Veer sat quietly, trying to process the cryptic instructions. The words weren't as difficult as they had first seemed: he needed to fully awaken the Star Chakra by combining a specific breathing method with precise visualization. The last line, however, changed everything—he wasn't supposed to circulate the energy through the Nadis yet. Only the chakra itself was to be awakened.
Once fully formed, reforging it three times would create the Star Core. But then he wondered what the Ancestor's all-star energy had done. He felt that he already had a core, so something wasn't adding up.
More importantly, he had a lot of questions.
What is Star Energy? Is it Prana that makes the stars? Does that mean energy and Prana can be converted from one form to another, or is it the same everywhere?
He was confused, but he understood the general direction.
Only after he formed the Star Core could he send energy through the Nadis—a method completely opposite to conventional knightly training.
He felt it in his bones—he was already stronger than ordinary Golden Knights. If he forged the Core, he would rank among the Black Knights. But a question nagged at him: had he truly been this strong before losing his memories? Why had he pretended to be ordinary? And who had been after him?
The coincidence of Eryssa being attacked that day only deepened the mystery. Shaking his head, he set the doubts aside, tidied the bed, and settled into meditation.
Breathing in... breathing out...
He focused on the gap between breaths. Visualization came more naturally than he expected, guided by the faint remnants of his Ancestor's teachings. Time slipped away.
Even though he didn't understand many things, the process happened naturally.
Bright starlight gathered in his vision, and he felt himself walking through unknown realms—images and sensations flickering too quickly to comprehend. He seemed to fall, then soar; rotate, then float. He felt countless eyes upon him, watching. The starlight drew him forward until an overwhelming presence stopped him.
He opened his eyes, sweating, his heart racing. His Star Chakra brimmed with energy. Within a single prahar, it had fully awakened according to his understanding.
Veer lay back, utterly spent, a mixture of awe and fear coursing through him. He gradually fell into a deep sleep.
Outside his house, a shadow slipped silently away, and the trees rustled as if whispering secrets.
....
Morning dawned over Drudar. War hung over the kingdom like a storm, and the knights' training grounds buzzed with preparation.
The knight training grounds and main camp were to the north of the castle, near the sea. The winds blew across the area. There were several pieces of equipment for training, and the commander's residence was there as well.
The Black Knights had been summoned, along with a few Golden Knights under them and some exceptional Silver Knights.
There was one Black Knight who was absent.
It was the newly appointed Black Knight, Eleana.
The commander stepped forward. Clad in grey-black armor fused seamlessly to her body, she radiated immense authority. The air seemed to tighten around her, and every eye followed her as she carried a great sword darker than night itself, a blade that seemed to devour light. Her hair flowed like ink, and her face was arrestingly beautiful. Every step commanded attention.
She scanned the line of Black Knights that had assembled.
To her far left stood Lady Sythris, one of the kingdom's strongest Black Knights and the woman who had saved Veer the previous day. Her familiar armor was layered with flowing blue plates, her hair fluttering in the breeze. Her cape also fluttered wildly, as though recognizing her as a hero.
Beside her, a broad-shouldered man in black plate armor carried a massive sword on his back. The sword was enormous. How and why he kept it on his shoulder, no one knew. He smiled at the commander as she moved toward them. He wore very heavy black steel armor from head to toe. He looked like an immovable giant.
"Greetings, Commander," he said as the commander nodded.
Next to him was a thin, enigmatic figure in white garments and very light armor. It could barely be called armor. He kept his two crossed swords at the ready. He was a bit short, and his hair was scattered in both directions. He almost wore a displeased look, as though he had been summoned from deep sleep.
Next came a red-haired woman, tall and commanding, wearing a long metallic skirt and a breastplate. Her navel peeked through, and though slightly annoyed, her focus was unshakable. She carried no weapons, yet her presence radiated danger. Only her hands were covered by black hand guards.
Beside her, a short-haired beauty in white clothing with black leggings and a mechanical harness held twin blades. There was also a strange, long wand on her back. She didn't wear traditional armor, but her gaze remained fixed on the commander as she bowed.
Finally, a slight man with long hair, half his face obscured, leaned casually with his arms crossed. His black armor blended with the shadows, giving him the air of a ghost. One rapier-like sword hung at his waist, and he also had a huge shield on his back. The shield was spiked and looked dangerous.
The commander's eyes swept over them all.
She said in a commanding voice, "The war is upon us. Today, we gather our forces to crush Braeven. Each of you will lead a team of Golden Knights assigned to you."
The knight in very light armor spoke in a hesitant and annoyed voice.
"Why declare war now? Is it really necessary?"
Everyone was sweating on the man's behalf. The Golden Knights and Silver Knights started gossiping until a commanding voice entered everyone's ears.
"Stop gossiping."
She looked at the man and said, "Marvis, just because the King values and respects you doesn't mean you can overlook his commands."
Marvis snorted.
"Whatever."
The red-haired knight laughed as she said in a teasing voice, "Marvis, you dare to defy the commander's words. Do you want to challenge her?"
Marvis looked at her as though she were a fool.
"What are you looking at, shameless?"
"Me, shameless? Look at yourself. Go check the mirror."
The woman wearing the white dress spoke as she saw the red-haired knight trembling with anger.
"Nyelle, calm yourself."
"And you, Marvis, we are here for a serious wartime situation. What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
The commander turned to Sythris and suddenly said, "I heard you encountered a strange dual-wielding knight last night."
Sythris nodded seriously as the others looked at her.
Marvis opened his mouth and said thoughtfully, "I encountered her, actually. A few months back."
Nyelle snorted.
"A liar."
The commander didn't bother with Marvis or Nyelle as she said to Sythris, "Send me a detailed report on the knight you encountered that day."
"Also, that Eryssa's guard—make him go with you if you are assigned to any expedition."
Sythris bowed.
"Yes, ma'am."
The commander's gaze moved down the line again.
"I know everyone has their own designs and ways, so I will leave the Black Knights to manage their subordinates. Our general plan is to surround them from all sides. Captains will receive a special report shortly. Meanwhile, prepare your knights."
....
Veer woke and sat up, the morning light filtering into the room. Grateful that nothing felt unfamiliar, he tidied himself and moved toward the general area outside Eryssa, Lythria, and Eleana's quarters.
After waiting for some time, Eryssa emerged. Her golden hair glinted in the sunlight, and her intoxicating features made Veer pause. She approached him, her voice soft yet earnest.
"Sorry for yesterday, Veer. I was just angry at Father."
Veer shook his head and gestured for her to sit. She complied gracefully, and he settled beside her.
He muttered softly, "With everything happening, I want to take another look at the Puppet Bazaar. I have a feeling it's connected to much of this chaos."
Eryssa's expression hardened.
"No. That place is dangerous. It's tied to the strange puppets, to you losing consciousness... to things we barely understand. You shouldn't go there."
Just then, Lythria and Eleana joined them.
Eleana wore light white clothes, looking more like a delicate girl than a knight. Lythria wore a dress similar to Eryssa's, fitting for a princess, and she seemed genuinely at ease in the morning light.
Veer was stunned by Eleana, as the clothes she wore were strikingly similar to the picture he had seen the previous night.
Is it a coincidence?
He looked at Eryssa to confirm and found that her dress was also the same—the purple dress.
Veer's gaze lingered as he shivered, distracted by their beauty, before Lythria broke his concentration by greeting him with a smile.
"Hi, Veer!"
"Ahh... Hi, Lythria. How are you feeling here?"
"It's amazing here. The food is so good, and there is so much variety."
She put her hands to her chin as she said, "The world feels so big here. That huge body of water is so big..."
She continued for some time.
Meanwhile, Eryssa pulled Eleana closer as she asked worriedly, "Look, he wants to investigate the Puppet Bazaar."
Eleana's brows knit in concern. She looked at Veer and said, "I don't think that's wise. After you lost consciousness, Veer, that puppet appeared. Its features... they resembled yours. If that hidden power hadn't protected you, I don't know what would've happened. That puppet was strong—I barely managed to defend myself. If you really want to go, then I could come with you."
Veer's mind raced, the weight of the revelations settling in. The Puppet Bazaar was more than a mystery; it might hold the key to the attacks, his lost memories, and the rising war.
His mind had already steadied after awakening his Star Chakra, and he no longer flinched at the mention of puppets or strange incidents.
"What about that lady?" he asked seriously.
Eleana's eyes drifted toward the distant flowers.
"Very strange she was," she said quietly. "She seemed to know a lot about me... about you. About that secret art of yours. She seemed to use that puppet to extract your technique. Then she laughed, claiming she knew some old man. After that, she said she no longer needed you. I didn't understand anything."
Veer froze. The mention of the old man jolted his memory—the same figure he had seen when he first woke.
He reined in his thoughts as he suddenly remembered the previous night's assassination attempt.
He recounted the previous night's attack.
"Last night, after I sent you away, Kerin and I were in the garden, heading to my quarters... when someone attacked us. She was incredibly strong... at least as strong as a Black Knight."
Lythria, Eleana, and Eryssa exchanged looks of shock. Eryssa's voice trembled slightly with guilt.
"It's... probably because of me. Something is brewing."
Eleana shook her head firmly.
"Don't blame yourself."
Curiosity crept into her tone.
"What weapons did she carry?"
Veer described them.
Eleana's brow furrowed.
"She seems very strong."
Veer nodded.
"So... how did you get away?"
Veer's lips curled faintly.
"The Black Knight Sythris intervened."
Both Eleana and Eryssa's gazes became strange simultaneously as they looked at each other.
Veer was confused as he looked at them.
Meanwhile, Lythria had no idea why Eleana and Eryssa were reacting like that. She simply looked at Veer, lost in thought.