him unintentionally voice out his thoughts.

  "Did everything I went through in that sea and spire affect anybody but me? Was all of it...real?"

  The final word came out much softer than the rest. While Alec looked at the ground, lost in the void of his own thoughts. Until the Dragon skull wearing individual spoke.

  "All of it was real. I can swear that on all my years of life, and know that I have lived for very long."

  Looking up from the ground and then at the individual who spoke, Alec subconsciously channeled his anger that made him say the next words in vigor.

  "And those other twenty or so participants! What did they face?"

  Alec clearly remembered being told, with his memory just regained, that the trials was being run for people with unique abilities like him. Then by that logic their trials must be the same. It then lead to a very clear possibility that what he witnessed might have been just artificial.

  "The challenge each of you face is of a similar nature and exact same difficulty. There are many worlds where a danger sea or ocean is present, and although uncommon it is not out of place to find help from someone there."

  Heaving a brief sigh under the Dragon skull, the individual in front of Alec spoke in a gentler voice.

  "Your trial might not have been completely unique, but that is not the actual issue you are struggling with. Right?"

  Wiping away the slightest bit of moisture near his eyes, Alec then said resolutely.

  "No, it's not."

  "That's right. Now let's change the topic, I'm not good with sappy stuff. How about we start with introductions?"

  The air surrounding Dragon skull wearing individual changed, both metaphorically and literally as a great gust of air blew towards everywhere. In the blink of an eye, a bony spear with a red gem-like blade appeared in the person's grasp.

  Pressing the butt of the spear down on the ground all the winds stopped moving at once. Carrying the momentum forward the spear holding individual then spoke.

  "I am the strongest knight here. The first Dragon Slayer of this world, as well as the founder and current Chieftain of the Dragon Spear tribe. History of my tribe is as old as my life, and it will continue to be much longer even after my demise. Now, who are you, oh stranger from another world?"

  Being a little flustered having to carry on after such an impactful introduction, Alec momentarily paused in thought.

  'Wow, that was so epic. I have no such grand title like that. Do I just say as it is?',

  Not one to hesitate after making a decision, Alec then opened his mouth to speak.

  "I am Alec Willows. My ability is Invocation. Pleased to meet you, sir."

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  The proclaimed strongest knight perfectly cleared out the awkward air, despite the lackluster greeting from Alec, with a single word.

  "Likewise."

  Following that with a polite nodding gesture, which looked a little out of place. As he was holding a weapon, and a skull helmet covering all of his face. He then spoke further from there.

  "Now I really want to test your mettle, but it isn't right do so while you are distracted. So what question is it do you have?"

  Alec spoke in a matter of fact voice, hiding the tiredness he currently felt behind it.

  "How many trials do I have go through?"

  "For those who have simply completed the first trial there would be a total of five. Though in the case of someone like you, and a few more potentially in future, who have successfully cleared it there are only three. Meaning there is only one more after this, which is my duty to prepare you for.

  "Only those who clear the first trial are allowed this apprenticeship. Though how do you call it back in your world?"

  "Well, I would call it an Internship like I used to have back in college. Can you give me the motive behind the current and next trail maybe?"

  "I can give you a hint regarding them both. Taking that apprenticeship example going, the think of it like a final showcase. One that will only be witnessed by other participants, and kept in records which only representative wills of the world can see. If they have determined you to be well suited, then you would get an offer for a job or mission. Which you can accept or reject depending on how you deem the compensation yourself. Based on factors like compensation, risk involved and time it would take."

  Through the important explanation Alec unconsciously yawned. Feeling tired due to the many days of sailing he went through, that the person in front of him responded to.

  "And you are tired, of course. There's a hammock tied to the trees out there, take a nap we'll continue it from thereon."

  Not giving him any chance to respond at this the Chieftain walked away. Simply shrugging at that he then went to the direction he was told find this hammock. That he found to be tied to the nearest of the two trees, in the direction he was told. Getting on it to see if it worked Alec found it to be comfortable.

  Though he got up and scouted the forest, force of habit he build during his time in the sea. Finding no danger or even any prey animal around, he then went back to where he was going to sleep. Taking a nap after making a couple safety procedure, such as wrapping himself in a safety of the tree vines connected to his rope.

  Making an invocation that would allow him to wake up, at even the slightest of touch from the outside. Nothing seemingly woke him up until the sky brightened, other than his own hunger. Which got stroked more as he smelled something delicious.

  Strolling in the direction where the fragrance came from, Alec found the Dragon skull wearing chieftan cooking stew in a large pot. Who spoke to Alec without even looking in his direction.

  "There's a river hundred steps east from here. Go freshen up yourself there downstream, then come back and eat the food. We have to visit the city later during the afternoon."

  Following exactly that Alec did his morning routine, which was much easier here than in the ship. Allowing him to properly clean himself with a proper bath, as he then returned and enjoyed a good meal. That for the first time in many days was not bland tasting sea food.

  After their meal completed, during which the Chieftain did not remove his helmet even once. Making it a mystery for Alec as to how he looked. Soon both of them went to the sparring ground from the previous day. Where he heard the spear wielding individual say.

  "I am your opponent in this duel. Attack me in any manner you would like to, from wherever you want to. I will just respond to those by blocking, and promise not to attack you outside the ring in any manner. Start!"

  Having the get go Alec then went off the ring, and kicked a tree full force. Although it did not uprooted it, the tree branches were entirely shook. Moments later all the leaves on tree fell, moving like a cloud around him. Hiding him from his opponent' s view, as he soon repeating the same with a dozen or so trees.

  A large pile of these leaves had accumulated, which Alec may would have some trouble moving if it before yesterday. After learning how to control many objects through one, that he was able to control many of if they were of a similar type.

  The cluster of leaves then split instantly turned towards Alec's opponent. Whose entire vision covered by a cloud of leaves. Throughout which he remained stationary, standing at place and only showing a movement when large stones began launching at him.

  Splitting them apart in a single stroke of his spear, in response to which Alec threw more objects towards him. Going as far as to disshevel the entire ground, outside the periphery of the sparring ground.

  With him only using trees and large stones as throwing weapons, throughout which he knew the cover of the leaves was not doing him any favours. But that was about to change, since he was about to use a strategy which he could utilise while in sea this whole time. It was such a violent tactic that he felt like warning his opponent.

  "This can be really dangerous."

  To his warning he recieved a nonchalant reply.

  "Don't worry about me."

  Pushing the usage of Invocation to the limit for the first time so many weeks, Alec then began to cause a chain reaction of burning all the leaves. Creating a tornado of fire that completely surrounded the Dragon skull wearing individual.

  For a moment Alec to use his remaining strength to put off the fire, but he did not need to do so. Seeing how within a certain boundary none of the burning leaves seemed to be touching his opponent. As he moved the spear in his hand so fast it repelled the fiery tornado.

  Which instead of launching away from himself, he was directing right towards at his own self. Pointed at the head piece he wore, creating a sight that made Alec believe that what he was wearing was truly a dragon's skull. There was a fire which seemed to high amount of brightness in a short period.

  So much that Alec had avert his eyes, lest it caused temporary blindness to him. All the burning leaves had long finished, leaving a tired and completely exhausted Alec. The first Dragon Slayer moved towards him, with the dragon skill still giving a little steam. Reaching near Alec he spoke.

  "Words have always been nothing more than wind to me. Actions speak louder than them, and I guarantee to guide you to do at least as much as I showed you . But only if you agree to become my disciple. What do you say?"

  Pausing from getting up after hearing that, Alec chose to sit down on the ground. Weighing the pros and cons in his mind in that position, then using his arms to support himself to get up to and say a single word in response.

  "Teacher."