Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

"Well, would you look at that?"

A very pleasant voice called out the moment Veyrath and Valmyr drew close to where Sylveris and Aelric stood.

Aelric regarded them with a faint smile resting upon his lips, his emerald eyes gleaming with unmistakable amusement.

"The two newly minted Etheryeans. How do you guys feel?"

Veyrath responded with a grin so wide that it seemed almost incapable of fitting upon his face. He stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders, seemingly fascinated by the unfamiliar sensation coursing through his body.

"Well, I now understand people’s obsession with power." He paused, flexing his fingers as though admiring them. "Looking back, I don’t find them stupid or insufferable anymore. As it turns out, it really is nice to feel powerful for a change."

His words were accompanied by a smile, but Aelric could easily discern the elation and exhilaration beneath them. Veyrath’s attempt at describing his newfound strength was all the confirmation Aelric needed. This showcased that the failed Alchemist wasn’t merely pleased with his breakthrough, he was ecstatic.

And who could blame him?

For months, Veyrath had been branded a failure. He had been denied the resources and opportunities afforded to those considered worthy, forced to watch as others advanced while his own cultivation remained stagnant.

Now, for the first time, he could feel the difference. Right after Veyrath finished speaking, Valmyr added in a much more subdued voice.

"Well, besides feeling powerful, it’s also nice to feel... free."

Aelric’s brows rose slightly.

"Oh?" His eyes narrowed with interest. "Free. And why do you say so?"

Valmyr became quiet for a moment. He looked down at his hands before slowly clenching them into fists.

"Before, it felt as though I was being stifled by some invisible shackles. At first, I thought it was probably because of the environment. You know, since the Nether Lands is known to have that kind of adverse and perverse effect on people. But the moment I started becoming an Etheryean, it felt as though those shackles that had been pulling me down suddenly shattered."

His expression became contemplative. "It was almost as though I was..."

"Finally free of them?" Aelric finished for him with a faint smile.

Valmyr looked at him for a moment before nodding. "Yeah."

The failed Vanguard raised his hands again, turning them over as he studied them with renewed fascination.

"You know, when you first told us about this place, I didn’t really attach as much importance to it as the others besides the you know Essence Crystals and stuffs."

He glanced around the cavern. "But now..."

His eyes traveled across the magnificent crystalline chamber before eventually settling on Aelric. "Now I understand what it truly means for someone to be given a second chance."

His voice softened as he continued. "And for that, I’m grateful, Aelric."

Aelric’s eyebrow rose at the sudden expression of gratitude. For a brief moment, surprise crossed his features but it quickly disappeared, replaced by his usual composure.

"No need to thank me. I did what I had to do. Besides, remember that you shouldn’t actually feel grateful to me yet as words alone can’t repay what I’ve done for you."

Valmyr stared at him for several seconds.

There was something hidden beneath those seemingly casual words; a message that didn’t need to be spoken aloud and Valmyr seemed to understand.

He nodded as he replied seriously. "Don’t worry. I understand." His expression became solemn as he added. "And I promise you won’t be disappointed."

Aelric’s lips curved upward into a knowing smile.

"Well, that’s good to hear."

Before the conversation could continue, however, Sylveris suddenly spoke.

"Um... Veyrath, what about the others?" She glanced toward the Essence Pool. "Why haven’t they broken through like you two did?"

Only then did the newly minted Etheryeans seem to remember that they weren’t the only ones standing there.

Although they had initially acknowledged Sylveris after leaving the pool, the conversation had quickly drawn their attention elsewhere. It wasn’t intentional. They had simply been overwhelmed by the almost surreal realization that they had finally accomplished something they had spent months chasing.

Naturally, they wanted to celebrate. And they wanted to express at least some of their gratitude toward Aelric, the person who had made their current circumstances possible.

Somehow, the young unawakened girl had simply slipped from their minds.

Veyrath scratched the back of his head. "Ah..."

Before either he or Valmyr could formulate an answer though, Aelric spoke. "It isn’t possible for all of them to break through at the same time."

His voice was calm and matter-of-fact as he continued. "And for that reason, you’re simply going to have to wait."

Sylveris furrowed her brows. "But why?"

She looked at him with an incredulous yet perplexed expression. "Shouldn’t they all break through together?"

Aelric smiled at the question. "I suppose I should have explained this earlier. Then you wouldn’t be having this little conundrum."

He folded his arms.

"Sylveris, everyone’s ability to break through varies from individual to individual. Even when seven people cultivate under exactly the same conditions, their breakthroughs won’t necessarily occur simultaneously."

He gestured toward Veyrath and Valmyr.

"Take these two, for example. You witnessed Veyrath’s breakthrough yourself, and it was only a short while later that Valmyr achieved his. That interval between their breakthroughs is the result of several factors, the first and foremost being the location of their Aether Veins and the presence of Prime Organs."

Sylveris listened attentively as Aelric continued explaining.

"The human body isn’t simply a container through which Aether flows. Different organs interact with Aether in different ways. Some organs are naturally more receptive to it, while others can actively refine, circulate, store, or even transform the energy passing through them and such organs are what we call Prime Organs. And when someone possesses Aether Veins within or around these organs, their breakthrough becomes considerably more complicated."

Sylveris’ expression gradually became more serious. "Why?"

"Because those organs aren’t expendable."

Aelric’s voice became solemn. "You can damage an ordinary part of your body and survive. You might even recover eventually. But damage something like your heart, lungs, brain, or other critical organs while they’re being flooded with concentrated Aether..."

He shook his head and said. "And the consequences can be catastrophic."

Sylveris swallowed.

Aelric then went on to explain how Prime Organs could influence the pace of cultivation, how their sensitivity could make locating and strengthening Aether Veins significantly more difficult, and how the condition of those organs could determine how cautiously a practitioner had to approach their breakthrough.

By the time he finished, Sylveris had developed a thorough understanding of the matter. She tilted her head slightly and asked.

"So what you’re trying to tell me is that my sister isn’t done yet because there’s a high possibility that she possesses more Prime Organs than both Veyrath and Valmyr?"

Her voice contained an unmistakable undercurrent of worry when she asked that question.

Aelric nodded and answered. "Right. In a way, you could put it like that."

Veyrath, however, suddenly spoke. "Though you might not realize it, you’re indirectly calling Aureleah more talented than the rest of us."

A strange glint flashed within his amber eyes as Veyrath continued. "We’ve already accepted that fact, so it’s not exactly a problem. But hearing someone else put it that way still feels a little awkward."

There was a faint trace of self-consciousness in his voice.

Valmyr, however, waved a hand dismissively.

"Oh, and one more thing." He looked toward Sylveris. "I know Aelric probably made the cultivation process sound dreadful and terrifying, but you don’t have to worry so much. I’m sure they’ll be fine."

Compared to Veyrath’s somewhat awkward reassurance, Valmyr’s words carried considerably more confidence.

Sylveris stared at him for a moment before slowly relaxing, the turbulent waves of anxiety that had been churning within her heart gradually settled as she looked toward the Essence Pool again.

Her sister was still somewhere within that crystalline mist cultivating her strength. And although she couldn’t do anything to help her, at least now she understood that the delay wasn’t necessarily a bad sign.

Once Sylveris had calmed down, Valmyr suddenly turned toward Aelric.

"So, Aelric..." His expression became curious. "What are we going to do next?"

Aelric understood exactly what he meant but he didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the swirling mist hovering above the Essence Pool.

The faint crystalline radiance continued to shimmer through it, bathing the cavern in an ethereal glow.

"About that..." A faint smile appeared on his lips. "We’ll have to wait until the rest of them are through."

He glanced back at the two newly minted Etheryeans. "Then, and only then, can we have that discussion."

Valmyr had no objection so he simply nodded.

With nothing else to do, the four of them settled down to wait.

Occasionally, Veyrath and Valmyr exchanged remarks about their newfound abilities. Sylveris listened with fascination, occasionally asking questions, while Aelric answered whenever necessary.

But despite their casual conversation, their attention never truly left the Essence Pool...

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