Chapter 10: The Unnamed Zone
"So, Vincenzo, what was the last thing you remembered?" Elliott asked.
"Uh, I don't know. The last thing I remember was nothing—I just found myself being attacked by a monster during the test," Vincenzo stammered.
"Wait, but what about the attack with Arthur? How were you able to go toe-to-toe with him?" Elliott pressed.
"I actually don't know. Everything just slowed down a bit—it felt like time slowed down," Vincenzo mumbled.
"Ehm, if you don't want to talk about it, it's fine," Elliott assured him.
"Anyway, where are we going? I don't know if it's safe going deeper into the forest like this," Vincenzo asked.
"Don't worry about it. We are still on school grounds, and besides, there are no monsters here," she assured him.
"Are you sure?" he said, trembling slightly.
"This is the place," Elliott announced.
"Are you sure? This looks like the site of a recent battle," Vincenzo observed.
He truly doesn't remember, Elliott thought.
"Wait, are you sure you don't remember anything?" Elliott asked.
"Yeah. Why all the weird questions?" Vincenzo countered.
"Nothing. I just wanted to show you—maybe it was a monster that did this, because you really liked monsterology," Elliott explained.
"Oh, I did?" Vincenzo trailed off.
"Anyway, we better get back. Edward must be waiting," Elliott said.
"Ehm, and can you show me my dorm?" Vincenzo asked.
"Edward!" Elliott called as they finally left the forest.
"Why are you coming out of the Unnamed Zone?" Edward asked.
"Oh, I went to show Vincenzo something," Elliott replied.
"Did he... remember?" Edward whispered.
"No, he didn't. I guess he's lost his memory," Elliott confirmed.
"I'm kind of tired," Vincenzo said. When can I get some rest?
"Oh, sorry about that, Elliott. You can go. I'll take him to his dorm," Edward said.
"Okay. Good night," she said and stormed off.
"So, how did you beat Arthur?" Edward asked as they were walking down an alleyway.
"Oh, that? I don't really understand myself. It seemed like everywhere just slowed down for a bit," Vincenzo replied.
"Oh, so it must be a skill," Edward concluded.
"Nah, I don't think so, because it just happened, and I can't do it again," Vincenzo said.
"Oh, maybe it's an innate ability, then?" Edward offered.
"I don't really know, Edward. Let's figure it out tomorrow," Vincenzo said, dismissing the topic.
"Anyway, that's your Lodge, and your room is the second room on the second floor," Edward said, turning his back.
"Sure, good night," Vincenzo said.
The building was a three-story Noble's Lodge. The first floor featured a spacious sitting room, a dining area, a kitchen, and a training ground. The second and third floors held the rooms, which faced each other on both sides.
I guess this is my door, he thought, standing close to the second door on the right.
He turned the doorknob, and it was locked. He then tried inserting mana into the doorknob, but all of a sudden, the doorknob of the door facing his turned, and the door opened from the inside.
"Don't you know how to knock, Bryan?" a voice snapped from inside. A girl, slightly taller than him, with distinct green eyes emerged. She was wearing a big shirt, long trousers, and sneakers.
"Ehm, pardon my intrusion," Vincenzo said.
"Oh, sorry, don't mind me. I'm just here to take some things as per the owner's orders," the girl explained.
"Don't worry, I don't mind. Anyway, I thought that was my room," Vincenzo said, gesturing to the door the girl had just opened, then took an abrupt turn towards his actual door.
Wait, is he okay? the girl thought.
"Okay, I'll get going now," the girl said, walking towards the steps.
Oh, I see, Vincenzo thought as he successfully opened his door. Since I haven't formed my first core, they gave me a physical key! How clever of the school. He shrugged mentally. But it is not normal to leave a door unlocked.
He pushed the door open slowly and tried using his hand to look for the switch. Not having mana is a pain, he thought.