Veer sat quietly, trying to process the cryptic instructions. The words weren't as hard as they first seemed: he needed to fully awaken the Star Chakra by combining a specific breathing method with precise visualization. The last line, however, shifted 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. Only after that could he send energy through the Nadis, a method completely opposite to conventional knightly training.
He felt it in his bones — something inside him 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.
Bright starlight gathered in his vision, and he felt himself walking through unknown realms — images and sensations flickering too fast 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, heart racing. His Star Chakra brimmed with energy. Within a single prahar, it had fully awakened. Veer lay back, utterly spent, a mix of awe and fear coursing through him. Outside, 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 black knights had been summoned, with one notable absence: Lady Eleana. No one seemed surprised.
The commander stepped forward. Clad in grey-black armor fused seamlessly to her body, she radiated authority. The air seemed to tighten around her, and every eye followed her as she carried a greatsword darker than night itself, a blade that seemed to devour light. Her hair flowed like ink, her face arrestingly beautiful, every step commanding attention.
She scanned the line of knights. 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 robes, hair fluttering in the breeze. Beside her, a broad-shouldered man in black plate carried a massive sword on his back, while a thin, enigmatic figure in white garments and a veiled crown kept his two crossed swords at the ready.
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. Beside her, a short-haired beauty in white clothing with black leggings and a mechanical harness held twin blades. She didn't wear traditional armor, but her gaze remained fixed on the commander, sharp and unwavering.
Finally, a slight man with long hair, half his face obscured, leaned casually with arms crossed. His blue-black armor blended with the shadows, giving him the air of a ghost. Two rapier-like swords hung at his waist, their elegant hilts marking him as a fighter of precision and deadly skill.
The commander's eyes swept over them all. "The war is upon us. Today we gather our forces to crush Breavan. Each of you will lead a team of golden knights assigned to you."
She turned to Sythris. "Give a detailed report on the knight you encountered that day. Try to include the boy as well in your team."
Sythris bowed. "Yes, ma'am."
The commander's gaze moved down the line again. "The 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 a moment, Eryssa emerged. Her golden hair glinted in the sunlight, and her intoxicating features made Veer pause. She approached him, 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. "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's gaze lingered, momentarily distracted by their beauty, before returning to the matter at hand.
Eryssa pulled Eleana closer. "Look, he wants to investigate the Puppet Bazaar."
Eleana's brows knit in concern. "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 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.
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 tried 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 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. "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 was reacting like that as she just looked at veer, lost in thoughts.