The late evening was full of chaos in Drudar as the kingdom prepared for war. Everyone was rushing about, making final arrangements. Any moment could mark the beginning of battle—it was just that no one knew exactly when it would happen.
Eleana stood atop the southern wall, overseeing the preparations below. She wore her white armor, with her sword at her waist, accentuating her valiant appearance. Her white hair flowed like water, and her face looked like jade brought into the mortal world. Those crystal-clear eyes looked all around as she oversaw the preparations.
She had been ordered to organize the army's defenses along the ramparts. Her gaze swept across the knights and soldiers arranging the simple cannons on both sides of the wall. Among them were several automated ones, briefly reminding her of the strangeness of Puppet Bazaar. She shook her head and looked upward.
The stars glimmered faintly through the clouds, and the moon was half-veiled. She sighed softly, her long hair fluttering in the evening breeze. Turning to her assistant knight—a golden-armored warrior and one of the kingdom's strongest golden knights—she spoke firmly.
"Knight Gurian, try to finish this within two prahars. After that, set up the automated bows—four on the towers and one at the front gate. And prepare the giant pot of Abarq furnace that Commander Clayren mentioned."
Gurian bowed deeply. "Yes, my lady, but preparing that furnace will take an additional prahar. Should we assign the Dawnwardens to that?"
Eleana considered the suggestion. The Dawnwardens were part of Nyelle's forces that had currently been assigned to her. She nodded. "Yes, assign them."
Knight Gurian nodded before marching off to deliver her orders.
The wide wall-top was busy, filled with motion and noise. Eleana watched silently, her expression unreadable.
She clenched her fists as she looked at them and sighed, murmuring softly, "Even after becoming a black knight, can I defeat him when he is lower in rank than me? When will I catch up to him...?"
She bit her lips. Then, glancing southeast, she murmured under her breath, "Be safe…"
.....
At the same time, near Eryssa's quarters, Lythria stood surrounded by a dozen golden knights—all of them women. Her eyes fell on the one in the center, a black knight she was somewhat familiar with. Rather, she had heard about her from Veer.
With a faint smile, Lythria said, checking out the bangles she had purchased with Eryssa, "Lady Nyelle, are you placing me under house arrest? I don't think I need this many knights for protection. You even stopped me from going with Veer! By the time I got back from your damn meeting, he was already gone…"
It was surprising to see the kindest soul Veer had ever met speaking so harshly.
Nyelle yawned and replied lazily, "I'm just following orders. Don't cause trouble."
Lythria demanded, "Where is she? Lady Eryssa?"
Nyelle looked at her as she scratched her ears, her eyes closed. She said, "The princess is fine. She is just following her father's wishes. You all take care of her."
The knights bowed in acknowledgment as Nyelle turned and left. Lythria bit her lip and walked back toward her room, muttering under her breath, "Oh, Ancestor… what should I do?"
...
Far away, in the eastern outskirts shrouded by a faint veil that distorted the air like rippling glass, a tall lady walked calmly with a katana in hand. The katana was so beautiful, with intricate designs that reflected the veiled face of the lady. Her face was half-hidden behind a translucent veil, and her red-orange ritual robes shimmered faintly, concealing her form yet accentuating her beauty.
She stopped before a man lying in a pool of blood and asked coldly, "So tell me—did you find him?"
The man shuddered and shrieked, "Forgive me! Please! I'll do better next time… He was last seen in Drudar!"
There was no trace of blood on her blade.
"It's all right," she said softly. "That was just a small punishment. You may return to the temple—but you'll live as a servant from now on. As for me… I'll go personally. Let's see if he can really hide from me."
The man nodded as his form faded into shadows. He bowed and vanished. The woman, meanwhile, disappeared, leaving a gentle sigh lingering in the air. Along with it, red flower petals scattered all around the area.
....
At the same time, in a very secluded palace, Eryssa stood silently, wearing a beautiful white dress with floral adornments as her golden hair flowed down. At her waist was a simple wand. Her charming face bore a slightly frightened or surprised expression as she looked in front of her. Before her was a beautifully crafted mirror reflecting her own beautiful self. But she could not sense the unease and fear emanating from that reflection.
The place resembled a royal castle—majestic yet tranquil, adorned with fountains and finely carved statues. Before her shimmered a mirror-like portal surrounded by intricate orange-hued plants.
A lady dressed in mysterious veils bowed beside her. "Princess, as per your father's orders, please step into the Zythmic Spirit Mirror and complete the ritual."
She bit her lip, hesitating only for a moment before her eyes turned resolute. Then, with a deep breath, she stepped toward the mirror.
....
At the same time, in a different, faraway place, Veer was elsewhere—in a strange, dreamlike world that somehow felt familiar.
He stood before a middle-aged man and woman whose gentle eyes radiated immense power. Nearby, a little girl played joyfully with a toy in her hands. Veer's heart ached as he watched them, though he didn't know why.
The girl ran up to him, smiling. "Brother, look! Isn't it beautiful?"
She held up her dancing toy, and Veer reached out to pat her head. But just as he touched her cheek, the world twisted violently around him, and he woke up.
He touched his face. There were tears on his face.
"I'm crying…" he murmured.
He wondered, "Who were they? Why does it hurt so much?"
Just then, footsteps approached. Veer looked ahead to see Captain Sythris approaching, her blue cape fluttering as she walked toward him. Her face was so beautiful that even the night couldn't conceal it. Her black hair flowed in the wind, and her blue armor shone.
"Veer... can we talk?" Sythris uttered in a faint voice as she looked at the figure ahead. Veer was wearing his silver armor even though he was a golden knight. She hadn't noticed initially, as his hair covered his face, but as he looked at her from where he was sitting, she muttered, "Wait, you're crying?"
Veer smiled faintly as he said, looking at her a bit awkwardly, "Just a dream."
Behind her, the knights' campfires flickered in the distance. Sythris sighed. "I know this has been hard on you, Veer… but we need you."
Veer frowned. Was she… fidgeting?
Veer was ruminating internally. How should he deal with her? Kerin and Eryssa were easy to talk to, as they seemed to be on the same wavelength as him. With Eleana, he somehow acted naturally. But when facing Sythris, he didn't know what to say.
It was already past the first quarter of the night, so he asked carefully, "Why are we here, actually? I don't see the point in this."
"Everyone is bound by duty to protect the land," she replied directly, looking into Veer's eyes. "I'm just following orders."
She glanced around to make sure the nearby knights weren't listening, then suddenly sat beside him, surprising Veer. She tapped his shoulder and leaned closer, whispering near his ear. He felt his heart thumping as her voice reached his ears.
"Be careful. You'll learn what tonight's assembly is about after midnight."
Veer's eyes sharpened as he nodded. The seriousness made his nervousness go away. He asked, "Sythris—" but she cut him off.
"I understand," she interrupted softly. "After everything settles, we'll talk more."
Veer watched her retreat into the moonlight, her face half-hidden by its glow. For a moment, he was entranced as he thought, What talk! He didn't even remember her...
He sat down near the campfire, lost in thought. The dream still haunted him—it felt so real, so close. As the night deepened and the sound of armor faded, his eyes grew heavy.
But suddenly, he jolted upright. Something had passed by—fast.
His half-formed core flared instinctively as he activated his new ability, which he had recently learned after forming his core. Through it, he could sense everything within a thruti—about thirty feet around him.
And what he saw shocked him—every knight nearby was motionless, dazed yet alive. Even Sythris was gone.
A golden knight approached him slowly—it was Erith, someone Veer recognized from the march. He was part of Ryen's group.
Erith crouched down before him with a grin. "Open your eyes, bro… You're using something called... ahh... Star Vision, huh? Haha, looks like you're the only one unaffected. Amazing… truly amazing."
Veer became even more tense, ready to strike, but he was wary of the unexpected presence nearby, watching.
Then, a voice echoed faintly in his mind. He recognized it—it was Sythris's.
He also suddenly remembered that Eleana had told him something similar before fighting Noelle: "Someone will come when the situation is dire." Why had he forgotten that?
He shook his head and focused on the voice again—it was calm, almost like a recording.
"Veer, listen. This message will activate only if we're in danger. Don't panic. Keep talking to that man .. He is the true target as per commander's instructions… and whatever you do, don't try to sense the other presence."