Veer asked Kerin, "So what are all our enemy kingdoms now?"
Kerin answered, "Currently it's just Braeven." His 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, past Braeven. I want to know what lies beside the seas."
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, "for it welcomes the purple qi from the east. But I don't even know what that truly means."
As they conversed, Veer felt a strange 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 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, eyes flicking left and right as though the walls themselves might be listening. "Truth be told, I even bribed a very high-ranking member. Yet even then, I could not reach the top floor. You either need to be a king or a princess. And even then, the books of 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 cast into the dungeons. So, all the information I've shared is just common knowledge."
He sighed heavily, 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."
They drank with the knights until evening. The firelight flickered across polished armor and half-empty mugs, the hall loud 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, the moon pale and thin in the sky. The wind seemed to flow gently. At the entrance stood a solitary figure, her loose silver-white hair gleaming beneath the moonlight, her armor shining like ivory stone. Looking at the figure Veer's heart beat wildly.
Eleana furrowed her brows as she looked towards Veer."You're actually drunk," Eleana said flatly.
Veer's heart was still pounding wildly looking at her. He took a deep breath, words tumbling awkwardly from his lips. "It's all Kerin's fault. I really got carried away."
"Forget it, let's go," she replied. "By the way, Lythria has been given a room beside Eryssa's. She seemed really happy."
As they walked, Veer noticed how the streets felt different. The usual chatter was hushed, replaced by clanking armor and hurried footsteps. War could begin at any moment. The preparations were being conducted.
Soon they reached the Grand Library. 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 looking at the figure.
Eleana presented her token. The guards fitted it into a hole carved in the gate, and a faint light pulsed through the runes etched in 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, ladders and staircases branching upward to higher levels. The silence was so complete it seemed the very air was listening. Many people were silently reading books everywhere.
As they walked, Eleana said,"I need something on the third floor. I will be back in some time."
As Veer nodded, Eleana warned, "Don't carelessly touch anything on the second floor. As for 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. 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 lantern light.
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. And the awakening of the Nadis is measured by the depth of his Circular Breathing, and by the tempering of his mortal vessel."
He placed it back carefully and took another: Ranking of Knights. Silver Knights, Golden Knights, Black Knights and finally the Grey Knights. Silver knight were above ordinary knights often working as protectors. Golden knights were the knights that could augument their weapons with their energy. Black knights on the other hand were very few who 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 for some special status.
Eleana returned after sometime, her steps 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 some unseen eyes pressed down on him from the shelves. 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—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 to the first floor. A man in a dark coat walked was rushing to 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.
"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."