Veer was going to ask when Eryssa sighed and said to him,"Veer, she is still the same. Moreover you also feel the same. You two always were at each other's bad side."
Veer was confused as his thoughts drifted back to his academy days. Just who was I back then? He asked Eleana again, "Why is she so much stronger than me? I think she might even rival you."
Eleana replied, "It's to be expected. She didn't tell you? She told us before leaving the academy that she was going to train with her mentor at the base of the Western Mountains. She was also very angry with you at that time. When she came back, she was the strongest among our passouts."
She wanted to say more, but looking at Veer, she sighed. Eryssa also nodded and sighed as she asked Lythria, "Lythria, how much power can you handle?"
Lythria answered, "If I use everything… maybe I could barely handle a Black Knight."
Eryssa nodded and said to Veer, "Then let Lythria and Eleana go with you."
Veer frowned."Who will protect you? I'm already barely managing anything. I'll go with Eleana instead."
He turned to Lythria. "Can you protect Eryssa?"
Lythria was a bit dissatisfied as she said,"Let me go. Ancestor told me to protect him."
Then she quickly covered her mouth and laughed awkwardly."It's nothing, haha…"
Eleana and Eryssa were both shocked as they looked at Veer. Eleana said, "Lythria still isn't familiar with her powers. I will go with you."
Veer nodded, and Lythria finally gave in after some more discussion.
They moved toward the breakfast area. Veer and Lythria had no idea of the place, though Veer felt a sense of familiarity. The hall was a huge, circular regal structure where sunlight poured through the windows. Rows of long benches stretched across the room.
Many knights were whispering and smiling, acknowledging them as they passed. One knight approached Lythria, first bowed to Eryssa and Eleana and asked politely,"My beautiful lady, might I have the honor of knowing your name?"
Veer's gaze turned strange as he noticed several others behind the man cheering him on. Lythria blinked innocently and replied, "I'm sorry, I'm new here. I don't give my name to strangers."
Eryssa and Veer struggled to hold back their laughter as the knight flushed red and said,"Forgive me, my lady. I'll take my leave," before walking away dejectedly.
Veer noticed something very late. Everyone seemed to treat Eryssa like a normal person though she was a princess. Was it because she was ignored for some reason or Eryssa herself somehow declared something about that.
The fresh aroma of food swirled through the air as they sat at the bench with their plates. They had hot potato mashed parathas and tea for breakfast.
Veer asked Eleana again,"Can you tell me more about that Bloody Shura?"
Eleana nodded. "I don't know much, but as you already know, he is the brother of the current King. His brother lost the succession race. In a rage, he went to a small kingdom nearby called Prat and nearly eliminated everything for no reason. It seemed he had lost his mind. But then his body and sword started to get surrounded by a strange yellowish barrier and a suffocating aura as his power almost climbed to the pinnacle of humanity."
She lowered her voice. "The next part is secretive. I only know it because of my father. Braevan's forces, our kingdom's forces, and one mystic kingdom fought against him. They almost lost until a woman from the Nameless Temple appeared. She overpowered him and dragged him away. It was declared that it was the Path of Shura. Anyone who tried to walk that path would be imprisoned by any kingdom. But I am not sure how he is connected to this incident. Though the power Rheon used is somehow related to that man."
Eryssa chimed in seriously,"Kerin knows much more, actually."
Eleana nodded just as another presence joined them. It was John, carrying a plate of parathas. He sat beside Eryssa and mumbled to Veer,"You really got attacked again? Just what is happening?"
Veer shook his head and asked in a mocking tone,"So, how much did you report about Mythria to your superiors?"
John laughed."Nothing much. I said there was a human controlling shadows, a secret realm, an assassination attempt, an illusion demon, and a Braevan encounter."
He became serious as he asked,"Were you guys discussing that 'Bloody Shura'?"
Veer nodded. John leaned closer as he said, "There are a lot of factors at play here, Veer. Our kingdom's state is actually not that good." He looked at Eryssa and sighed. "I'm sorry to say this, princess, but while there's a good chance we'll win, the losses will be devastating."
Veer asked ,"Anyway have they not investigated the puppet bazaar till now?"
John said,"Many have but there were no abnormalities."
Eryssa nodded and was about to speak when a group of knights approached. Meanwhile a golden knight was laughing loudly from afar with his friends. Veer noticed him sipping tea — it was the same golden knight he had thrashed the other day.
The newly arrived knights lined up outside the eating area as two knight girls in navy dresses entered. They walked directly to Veer's bench and bowed to Princess Eryssa.
"We are sorry for disturbing you, princess, but we are here on Lady Sythris's orders."
Eryssa nodded. The girls bowed again, this time to Eleana, before addressing Veer without a change in expression."Knight Veer, for the upcoming war you are to join Lady Sythris's group and take the role of a golden knight."
They handed him a scroll bearing Sythris's mark.
The knights bowed once more and left. Veer felt slightly out of place, but then noticed someone else approaching — Kerin.
"Ah, another beauty lands in his lap. Dammit!" Kerin muttered, as John spilled his drink on him.
Eryssa and Eleana lowered their heads, eating slowly while John and Kerin bickered. Lythria, like the rest of the knights, enjoyed the sight of the two friends arguing. Meanwhile, the man responsible for all the chaos sat blankly staring ahead.
Lythria looked at Veer and said, "It really is tough to have you around, hah! Even a Black Knight is recruiting you, even though you're supposed to be Eryssa's protector."
From the far end of the hall, near where the golden knight sat, another knight's eyes lingered on Veer. He felt the weight of the gaze and looked over, but no one seemed to be watching.
He glanced at Eleana, who whispered,"I sensed it too, but the gaze withdrew immediately. It's Peculiar."
John and Kerin also scanned the crowd, trying to pick someone out among the knights, but couldn't pinpoint anyone.
Kerin finally muttered, "Just have Sythris protect you."
He was about to say more but suddenly shivered as he noticed Eleana and Eryssa glaring at him. Awkwardly, he added, "Haha… Lady Eleana is here. No one can harm you while she's around. Veer, let's talk later."
He quickly ran off.
But Veer's thoughts were elsewhere. There were too many hidden kingdoms at play… and what was that Nameless Temple, anyway? Were they similar to Mythria , the hidden land ? Somehow it felt too familiar to him.