A man was gently rubbing an emerald bow as a shadow manifested. He said, his voice faint and laden with fear, "She failed to get her hands on the variable, but she was able to escape."
The man didn't say anything, but the shadow seemed to struggle as it said, "Forgive me… it will not happen again…"
The man still didn't reply and continued polishing the bow…
.....
Meanwhile, as the sun rose brightly in the sky, Veer was currently in a dilemma as he followed the black knight called Sythris on horseback. Sythris was far in the front, leading the army valiantly. Rows of golden knights—about five dozen—formed this army. Behind them followed an even greater number of silver and bronze knights, marching in an orderly fashion. Their flags swayed as Veer's heart stirred. As they passed through the gates, many people cheered for the army. People gazed at them with fear, excitement, and hope.
Veer could see even small children waving the flags of Drudar, their faces full of excitement. Many shouted, "I also want to be a knight!"
"Mom... look, it's Knight Sythris...."
"She is so beautiful...."
Veer felt a gaze as he found a small girl waving at him from afar, jumping around. He didn't know what to do, so he just waved his hands. Strangely, he felt a sense of melancholy as he waved at them. What was that feeling, he wondered.
His thoughts briefly went back to moments ago, when Veer was summoned and had actually tried to refuse to come with them. The truly eventful thing was that Knight Sythris herself went there, and with Eryssa's persuading, he decided to follow when he got to know that Nyelle and Eleana would be protecting Eryssa.
Even Lythria was going to follow Veer, but somehow, one look from Sythris and Eryssa made her back off. Then she had gone with Nyelle who took her for some inspection and Veer moved before she came back. Veer wondered what his relationship with Sythris was in the academy, as the others were mentioning.
Were they classmates, close friends, or even...? He shook his head as he coughed.
Sythris had even helped him recover to his peak condition with a strange potion. He was currently holding it as he rode. It was so powerful that his body had instantly healed from his remaining injuries.
"It seems that, to protect Eryssa, Nyelle has made some arrangements," he thought. He looked around at one of the silver knights beside him—none other than Kerin, who was sleeping on his horse, snoring. Giving him a small kick to wake him from his daydream, he muttered, "This fool is daydreaming in the middle of a war march." The others around them looked strangely at Kerin and Veer.
Kerin startled as he shouted, "Who is it? Who's there?" He looked around as everyone gave him amused glances.
Then he spotted Veer. He asked in grievance, "Bro, can't you see I was having a great dream? Just a few more moments—why'd you break it?"
Veer gave him another kick, making Kerin's horse stumble. "Okay, okay! Sorry! Tell me, what do you want?"
Veer asked as he got closer to Kerin seriously, "Why am I going with this army?"
Though other knights were also listening a bit, Veer didn't care. Kerin's expression darkened as he replied, "Still pretending, huh? Isn't it because she likes you?"
He immediately attracted the eyes of people who looked at him like they wanted to beat him.
A knight, a girl with golden armor, said in a serious tone, "Kerin, if you utter another nonsense about our leader, I will personally break your legs."
Another knight chimed in, "He really has grown wings after the leader treated him that day. I think we should all give him a beating."
He was a silver knight with a spear on his back.
Another golden knight came close as he licked his lips. "Ahh, maybe we should also give a beating to the famous knight Veer?"
The group became silent for a moment as both Kerin and Veer had black lines on their faces. Veer gave him another kick, and Kerin groaned. "Alright, stop it, damn it! I am sorry! It was ordered by the commander. Mostly because someone seems to be targeting you. So it's better that you are with the captain. That's all I know."
Veer also understood that the group wasn't particularly welcoming toward him. He wondered if it was because of Sythris.
The golden knight came riding up from the side with a smile. "Veer!!! Ahhh!! Don't worry! We actually respect you a lot... it's just that some of us are a little protective of our leader."
"And after the rumour circulated about you and the captain's fight, we... we are apprehensive of you."
Kerin looked at the guy as he sat upright and pointed his sword at him. "Ryen, you'd better respect me too, then."
Ryen threw something at Kerin as he dodged. It was a ball made of mud. "You want respect? Then act like it."
Veer nodded at Ryen as Ryen looked at him. Veer was wondering what kind of fight he had with Sythris. Moreover, he was way weaker than Sythris. What could he do anyway? He felt he was missing something.
He shook his head as Veer looked ahead through the forested road. "Where does this lead? And why are we going there?"
Kerin explained as he started eating something. They were balls of rice. "Basically, we're trying to surround them. See those shields? They're specialized for that."
Veer looked behind, where a large number of silver knights carried shields with sharp spikes.
Kerin continued as more knights gathered to listen. Veer realized something—though no one respected Kerin personally, everyone respected his knowledge and understanding.
"Braevan has about a quarter more knights than us," Kerin said seriously.
"And they have more black knights too. You've already encountered one of their strongest—the guy who broke the negotiation."
Veer's thoughts drifted to that dangerous knight they had faced. That man was indeed very strong. He had even assumed that guy to be a grey knight.
Everyone looked at Veer in surprise as the girl who had previously warned Kerin asked curiously, "What? How did you even get out?"
Before Veer could answer, Kerin said sarcastically, "Ahh, Revel, you guys still don't know him, huh? There were three women ready to protect him, each one with the strength of a black knight, probably."
The surrounding knights exchanged uneasy looks and began to eye Veer suspiciously. Another girl, a golden knight with short hair and navy-blue armor, asked uncertainly, "Veer… are you in a relationship with both the princess and the White Knight, Eleana?"
Veer gave her a sharp look, and she immediately fell silent. He sighed as he said, "Don't get the wrong idea. We are just friends. And I am just Lady Eryssa's bodyguard."
He saw Kerin looking at him as though enjoying a show. Veer stuttered as he said, "We're just trying to find clues related to that birthday incident."
Everyone's expressions suddenly grew grave. A silver knight asked quietly, "So… did the prince really die that day?"
Before he could say more, a golden knight slapped the back of his head. "Stop talking nonsense."
Kerin put his finger to his mouth and shushed everyone into silence.
Kerin resumed, "Our army will probably surround them, but I don't have the full details. Anyway, we should reach Triet Fort within a prahar. From there, we'll follow Lady Sythris's instructions. And we've got some of the best knights with us…" he said, giving Veer a look.
Veer asked as he pondered, "With this many people marching, it won't stay secret for long. What are we trying to accomplish, really?"
Kerin laughed as he ate a banana, throwing an apple towards Veer. "Oh, Veer, how can a silver knight like us understand the thinking of a commander?"
Veer caught it as he nodded—it made sense. His face was visible in the apple's reflection as he pondered. But still, something felt off. He glanced to the far right, but only saw the back of a golden knight in navy armor giving instructions. He shook his head.
The journey was quite boring but relaxing. Veer learned to enjoy the company of quite a few people. Ryen, the golden knight, was humorous, but he was sharp and very knowledgeable. Revel, the lady knight, was curious and also a bit impulsive when it came to taunts. He enjoyed this journey as they gradually approached their destination.
....
After about a prahar, they reached their destination. At the front, Sythris dismounted and commanded, "Everyone, settle as per earlier instructions."
Veer observed the surroundings—it was somewhat isolated. He jumped from his horse along with Kerin and the others.
A huge tower stood nearby, half in ruins. The area itself looked ancient and scarred. It was a bit similar to the nameless ruins. But there was a fire burning at the top of the tower. All around were a few small houses where hay and straw were kept. The knights took the horses there and started to tie them nearby.
Veer and Kerin took their horses and tied them there as Veer asked Kerin in a faint voice, "Isn't this supposed to be our fort?"
"Where are the guards?"
Kerin's face was not as carefree as usual. He said, "Veer... yes, I am also thinking the same thing," as he finished hammering the nail into the ground to tie the horse.
Kerin pointed at the huge tower. "The tower might have someone, but usually they should have been outside. But this is an empty place. Why would the commander send this many soldiers here?"
Veer nodded as he said, "All around are forests..."
Kerin nodded as he said, "Yes... and just beyond this starts the boundary of Braevan. Maybe we can expect a war at midnight?"
It was already past evening as the knights began setting up their tents around the tower at spaced intervals. Sythris entered the tower with a few knights.
Veer sat down beside Kerin, exhausted after setting up the tent. "So, now what? When does it start?"
Kerin said gravely, sipping wine, "Actually, as per the instructions we got, it's tomorrow. The knights from Braevan are marching, and ours will move too—probably in the early morning."
Kerin was drawing on the ground, showing Veer the enemy positions with a stick. "So the army will march from the south, and we will surround them from behind by going around the forest.
Maybe Knight Rhaelle's army would do the same from the other end."
After the explanation, Veer said, "So basically, after they engage each other, our teams will attack from the sides. And Eleana's team will handle the machinery. Makes sense—but why is Braevan marching first? That gives us an advantage."
Around them, the camp buzzed with the sounds of clattering armor and laughter as knights drank and prepared. Veer noticed Sythris returning briefly to give orders before heading off again. She really seemed to have her hands full.
Kerin looked out into the distance. "Honestly, Veer, I'm not feeling good about this. Something's wrong… though I can't quite tell what."
He sighed, glancing toward Sythris and the others. "Well, maybe it'll be fine."
Veer nodded and asked, "What do you know about hidden kingdoms?"
Kerin gazed at him seriously as he took a huge jar of wine. "Veer, you should stop prying into those matters. I've heard what happened. Who could've guessed Noelle was hiding so much? Back then, everyone mocked her for studying consciousness revival. Hah… you know what I—anyway, I'll tell you. Mythria is a legendary kingdom said to be associated with lotuses. It's also said to be the home of the ancient tree—the center of the world, or so I've read. As for the others, there's the Nameless Temple. It's the most mysterious hidden kingdom. It's said the hidden kingdoms have something that crossed the boundaries of human limits... They are called Sai..."
Kerin's expression twisted. "I can't share more… it's painful…" He clutched his head.
Veer tried to soothe him, his expression growing grave.
Kerin forced a strained smile. Veer felt Kerin's strangeness as he seemed to be half-drunk and half-crazy. "Listen, Veer. What you think you see isn't always what it is. Things are much deeper. I've read from restricted books—only bits and pieces—but even that surface-level knowledge causes me agony if I try to speak of it…"
Veer's face turned pale. "Stop! Kerin, that's enough!" he shouted, drawing attention from nearby knights.
Kerin tried to say more but grew weak and collapsed, muttering, "Let's continue… later…" before fainting.
A few knights rushed over. Two girls knelt beside him, one checking his breath before sighing in relief. She looked at Veer angrily. "You're his friend, right? Then why do you always push him like this?"
Veer lowered his head. "I…"
Another girl tried to calm her down while Ryen arrived and ordered a few others to carry Kerin away. They took him to the medical team.
Ryen patted Veer's shoulders. "Rest, man... Take it easy..."
Veer watched Kerin's unconscious body being taken away and felt helpless. "Just what's going on? Why are there so many complications? Who am I? Why can't I remember?"
He lay flat on the ground, looking above. He saw a distant star gently twinkling. As he gazed at the distant star, he muttered, "Am I just an insignificant star… one that's lost its value—that's why I have no memories?"
He then looked at the shimmering white moon, which shone brightly in contrast to the stars.