Veer was caught between his feelings and the proud figure walking towards them. His supposed best friend seemed to want to say something but then just shook his head . Eryssa walked towards the figure and said with a smile "Lady Eleana ! You came . You look so mesmerizing". Eryssa pulled Eleana with her and headed to the birthday girl.
As they were passing Veer, he seemed to have caught a glance of her directed at him. Maybe it was just his imagination. The banquet continued with all the celebration but Veer was experiencing the crashing of waves inside of him and sneaked a few glances at the white knight. Many nobles nodded at him and exchanged pleasantries and he also responded with greetings as he moved to a table with his best friend.
He was currently in a discussion with his so called best friend along with another guy seated around a table. Veer did not talk much but was slowly connecting a lot of things. He, his friend Kerin and the other guy John seemed quite close as they were engrossed in conversation.
John suddenly laughed and asked Veer "You know your bestie was trying to practice quickstyle secretly but it was so clumsy,.. Haha you should instruct him". Kerin became awkward again as his eyes twitched. Veer thought for a moment and asked "Tell me the steps you practiced and your understanding of the art" . It seemed Veer was serious about giving advice but internally Veer was actually trying to figure out what is the art for himself .
Kerin blurted out protesting "Isn't it just taking a curved sword preferably a katana and focus your energy while bending to perform two rapid shoulder swings and suddenly dash towards the enemy to give a sharp slash . Which will be followed by four wild wind strikes . But then again where does the wind strikes come from Veer. You just do the first two shoulder swings and sudden slash. When the guardian of guards asked you previously you just said you inherited it while visiting a ruined temple on the outskirts. Can I really do it ?"
Veer didn't say anything but continued to look at his friend blankly. His mind was again in a mess as a strange energy seemed to flow through him and could actually feel a kind of specific breath pattern and focus points to perform a subtle art. So, at last he remembered something. Kerin was speechless looking at Veer and said angrily "You really underestimate me ! I will do it in a month. Just see."
The three friends continued to discuss a great deal of things from the elegance of noble ladies to the great achievements of the knights . Veer was gradually relaxing himself in this as he also laughed from time to time.
From corner of his eyes he could see people were giving presents to the princess. He removed a non existent sweat when he found that Eryssa did not open the box while presenting to her sister. Another lady was talking to the birthday princess who was very similar to Eryssa, It seemed she was the other princess, Eva. Eva was currently whispering something to Alicia while she listened laughingly . It seemed some great comedy was going to unfold. Or so he thought.
As the banquet continued Kerin said in a low voice "You know Veer you should just give up on lady Eleana. She doesn't seem that interested in love. You already know how she challenged sir Rio and almost beat him. That Rio who was able to rescue the youngest prince from Braevan just by his own. Ahh ! we are nothing compared to them.". Suddenly he shook his head and added bitterly " Excluding you. Maybe you should continue".
The banquet seemed coming to an end and just as he thought the tiresome day was over Veer could see Alicia was moving to dais seemingly to announce something. Alicia announced , "With all my sisters present today lets hope for some martial entertainment..." .
Veer could sense something was brewing up. Just a few minutes ago, the particular brother of Eryssa seemed to be talking to a lady but he could not see her features in the far back. His thoughts were broken by Kerin who said excitedly "Maybe some guy will challenge Veer and we can see him fighting today. Oh what a day!". Veer's expression was crumbling slowly as he again considered the events happening today.
It really seemed someone was after him or Eryssa . Was it the prince, maybe the uncle or the lady whose face he could not see. But what were they plotting ? He did not need to guess for too long.
The martial stage was prepared and it seemed a knight could challenge some other knight and they can perform battle under the watch of a senior guardian who had a presence deeper than the vast sea that Veer saw on his way.
Veer was sitting in the back avoiding eyes as he conversed with his group .A few matches happened. It was basically someone challenging another . If the other party accepted they would fight. But pretty clearly rejecting meant slapping one's own face. Veer meanwhile did not care about that as continued to grasp how they were fighting. He could perceive that someone would challenge him but he would immediately decline. Or so he hoped.
A knight from sitting near Eryssa's brother stood up and walked up to Veer. Veer could sense from miles what the guy was going to say. As expected, the knight proclaimed moving towards Veer " Sir Veer ! why are you sitting in the back? Are you cowering in fear after failing to protect Lady Eryssa yesterday. I challenge you to a duel and will show everyone that you are a fraud ? Bullshit quickstyle ? Do you accept it ? Then come on to the stage ?"
Eryssa from her position stood up angrily and said "Rheon, stop it ! Veer is not well" but was cut off by Alicia "Let them decide if they want to show their performance. " She took Eryssa's hand and they moved towards Eleana.
Alicia said "lady Eleana, we might be finally witnessing your adorer's secret battle art, Haha". Eleana did not even have an ounce of change in her expression as she just nodded and looked towards Veer. But that expressionless face had a sudden change of confusion as it landed on a girl walking towards Veer.
Noelle.
Veer's heart sank. He opened his mouth to refuse, but Noelle's bright voice cut through: "Sir Veer, show him who's boss! You can do it—just defeat him!"
Mechanically Like a puppet Veer nodded as words stuck inside of him and nothing came out . He moved to the arena and his challenger smiled as he followed him and arrived at the platform. A subtle mark was shimmering in Veer's hand which had a circle of puppet holding hands. They were gasps of cheers and shouts from the audience.
After moving into the area he could feel that he could speak again. He was having a flood of thoughts as he glanced towards Noelle who had a faint smirk at her lips. Whatever or whoever the perpetrator was didn't matter as his opponent had already unsheathed the sword and held the straight rapier perpendicular to his body. Is that a stance for sudden attack ? Apparently it was called the bird stance which he had learnt from his earlier discussion with his friends.
Veer was rapidly going through his thoughts as he also unsheathed his katana and braced the incoming sword.