Feeling a mix of annoyance and confusion, Ty inquired if there was anything to write with. The Lieutenant, understanding his request, handed over a writing instrument and paper, albeit with unfamiliar terms. "Here, take a Rink and some Taper," he said.
Ty, receiving what was essentially a pen and paper, couldn't hide his bafflement at the terms but quickly let it go, realizing the novelty of linguistic differences in this place.
As they prepared to leave, Ty swiftly sketched out a 16-bracket tournament structure, showing 8 teams on each side that would compete until only two remained. He explained, "See, this is what we call a tournament where I am from. I think 'Arena of Life' is a cool term as well, but 'tournament' was always short and sweet to me."
The Lieutenant, examining the sketch, found the concept intriguing. "This does sound interesting, at the very least. I will hold on to it for now," he mused, recognizing the potential in Ty's explanation. Then, shifting the topic, he inquired about Ty's companion, "Where is that little blue creature of yours anyways?"
Ty carefully opened his pocket pouch and brought out the fairy, presenting her to the Lieutenant. "Here she is. Anything you need from her?" he asked, as the fairy, disoriented and groggy, complained, "Why are you waking me up? I need an infinite amount of sleep."
"I want to kill it," the Lieutenant remarked with a smirk, half-joking, half-testing Ty's reaction.
Ty's response was swift and fierce, a glare sharpening his features. "If you try to kill her, I will make sure this entire kingdom is burned to the ground." His threat was clear, underlining his protective stance over the fairy.
As they made their way to the training grounds, the Lieutenant probed further, "And what can you do to defend her? I do see her as a troubling wild card in everything."
"What do you mean by that exactly?" Ty inquired, seeking clarification.
The Lieutenant elaborated on his concern, "Well, out of all the documents I have studied and papers I have looked into, nothing has mentioned anything like this. We have reports of monsters from time to time, and even dark forests with half-wolf half-man creatures, but nothing of a witty talking blue creature that shoots water out."
"Remind me, in case I missed anything, but I would like to know your full story. Who you are, or at least who you think you are," the Lieutenant expressed, his interest piqued further by the display.
Ty deliberated internally, weighing his trust in the Lieutenant against the revealing visions of the king and his deep involvement in the demon king's realm.
After a moment's pause, he decided to omit certain details about the Demon King and his friends, prioritizing caution.
Holding the sword aloft, feeling a surge of energy course through him, Ty began, "It all started because Erebos killed me, stole my soul, and entrapped me in a skeleton body.
After a long journey, I was finally making progress, but then he showed up again, destroying everything I loved. And then I woke up here." He paused, the weight of his experiences evident in his voice. "He's a constant reminder of how far I have to go."
As Ty concluded his recounting, black flames mysteriously wrapped around his hands, extending down the blade he held. Behind him, eight tapestries materialized, floating and arcing with an ethereal grace — six adorned in red and two in green.
The Lieutenant, witnessing the sudden manifestation, expressed his astonishment and confusion. "Woah, woah, woah, what's that on your back?!" he exclaimed, trying to comprehend the spectacle unfolding before him.
Ty glanced over his shoulder, his own surprise mirrored in his widened eyes as he responded, "Another mystery about myself I don't even understand." He pondered the significance of the tapestries, suspecting they were linked to his true potential.
"I believe my final level is locked behind all eight of these, and I might be able to protect everyone if I can break them all one day... I haven't seen these since my fight with that fire guy, now that I think about it."
"This is the only time I've ever seen these in a calm manner also. Maybe voicing my concern out loud did something?"