Veer looked at Eleana, who did nothing to stop the leaving figure. Before disappearing, she took one last look at Veer.
Eleana said with a sigh, "So, what should we do with her?" Veer got up unsteadily and said, "Let's rest a bit and carry her."
Then he asked, "Just who is she?"
Eleana said in a somewhat stiff voice, "She rarely shows herself. Even I didn't realize that the Void Black Knight was, in fact, Noelle's sister. Even then, she has grown so much—it's astonishing. But why was she here?"
Eleana then looked strangely at Veer as he gave her a dubious look. Veer was barely managing to remain conscious. Eleana sighed and said, "Forget it. Let's just ask when she awakens…" As she spoke, Veer also fainted.
After resting for some time, Veer's eyelids twitched as he woke up to see two faces staring at him. Noelle's sister looked annoyed and said, "Well, princess, shall we go? How were your sweet dreams…"
Veer's expression darkened as he said in an angry voice, "It's all because of your sister… damn it," as he stood up.
Eleana had already made a climbway, through which Veer climbed, and Noelle's sister and Eleana also jumped rapidly and got out of the secret area.
Noelle's sister was muttering, "I thought the princess would owe me one, but it's the opposite…" Eleana asked her, "What!?"
Noelle's sister shook her head as two strange sounds arose from both Eleana's and Noelle's sister's armor. It came from a medallion attached to their waists in an intricate, layered design of a bow wielder. Both of their faces grew grave.
Veer asked, "What happened, Noelle's sister?"
She remarked angrily, "Call me Nyelle, and… I don't ask anything…" as she started running back. Eleana also followed her, saying, "There is an emergency… Let's go quickly."
As Veer went past the Puppet Bazaar, he found many of the puppet shops destroyed and disintegrated and could not help but look at Nyelle. She really did not care about the surroundings at all. As they moved past the bazaar, he could see people rapidly running here and there. The knights and guards in the area were preparing. Just then, there was a loud siren, and a voice drifted everywhere…
Everyone paused to hear the announcement:
"I am the Grey Knight, Mariona, and I command all golden knights, other than protectors, to report to their respective superiors. Within a prahar…"
Nyelle's voice was rushed as she said, "You… boy, get your ass over to the princess quickly, and Eleana, follow me…"
Veer became angry again, and Eleana nodded. They boarded the horses and quickly set off.
...
Eryssa and Lythria were standing on a balcony. Eryssa sighed, "So, it's already here…"
Lythria asked gently, "How much have you improved your spirit control?"
Eryssa shook her head and smiled, "It's good, but not enough compared to your White Lotus manifestation…"
Lythria's gaze deepened as she asked, "I don't want to pry, but did you send a message sometime ago… to whom? Don't tell me it involves Veer…"
Eryssa said softly, gazing at Lythria deeply, "He's always up to something, so I sent someone to see if everything was okay…"
Both girls looked at each other. Below them, in the knight's field, a number of knights were orderly arranging themselves. The atmosphere was grave, but as the wind blew through the hair of both girls, they seemed to smile at each other.
Lythria was about to break the silence when a voice came from below: "Are you guys okay?" It was Veer.
Eryssa and Lythria were startled to see Veer's armor broken, and they said in unison, "We're fine… but what did you do again?"
Veer sighed and said, "Come down; let's meet and talk…"
He looked back at the fields, where most of the knights were gathering, his thoughts unknown.
...
The Grey Knight looked at her Black Knights as she focused on Eleana and her tattered silver clothes. Then she looked at Nyelle and said, "You guys… what happened to you? Report everything…after this."
She then took out a map of the landscape and laid it on a table. She looked at her Black Knights and said, "Look here—they will be sending their army from the front. So, half of our army will meet them outside the gates. Only Knight Sythris and Knight Rhaelle will move to the southeast and southwest, respectively, and wait. When they are engaged in a fight, your two groups will attack them from behind… Equip them with the iron-spiked bar shields."
She continued, "Knight Larell and Knight Symon will attack from the vanguard at the front gates, and Eleana will command the defense line on the border walls. Have every golden knight accompanied by at least two silver knights with poison pots. Larell, explain to them how to use the poison pots."
Larell and Symon nodded as they bowed. Larell had black armor, which exuded a very dangerous presence, and a huge sword on his back. Eleana bowed as she gazed at Larell and his sword. She muttered softly, "The infamous Zenith Greatsword…"
She then looked at the other short-statured blue-black armored knight who held two rapier blades at his waist. Eleana was once again reminded why the kingdom of Drudar still stands. Her memories went back a couple of years to Marvis, and she shook slightly.
She also bowed as she accepted her orders.
Sythris and Nyelle were deeply impressed by their commander as they bowed, and she said, "The rest will follow me…" in a commanding voice. There was a loud chorus of swords and shields as the knights arranged themselves. The silver knights arranged themselves after their golden knights in command, and the war army was ready to go.
.....
Meanwhile, Veer met with Eryssa and Lythria. Eryssa asked worriedly, "What happened to you…?" They met in Eryssa's guest courtyard. The place was serene, with plants and water fountains—a sharp contrast to the happenings in the far background.
Veer looked at the gentle figure and said in a deep voice, "It was Noelle. She somehow trapped me. I don't know how I got trapped again. Then the blue knight from earlier was also there, fighting against Eleana."
He paused and said, "Just when I was almost unconscious, Noelle's sister arrived and saved me."
Eryssa and Lythria rose from their seats. Eryssa said, "What… where is Noelle now? Has she been captured?"
Lythria also asked in concern, "Are you okay now?"
Veer shook his head and said, "I am fine now, but Noelle escaped somehow… It seemed someone prevented Noelle's sister from stopping her."
As Lythria looked at Veer worriedly, Eryssa walked over with a gentle gaze and pressed her hand on Veer's forehead. Veer was stunned momentarily as Eryssa said, "It's okay now…"
Veer felt relaxed as relief washed over him. Eryssa then looked into the distance, toward the direction of the knights rallying, her father's castle, and beyond.