The day, and the Gauntlet altogether, was quickly over with that conclusion.

Queen Leena had announced the two, Tristan and Serene, for their wedding ceremony that would be held in three days, at the peak of the solstice moon. A fortuitous time, they said.

Following the completion of the event, the crowd swiftly dispersed as they made their way back to the city. They could not wait to share what had happened today to those who were unlucky enough to not be able to attend the event.

***

Tristan spent the rest of the day healing his wounds and recuperating his battered body. To put it simply, he was just taking a good rest in bed.

Late that afternoon, Tristan was woken up by the sound of knocking on the door. He groggily got up from the bed and walked towards the door to receive the visitor.

The moment he opened the door, Tristan's lethargic eyes instantly shot out as he immediately sobered up. The one who visited him was, to his surprise, Queen Leena. It seemed that she came by herself as he couldn't see anyone beside her.

While Tristan was wondering the reason for her unannounced visit, the queen beckoned him to follow her. Unexpectedly, she took him to the palace balcony, where there were just two of them at the moment.

Silence fell between them as the queen did not open her mouth and Tristan waited for her to speak first. This awkward situation persisted for dozens of seconds before the former eventually broke the stalemate.

She shifted her gaze from the scenery of the city and looked over to Tristan, scrutinizing him from top to bottom.

"I see that you have recovered from your wounds."

Tristan nodded his head while showing a polite smile.

"Yes I am, my queen. I am now completely healthy. Thank you for your concern."

The queen, or rather, Leena stepped closer to Tristan, causing the distance between them to be less than one meter. She slowly raised her hand before she began touching his arms and shoulders with a curious expression on her face. After doing so, Tristan noticed the woman seemed mesmerized by her findings.

"It's really completely healed.. How amazing.." Leena muttered in a voice that would be impossible to hear if Tristan didn't have his enhanced senses,

Looking at the captivated expression on the queen's face, Tristan said, "Just the arm and shoulder this time, my queen?"

Tristan's unexpected question brought halt to her actions. Remembering what she did back at the hot spring, the queen smiled then let out a chuckle.

"Maybe next time." She answered with the trademark teasing smile on her face.

The queen then returned to the scenery while saying, "I hope you understand that the Gauntlet was necessary."

Noticing where this was going, Tristan opened his mouth after being silent for a while.

"Are you talking about the marriage?"

Surprisingly, the queen shook her head at his words.

"No. Not just that. The main objective that I tried to achieve was for you to show what you are to my people, and.. You did really well."

The queen then proceeded to explain her reasoning. Apparently, even Elyon and Alanis were asked to make it difficult for him, which in return would give Tristan the respect he needed the moment he defeated them.

"Respect that I need?" asked Tristan in a strange tone.

The queen didn't notice his tone and only nodded her head.

"That's right. You would need it, Tristan. For the reputation and the royalty status you are about to hold. This is what the Gauntlet, and the wedding is all about."

The queen's explanation honestly only gave Tristan more concern. It was obvious that the queen was somehow obsessed with him, due to the prophecy or another particular reason.

Instead of being happy, he wondered if this reputation and status would give him benefits, or just plain trouble.

Looking at Tristan's expression, the queen continued, "The faster you believe the prophecy, the better for all of us."

Tristan only became more cynical when he heard that.

"My queen, how could I believe in them when I am not even one of you? I am only a human. A nobody that was unfortunate enough to be forced into this body."

Hearing the apparent scorn and mockery in his words, the queen was silent. Moments later, she opened her mouth.

"You may be a human who was forced into the Blood Elf body... However, you are not a nobody... What happened today should be proof of that. Also, you should believe that nothing at work here was a mere coincidence."

The queen looked at Tristan straight in the eye as she approached closer than ever, causing the latter to feel the former's breath on him.

"Now, hold still." The queen said before she once again raised her arm. She put her delicate finger onto Tristan's forehead.

In an instant, a small glow appeared on her finger. At the same time, Tristan felt a little jolt coming from his forehead before spreading all over his body.

Oblivious to his reaction, the queen closed her eyes while her finger was still in its position.

"Such an amazing potential.. A tremendous power is still hidden within you, Tristan." She said with an amazed sigh. She continued what she was doing until a shocked expression suddenly appeared on her face and she moved a step away from him.

The queen's sudden action naturally confused Tristan. So, he asked.

"What is it?"

In a matter of seconds, Tristan watched in bewilderment as the shocked expression on the queen's face gradually turned into one of amazement.

"There is still something sealed inside of you, Tristan. A soul that is very powerful, it could be said as terrifying."

Upon hearing so, Tristan's mind swiftly assumed that she was talking about the mysterious man inside the blood lake, the one that he had seen a few times already.

"Who was it, my queen? Do you know about this?"

"This.. I don't know, Tristan. I was unable to reach beyond the barrier as it blocked me"

Hearing this made Tristan extremely concerned. The Elf Queen was supposed to be the strongest elf in the Vanyar Kingdom. Thus, for even her to be unable to do it certainly raised many flags in his mind.

"Is there any way to somehow get him out of my body?"

The queen was brought out of her thoughts by Tristan's question and serious expression.

"I, I really don't know, Tristan. But I believe Katra can help you in this matter."

Tristan's mood turned sour when he heard it was about that confusing Katra again.

Before the queen left, she stopped in her tracks and turned around

"I hope you will take good care of my precious daughter, Tristan."