Veer sat down with Kerin as he drank the wine. It tasted bitter, and he complained, "Man, it's so bitter."
Kerin took a sip himself and said, "You never complained before."
The rest of the knights moved into their own circle as Kerin asked them to give them some space. A fire burned nearby. The weather was a bit cool, and the fire kept them warm.
Kerin looked up as he asked, "Something on your mind?"
Veer looked at Kerin helplessly. He didn't know whether he should tell him that he had lost his memories. Just as he was struggling to decide, Kerin said, "Take it easy, man."
He patted Veer on the shoulder and said, "Enjoy the wine..."
He opened some snacks and handed them to Veer.
Veer tried the fried potatoes and took another sip of wine.
Veer looked at Kerin and asked, "So, what are all our enemy kingdoms now?"
Kerin answered in a faint voice, gently stirring the bottle. "Currently, it's just Braeven."
Veer looked at him as he rotated the wine bottle. Kerin looked at him meaningfully.
Kerin's gaze dimmed as he added, "Actually, not much information is allowed to be known. I don't know much. I want to know what lies beyond the Great Western Mountains. I want to know what lies beyond the seas in the north."
"I want to know why this place is so isolated. Why is Braeven said to be connected with the rest of the region while ours isn't?"
He turned to the north, staring at the castle, its towers casting long shadows under the pale evening light. Beyond it, the sea glimmered faintly.
"Its old name is the Purple Sea," Kerin said as his hair flowed in the gentle wind. "It welcomes the purple qi from the east. But I don't even know what that truly means."
The soldiers enjoyed themselves as their chatter carried through the air.
As they conversed, Veer felt a strange sense of relief. John had already gone somewhere—it seemed he was on duty.
Veer asked Kerin, "Do you want to go to the Grand Library? Eleana got us free access."
Kerin blinked, stunned. "It's true that the Grand Library might contain the secrets I seek. But I've already visited it, and I wasn't given access to the highest floor."
Lowering his voice, Kerin leaned closer, his eyes flicking left and right as though the walls themselves were listening.
"Truth be told, I even bribed a very high-ranking member. Yet even then, I couldn't reach the top floor. You either need to be a king or a princess."
"And even then, the books containing secret knowledge are bound by rituals. You must place your blood upon them, and if you dare share what you learn, you're inviting yourself to be thrown into the dungeons. So, all the information I've shared is just slightly more than common knowledge."
He sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping.
"I also have to prepare for war. I've been assigned under Lady Sythris, one of the strongest Black Knights."
Then, with a sudden grin, Kerin asked, "Veer, your luck with ladies seems pretty good. Care to give me some advice?"
Veer gave him a flat look, as though Kerin were the village fool. Oddly enough, the banter made his worries feel lighter.
"She's your senior—at least by rank. Stop those thoughts and let's eat something."
"Ohh... Kerin, I... you do know that I became a Golden Knight?"
"Yes, I know. That's why I was saying those things when you just came. News travels fast."
"Do you know which Black Knight I'm under?"
Kerin's eyes widened as he scanned Veer.
"You?! You're under her?"
"Yes..."
Kerin raised his hands.
"Damn it!"
"Bro, why don't you go and change to someone else?"
"The king will surely listen to you."
Veer was confused. "Why?"
Veer saw Kerin take another sip as he sighed.
"Whatever, man. On second thought, it's better with her, actually."
Veer looked at Kerin as he continued, a little skeptical, "Don't tell me you don't remember what the two of you did last time before her departure."
Veer tried to act as though he knew what Kerin was talking about, but his acting was terrible.
Suddenly, Kerin laughed and patted Veer on the shoulder.
"Oh, oh... I guess there'll be a good show. Haha!"
They drank with the knights until evening. The firelight flickered across polished armor and half-empty mugs, while the hall echoed with laughter and boasts of battles past.
At last, a knight approached Veer.
"Sir Veer, Lady Eleana is waiting for you at the gate."
Veer groaned, slapping his forehead. He was more than a little drunk.
"Let me go quickly. Kerin, we'll meet after I come back."
Kerin grinned mischievously.
"The library's a good place to grow a relationship. But be careful with some of those books. Bye. Take care."
Veer stepped into the night air. It was already past evening, and the moon was pale and thin in the sky. A gentle wind flowed through the streets.
At the entrance stood a solitary figure, her loose silver-white hair gleaming beneath the moonlight, her armor shining like ivory stone.
Looking at her, Veer's heart began to beat wildly.
Eleana furrowed her brows as she looked toward Veer.
"You're actually drunk," Eleana said flatly.
Veer's heart was still pounding as he looked at her. He took a deep breath, words tumbling awkwardly from his lips.
"It's all Kerin's fault. I really got carried away."
She moved close to Veer, and his heart pounded even harder. He could feel her breath as she leaned toward his forehead.
Suddenly, he felt lighter.
The sensation of wine disappeared.
He wondered, "What was that? How could she casually dispel drunkenness?"
Eleana walked gracefully ahead.
"Let's go," she said.
"By the way, Lythria has been given a room beside Eryssa's. She seemed really happy."
As they walked, Veer noticed how different the streets felt. The usual chatter was hushed, replaced by the clanking of armor and hurried footsteps. War could begin at any moment. Preparations were already underway.
Soon, they reached the Grand Library.
It was situated at the back of the main castle. Its massive gates loomed ahead, carved with swirling patterns that seemed to shimmer faintly in the moonlight. A statue of an old sage stood at its base, one hand resting on a great stone book.
Even before entering, Veer could feel a sense of respect and awe as he looked at the figure.
Eleana presented her token. The guards fitted it into a hole carved into the gate, and a faint light pulsed through the runes etched into the stone.
The guard bowed.
"There you go, Lady Eleana. And Sir Veer."
Inside, the library opened like a cathedral of knowledge. The air smelled of old parchment, candle wax, and something faintly metallic. Rows upon rows of shelves stretched into the distance, with ladders and staircases branching upward to higher levels.
The silence was so complete that it seemed as though even the air was listening.
Many people were silently reading books throughout the library.
As they walked, Eleana said, "I need something on the third floor. I will be back in some time."
As Veer nodded, Eleana warned him, "Don't carelessly touch anything on the second floor. As for the arts of the knights, ask the librarian."
Veer nodded, though he could barely contain his awe. It was like stepping into a world apart from the kingdom outside.
At the desk sat the librarian—a young woman with dark hair and glasses. She was sorting parchment with brisk efficiency. When she lifted her gaze, she froze in shock.
"Ah! Knight Veer! I'm Arya, the librarian for today. What kind of books do you need?"
Veer blinked at her enthusiasm.
"I want to know about arts regarding knights."
She pointed him toward a section, and he went there. Her eyes followed him when she thought he wouldn't notice.
Among the shelves, Veer found a book titled The Basic Energy Circulation for Knights. The leather cover was worn, its edges frayed from centuries of use.
Opening it, he read by the dim glow of the lanterns.
The path to becoming a knight was deceptively simple. Train the body to its limits, cross a threshold, then harness breathing to touch the natural energies around you.
The "Nadis," rivers of energy within the body, became the key.
Breathing, holding, channeling, repeating endlessly—such was the foundation of knighthood.
The final chapter read:
The might of a knight is bound to the breadth of his Nadis awakened. The awakening of the Nadis is measured by the depth of his Circular Breathing and by the tempering of his mortal vessel.
He placed the book back carefully and took another: Ranking of Knights.
Bronze Knights, Silver Knights, Golden Knights, Black Knights, and finally, Grey Knights.
Silver Knights were above Bronze Knights. Bronze Knights were only slightly above ordinary knights who could merely use their Prana.
Silver Knights often worked as protectors. Golden Knights were knights who could augment their weapons with their energy, or Prana.
Black Knights, on the other hand, were very few in number and could conjure abstractions.
Veer lingered on the descriptions, his mind drifting to Eryssa's conjured moon.
There was another kind of knight, specially appointed by the King: White Knights, who held a special status. They were mostly involved in administrative duties, special missions, or were simply very promising individuals.
Veer felt the term was rather vague. Why was Eleana made a White Knight initially. He shook his head.
He searched for information about Prana. As he searched, he found a small book.
He opened the first chapter.
As he read, he began to understand what Prana was.
Prana was the essential living force of living beings. It spanned across reality, giving life and consciousness.
He read a poem that explained Prana in living beings:
Prana is not merely power.
It is neither flame, nor wind, nor light.
It is the breath between all things—
The force that lets existence breathe.
Eleana returned after some time, her footsteps echoing softly.
"Let's go to the second floor."
As they climbed, Veer felt the air change.
The second floor was smaller, but its atmosphere was crushing. It was as though unseen eyes were pressing down on him from every shelf.
The books here radiated weight—not of pages, but of secrets.
"If you wish to increase your power," Eleana whispered, pointing to a number of books, "these books will aid you."
He browsed quickly, absorbing fragments of techniques, until he realized that none of these concepts in the books touched upon star energy.
Still, he learned that energy centers could be forged at the joints of the Nadis, amplifying attacks.
Perhaps he could use that concept for his star energy.
He was still deep in thought when he felt it—someone was watching him.
He looked down toward the first floor.
A man in a dark coat was rushing toward the entrance.
That guy looked familiar.
He shook his head, but then, from the corner of his eye, he saw a book.
One he thought he'd never see again.
Truths of the World.
His hand trembled slightly as he opened it.
Only a single page remained.
When the stars converge to the South of the Great Mystic Tree,
Shall cause the Invite of the Emerald Bow of Light,
A prelude to the Catastrophe.