Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

Finally, after several hours of cultivation, meditation, and perseverance, the group had successfully accomplished one of their lifelong goals.

The feeling of accomplishment was particularly surreal.

For people who had spent years being ridiculed, dismissed, and looked down upon, reaching this point felt almost dreamlike. Yet beneath that exhilaration was a strange bittersweet emotion.

Just a few weeks ago, they had been despised by almost everyone around them. Now, they were on the path toward making those very same people bow before them.

Though it was still a distant dream and a goal that lay far beyond their current reach, they had something they hadn’t possessed before and that was... Hope.

More importantly, they had the determination to turn that hope into reality.

Their newfound status had reinvigorated them, giving them confidence that perhaps their lives didn’t have to remain the way they had always been.

Regardless, Regaleon, Aureleah, Valmyr, Veyrath, Kaeloris, and Caelestra were now six newly minted Etheryeans...

The group had gathered once more after their respective cultivations. Every one of them was brimming with energy, newfound confidence, and vigor.

Although they were all Vein Awakeners, a closer look would reveal the discrepancies and distinctions between them.

Each had walked a different path while possessing different talents. Therefore, each had undergone their own unique transformation.

In the end, that was what mattered. They were different and that difference was precisely what made each of them unique.

Aelric stood before them, a slight but sincere smile playing upon one corner of his lips as he observed them.

His emerald eyes glowed with pride. There was no doubt that the green-eyed youth was genuinely happy for them, and his relaxed stance was evidence of it.

"Congratulations to you all." His voice carried genuine appreciation and warmth as he spoke. "You are now Vein Awakeners Flesh Artificers. In other words... Rank One Etheryeans."

The words immediately caused several of their eyes to brighten.

"At this point, I imagine you’ve realized the responsibility attached to such power." Aelric’s expression became slightly more serious. "But regardless, I’m confident that with my help, you’ll be able to overcome whatever difficulties and challenges you encounter in the future."

His words were delivered in an encouraging tone.

The group exchanged ecstatic glances. None of them openly celebrated and their expressions weren’t exactly exuberant. Yet the restrained joy lurking beneath their gazes was impossible to miss.

Eventually, after their excitement had settled, Aureleah suddenly spoke seriously. "So, does this mean we finally qualify to make the journey to the Sanctuary?"

The moment she asked that question, a subtle wave of anticipation seemed to settle over the cavern.

This is because Aureleah’s question had become the same nagging preoccupation in all of their hearts.

They had already taken their first step toward surviving within the Nether Lands but they knew the truth. They hadn’t done it entirely through their own strength and Aelric was the reason they were still alive.

Also, behind Aelric stood the still-mysterious Sanctuary; a place where survivors like themselves had gathered and managed to establish a life within this dangerous world.

Ever since learning of that settlement, the group had been restless. They had constantly pestered Aelric about when he would take them there but no matter how much they badgered him, Aelric had always maintained the same stance.

He insisted that until they broke through into the Etheryean Ranks, they had no business going there.

Now, however, they had accomplished the foundational requirements necessary to survive the journey which meant they were finally qualified.

Every member of the group stared at Aelric with eyes filled with anticipation and expectation. Even Regaleon, the most stoic among them, couldn’t suppress the excitement coursing through his veins.

Speaking of Regaleon... The failed Knight had also changed after his breakthrough.

His silver hair now shone like the surface of a polished mirror, gleaming brilliantly beneath the light of the Essence Crystals.

At the tips of his hair were strands of crimson, adding a touch of mystique to his visage. His hair had also grown longer and more lustrous, cascading in gentle waves over his shoulders.

His once-pure golden eyes now carried a faint tinge of crimson. Unlike Vaelorin’s fiery orbs, however, Regaleon’s eyes resembled molten gold; majestic, imposing, and otherworldly.

His physical appearance wasn’t the only thing that had changed; his aura had changed as well.

In fact, the moment Regaleon had stepped out of the Essence Pool, his aura had washed over the others like a tidal wave, causing their breaths to hitch in their throats.

At that moment, simply standing near him had been enough to make anyone feel insignificant.

His aura was lofty and aloof, making him appear like some highborn existence who couldn’t be bothered to concern himself with the filth of the mortal world.

It was only after realizing the effect his presence had on the others that Regaleon learned how to suppress that overwhelming aura.

Once he did, everyone around him could finally breathe normally.

However, despite that, Regaleon noticed that Aureleah seemed to be deliberately putting some distance between them.

At first, he thought it was merely a figment of his imagination. But after noticing the pattern several times, he realized it was intentional on her part.

Still, he didn’t think too deeply about it and simply assumed it was some kind of wariness on her part. And her characteristics as an assassin only reinforced that perception.

Hearing Aureleah’s question, Aelric turned toward her. He raised a brow, a teasing smile slowly spreading across his face as he spoke.

"Well, someone seems a little overeager."

Aureleah didn’t respond to his teasing as her silver eyes remained serious and deadly focused.

Seeing that, Aelric’s smile eventually faded before his expression became serious. He looked across the group before speaking again.

"I know I said I’d bring you all back to the Sanctuary after your breakthroughs. But I need you to understand that it’s not quite as straightforward as you might expect."

Aelric’s cryptic statement caused several brows to furrow in puzzlement.

"What do you mean by that?" Caelestra suddenly asked with a frown.

Aelric didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he released a long sigh and shook his head.

"Forget it. We’ll talk more about it once we return to the waterfall."

He then turned toward the cavern’s exit. "For now, let’s get out of here since you’re done cultivating."

"Uh, no." Veyrath immediately refused. "Whatever we have to talk about, why not say it now? After all, this place is safe too."

Aelric stared at him, amusement dancing within his emerald eyes but he didn’t give a response.

Kaeloris, however, shook his head and cursed. "Idiot."

Veyrath turned toward him. "What?"

"Do you actually want to get us killed?"

"How so?"

"You really are dumb, aren’t you?" This time, it was Vaelorin who spoke.

His fiery red eyes were filled with disdain as he looked at the failed Alchemist. "Have you forgotten that Aelric said this place used to be a den for a pack of Animas?"

Vaelorin folded his arms as he added. "Tell me, do you really want us to remain here so that we can be torn apart and used as dinner for a bunch of rabid animals?"

His voice was laced with thick sarcasm and exasperation.

Only then did Veyrath remember the threat of the Animas.

"Oh!" He scratched the back of his head, an awkward smile playing on his lips. "I completely forgot about that. My bad."

Meanwhile, Regaleon looked toward Aelric and spoke. "Well, since you’ve already said that, there’s nothing we can do about it. However, I hope you give us a very reasonable explanation once we get back."

Aelric looked at him and nodded. "Don’t worry. I will."

With that, the group didn’t waste time and began walking away from the subterranean chamber.

However, as they walked, Kaeloris glanced backward only to notice that Valmyr was still standing in the same spot.

The failed Vanguard’s face was a maelstrom of greed, regret, unwillingness, and avarice as he stared at the glowing crystals embedded throughout the cavern walls.

"What are you still waiting for, Valmyr?" Kaeloris shouted. He then gestured toward the exit and said. "Forget about the Essence Crystals. We can come back for them later. Come on, let’s go."

Despite the failed Gnost’s urging, Valmyr didn’t move an inch.

Kaeloris’s shout had already attracted the attention of the others, causing them to turn around.

The moment Vaelorin saw the palpable greed shining within Valmyr’s eyes, he scoffed.

"It looks like the brute has been captivated by the beauty of the crystals. I swear, that greed of his is going to be the death of him one day."

"But guys..." Valmyr finally spoke. "Are we really just going to leave empty-handed?"

He gestured toward the clusters of glowing crystals covering the cavern walls as though using the sight to emphasize his point.

"I mean, look at all this." His eyes practically sparkled. "I really think we should at least take some with us. You know, Caelestra might need them in the future."

Caelestra, who was standing nearby, was taken aback. Somehow, her supposed need had suddenly become a pretext for Valmyr to use in defending his avarice.

"Oh, don’t worry about me." After a moment, Caelestra spoke. "I’ve already gathered enough crystals to last me through emergencies."

She then glanced toward the exit and said. "So if there’s nothing else, I’d say we leave now."

Valmyr sent a deathly glare toward the failed Merchant the moment she finished speaking.

Somehow, it seemed as though Caelestra had made herself Valmyr’s mortal enemy with those few words.

Valmyr was just about to say something else when Regaleon cut him off.

"Valmyr! We don’t have time for these shenanigans. Come on. Let’s go. Also, don’t forget. We can always come back here so there is no reason to worry."

Reluctantly, Valmyr finally began moving.

Yet the truth was that he wasn’t the only one who felt particularly indignant about leaving the cavern as they were.

There were countless resources within this place besides the Essence Crystals, resources that could potentially prove useful in the future.

After their cultivation, the once-flowing and mystical Essence Pool had been reduced to little more than a dry seabed. Yet that didn’t mean there couldn’t still be something hidden within its depths.

However, while the others had managed to suppress that desire to ramshackle the whole place and strip it of every valuable materials, Valmyr hadn’t.

For him, the thought of leaving such a treasure trove behind was almost unbearable.

And as they walked away from the cavern, that greed continued to gnaw at his consciousness slowly becoming something more difficult to ignore...

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