Moments ago, as Veer was carrying the woman over his shoulders, he noticed he was nearing the castle premises. His breathing was heavy as blood flowed from his hands. Palpitations rose in his heart as he saw smoke rising high up from the castle premises.
"What happened there?" He murmured as he ran.
His hand that was injured seemed not to stop hurting, even though now blood was not flowing.
As he ran, his speed decreased as slowly things started to form in his mind.
His mind wandered in deep thoughts.
"That old man said he is from the Starweaver family.He said I am the last Starweaver. But clearly so many things are not making sense at all."
"As per the old man, he found out about me the very day I was getting killed by the knights. Who was it he said? Was it Knight Rio and someone other he did not mention."
He heard a huge sound coming from the castle way. But he was like in a trance state with his thoughts to notice.
"So, for how long was I in command of Eryssa's bodyguard?"
"As per my understanding, Eleana, Rio, I, and John were one year senior to Kerin? Also, Sythris ..not sure but seems like she may be one year senior during academy time."
"So just how long have I been in the academy? And why?"
"If during my time I had memories and I landed here after the separation, why did I choose to use the Starweaver name. That should not be like me."
"Was I plotting something? "
"But that diary. That said, everyone will die. They found me. They found us. If I used Starweaver's name, isn't it natural that whoever the enemy is would find us ?"
"What exactly happened after I came here ?"
He looked at the sky.
"Have I ever understood myself?"
"Have I even known the actual me ?"
"Is that strange puppet the actual me? But..but how can my memories be put into a puppet? The puppet was able to copy all my moves . "
Suddenly his eyes seemed to glow as he wondered."That..that time the puppet extracted something from me. I was half conscious. But after that what did it said. Yes... So I am a Starweaver."
Veer felt a chill as the lady asked,"What happened?"
Veer did not reply as he continued in his thoughts.
"As far as the words of Myrell and the strange lady, seem like the puppet were actually becoming me, or rather, my past self. More like forgotten self. Is... is that even possible?"
"But there are many loopholes I can clearly see."
"First is the time. The last major war ended decades ago, as per my guess. The fall of my clan should be part of that. I ..I am at most twenty-two currently ."
"So...so how many years have I been in this Drudar kingdom?" Veer's face was becoming uglier the more things he thought.
"If I had declared myself a Starweaver, why would they not take immediate action?"
"Hmm, I don't even know who destroyed the clan, but it seems they are beings on that level."
He remembered the figure in his visions.
"So just how powerful was that figure that fought seven of those beings in my vision. Was that my father..."
Veer looked up again, but all he could see was a dark sky with no stars shining.
"Moreover, if the old man's daughter is the crazy red woman who was my maid....why does she look so older and mature? Also that seductress said she had a special soul. What does it even mean ?"
His pupils dilated.
"And where is then my sister?"
The gentle figure calling brother that came in his vision.The figure was hazy.
"That's too much. I need to organize thoughts later."
He shook his head."I can focus on them after this war."
His aunt, on his shoulders, lifted her gaze at the castle premises as she kept silent.
Veer was drenched with sweat and blood. His hair was long and scattered as though that of a beggar who had worn a knight's clothes. Slowly his face became more surprised as he shivered suddenly.
He slowed his pace as he murmured, "I feel like I forgot something."
She uttered with a blank look, "Why are you saying that?"
Veer ran as he said, "At the junction where I found you, it seemed like I wanted to go the other way. Not sure why ?"
There was silence.
"Just now I suddenly changed my mind and avoided going to that dark cathedral. Only now I am realising that Pontiff might have kept that man's brother there."
He looked towards the north as she muttered, "We are getting close."
The woman murmured, "The darkness seems to vanish."
Veer slowed down as he murmured, "I felt some things I can't explain some time ago. The sky got cleared after that, pretty much. Seemed like....."
"We're here," the lady interjected.
Veer reigned in his thoughts."This woman most likely seems to be Kerin's mother. I have a strange feeling going on. Don't tell me it's her who actually made me go this way."
He looked at her as he thought, "No one seems simple. "
"Just the corner.."
Veer nodded. His face grew serious as he turned around the corner. Emerging from one side, he was dumbfounded by what was revealed.
"This is..."
A huge cross was strangely bent in the middle of the castle's foot. A giant human is embedded in it. Just looking at it made him feel hurt. Also it was though hazy covered by something. At the bottom the whole area was covered in blood.
Veer stopped in his tracks as he gazed at it. "This...just how many..."
The woman also gazed at her furrowed eyebrows. She murmured, "Sebastian..."
Veer looked at the strange guy standing near another bloodied person. He wore a hat, glasses, and had a stick.
Suddenly, his pupils dilated as he muttered, "This... he is that guy from Puppet Bazaar."
"Puppet Bazaar? He is Sebastian, the former royal counsellor."
Veer was in a trance as he moved slowly."Royal Counsellor? Surely Eleana would have known such a figure. Then why did she had no recollection of him. "
Veer shook his head.
Veer looked at the castle top as he was shocked. The architecture was on fire as a fire was extinguished inside him. "This....just how many..."
"Eryssa.....was she there when I felt it."
Tears started spilling as the lady said, "Move, we can't stop here."
Veer nodded as he controlled himself barely.
He moved as he looked ahead. Everything was in chaos. It was all in a bizarre event.
He shook his head as he looked where Marvis and all were fighting Noelle.
He took in the moment.
The actual enemy seemed to be a girl with long red hair. The strange part was that there were many elongated hands like threads coming out of her body as she engaged with many knights.
"She looks familiar."
He looked to see the many-handed girl getting a few steps behind by a barrage of punches. He murmured, "Black Knight Nyelle..."
Suddenly, his pupils dilated. She was crying while fighting. That means ."Oi oi don't tell me it's her, Noelle."
The same Noelle who was like a shadow to Veer after he woke up.
"You're kidding me. Now, how come she became like this?"
"Is that Black Knight Marvis fighting her. Nyelle and Rhaelle also. She... she can keep up with four black knights ? Just what Kind of sorcery is this ?"
"No, look carefully."The lady said.
Veer was again astonished as he was barely moving. He was tired. He saw the Braeven knights also fighting her.
"Why are they also here?"
The lady suddenly called, and Veer felt lighter. He saw her running alongside instead of on his shoulder as she said, "It's ok now, Thanks."
He looked ahead as he was suddenly confused.
Wherever the strange Sebastian was, he failed to recognize another person. It was none other than his friend. John. He was bloody and battered. He seemed to be coming in his direction.
He ran with the woman as he called, "John here..."
"What happened....?"
"Huh..."
He felt something. Was that a punch? yes. But why. Why would John punch him?
It was so painful. He couldn't even see him coming. He was that fast.
"Joh..n...", He muttered through his cheeks, broken with just one punch. Without star cores and a sudden attack, Veer was completely unprepared. One tooth flew into the air.
The lady reacted immediately, "Veer?"
She went for John suddenly as her hand tried to grab him. John suddenly sensed something, but he ignored it. He took Veer by his collar.
The lady found her hand met with Sebastian.
She looked up to see the face of that strange man. He gently pressed his hat as he bowed.
"Wonderful."He said.
"Matriarch herself has bested us with her presence. Oh my, what an auspicious day. Wonderful..."
"Haha..."
"You stopped my attack?" Asked the lady in surprise.
"Haha.."
"Barely, madam."
She became serious.
"The boy has no strength. Why are you letting Knight John bash him like that?"
"Quite a hypocritical statement, Madam."
"Considering just now you were on his shoulders."
The lady's face became ugly as Sebastian said, "As for why John is beating him, that's their personal matter."
"We can enjoy this show. Can't we?"
He looked as his eyes became a bit red. He looked as if judging her every move.
The lady's hand trembled, but she did not go to Veer. Instead, she attacked Sebastian again.
"Good choice," said Sebastian.
.....
Veer felt pain. It was intolerable. But so was his confusion.
John lifted him up and thrashed him on the ground.
Was it because he lost his cores or because it was John?
He looked somehow. But he could not see. Veer only saw blur.
"John"
"Why?"
"Why are you doing this?"
"Come ...come to your senses."
Veer barely got up.
John punched him again. Veer defended the first. But it was a barrage of punches. He, without his energy burst, was only a normal being. He flew to a nearby tree as he crashed.
John was not stopping. He followed as he let loose on Veer.
He again brought up Veer as he punched.
Veer's vision was fading. Teeth were breaking as Veer thought.
"Am I going to die?"
"Just what in the ?"
"I I ...am losing consciousness."
His body was grabbed by John. Veer could barely see. He looked to the side to see the strange woman being kept away by that strange man. They were fighting.
John pulled his chin as he said, "It's all your fault, Veer....Veer....So many died because of you..."
Veer couldn't respond.
"What is he talking about? " was the best Veer could think of.
"You won't talk, huh..."
"Then let me break it down for you..."
He gave another punch.
"Everything is happening because of you, bastard. "
Veer was not getting anything. His long hair and blood blurred his sight.
"I... What did I even,,, do, John?" Veer barely made out a statement.
"Hahhhh."
"You ..We did...I did for you...."
Veer was not getting anything.
The winds were gentle as the night was cloudy. Cloudy like Veer's state.
Then came the breakdown. Words came crashing like waves as Veer could barely connect and understand.
"It was me. It was I who instructed Noelle to get your sign. Do you remember now ?"
"It was because of you that we...no, I had to plan to kill Eric..."
"It was I who lured that shadow being in the lands."
"I was the one who killed the vice leader in Mystic Lands."
"It was I who informed the Spellcrat Academy in Braevan about your existence."
"It was Rio and I who had you kidnapped that day."
"Do you understand now..."
"Fucking pathetic bastard."
He gave Veer another punch as Veer flew to the ground.
What is he saying? wondered Veer. I ... I can't feel my body.
"Why is everything spiraling out of control?"
"John...stop it.." Veer said as he stood again, bloodied and bruised.
"Stop... you're overthinking it. I am ending this farce today.Yahhhh."
Veer could not see or sense. If this punch landed, Veer thought he was a goner. He could feel it was coming. Suddenly another wind whistled.
Two small fists caught that hand as Veer heard a familiar voice.
"John, it's enough. What are you doing ?"
It was Lythria. She was also battered enough. Her long hair flowed, and her beauty shone even though she had bruises. Her eyes had a look of concern as she looked at Veer. Her white dress was covered in blood and dirt.
Her two hands caught John's punch just inches away from Veer's face.
"Let me go, you scheming fox," said John.
"I ...scheming fox...?"
"Then what are you, John ?"
John's hair whistled as he screamed. He kicked Lythria. Lythria again flew backwards.
Veer was stumbling as John punched him. This time in the stomach. It was strong one. Veer felt his body and consciousness go away.
"Enjoy....your retribution."
Veer flew and landed far into the houses, his fate unknown. A simple, quiet voice whispered into John's ears as Veer flew away. It was as though the whispering of a fly."You too, John."