Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

The moment they crossed the threshold of the cave, the outside world seemed to vanish behind them.

The faint crimson light that had managed to slip through the dense canopy outside was abruptly severed, swallowed whole by the oppressive darkness waiting beyond the entrance.

Within a single step, the forest disappeared as though it had never existed, leaving the nine of them enveloped by an all-consuming blackness that pressed against them from every direction like a living entity.

The darkness here was different.

It was not merely the absence of light. It possessed a strange weight to it, an almost claustrophobic oppressiveness that seemed intent on swallowing every sound, every movement, and perhaps even every living soul unfortunate enough to wander into its embrace.

Fortunately, none of them were flustered. After everything they had experienced within the Nether Lands, caves had become an almost unavoidable part of their journey.

Kaeloris, in particular, had accumulated enough experience with caves to last several lifetimes. So without saying a word, the failed Gnost gently raised the Lantern in his hand.

A pulse of Aether flowed into the intricate Soul Essence and with a soft hum, the Lantern blossomed to life once more.

Warm golden radiance spread outward like ripples upon water, steadily forcing back the darkness and revealing the winding tunnel ahead. Jagged stone walls emerged from the void, along with uneven ground littered with loose gravel and weathered rocks.

Even so, despite illuminating nearly a hundred meters around them, the Lantern’s light could only accomplish so much.

Beyond its reach remained nothing but endless darkness, an abyss waiting patiently. Surprisingly, however, that stygian darkness seemed to have little effect on Aelric.

The green-eyed youth continued walking at the front with the same relaxed pace he had maintained since entering the forest.

There wasn’t even the slightest trace of caution in his steps. If his trousers possessed pockets, the others were convinced both his hands would have been casually tucked inside them and that alone spoke volumes about how familiar he was with this place.

Regaleon followed only a few paces behind him. Unlike Aelric, every one of the silver-haired knight’s senses remained heightened.

His grip around the shaft of his silver Halberd was firm but not tense, while the blade rested diagonally across his body in a position that allowed him to attack or defend at a moment’s notice. Under the Lantern’s glow, its polished edge shimmered with an icy brilliance, as though eagerly awaiting the first excuse to taste blood.

The remaining seven followed closely behind, their formation remaining largely unchanged.

Aureleah moved almost soundlessly along the left flank, both daggers already drawn. Wrapped within the folds of her Shadow Cloak, the silver-haired assassin seemed less like a person and more like a phantom gliding through the darkness. Every now and then, the Lantern’s glow caught her silver eyes, causing them to gleam briefly before vanishing beneath the hood once again.

It was almost unsettling.

Meanwhile, Valmyr guarded the rear with his greatshield secured upon his left arm and his greatsword resting comfortably upon his shoulder.

His heavy footsteps contrasted sharply against Aureleah’s silent movements. Yet despite his imposing presence, his eyes constantly swept their surroundings.

Obviously, no one dared lower their guard still.

Only the soft crunch of loose gravel beneath their boots accompanied their advance. Occasionally, a brittle vine snapped beneath someone’s foot.

Sometimes droplets of water echoed somewhere deep within the cave, producing hollow sounds that lingered far longer than they should have.

Apart from all of that, there was nothing else but silence.

The cave itself was remarkably dry.

There were no underground streams or pools of water like those they had encountered beneath the waterfall.

Instead, the walls were rough and weathered, covered by thick patches of dark emerald moss that had claimed nearly every crack in the stone. Ancient roots pierced through the ceiling in countless places before disappearing beneath the rocky floor once more, giving the impression that the entire cave had been slowly devoured by the forest above.

Here and there, clusters of pale fungi clung stubbornly to the stone walls. They emitted no light whatsoever. Instead, they merely resembled lifeless growths feeding upon centuries of decay.

Kaeloris slowly surveyed everything around him.

His scholarly eyes lingered upon the walls, tracing weathered grooves carved naturally into the stone. Finally, unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, he spoke.

"How long has this place been here?"

His voice echoed softly through the tunnel before gradually fading into silence.

"I mean..." He glanced toward one of the enormous roots stretching across the ceiling. "Everything here looks as though it has existed for centuries."

Although the question sounded more like an idle observation than something directed at anyone in particular, Aelric still answered without slowing his pace.

"No one really knows." His calm voice drifted backward through the tunnel. "Though it is quite clear that this cave has definitely been here longer than I have."

He then shrugged lightly before adding. "But does its age really matter?"

Kaeloris pursed his lips. That was a noncommittal answer if he had ever heard one. Still, there was another question that had been bothering him ever since yesterday, one that is even more significant than the age of the cave.

"I never asked but how did you even find this place?"

Aelric tilted his head slightly, glancing back at Kaeloris. "What do you mean?"

"I mean..." Kaeloris clarified, adjusting his glasses as he carefully stepped over a protruding root. "How did you know this cave could help us become Etheryeans?"

He swept the Lantern toward the tunnel ahead.

"Looking at it now, there’s nothing remarkable about this place. If anything, it simply looks like another abandoned cave that’s been left untouched for generations."

His gaze shifted toward Aelric’s back.

"So how did you know something this ordinary possessed such extraordinary value?"

The question caused several pairs of eyes to drift toward the green-eyed youth.

Truthfully, Kaeloris had merely voiced the doubts all of them shared. After everything Aelric had told them yesterday, they had subconsciously imagined something entirely different. Of all this that they imagined, they never thought of this, especially not a gloomy cave that appeared ready to collapse upon itself.

And though they had agreed not to judge the cave by its appearance, they are yet to even see its value like Aelric suggested. It was because of this very reason that they still possess some lingering doubts and skepticism towards it.

Aelric remained silent for several seconds with only the steady rhythm of their footsteps filling the tunnel. Eventually, he sighed.

"I honestly don’t know how to explain it in a way that would sound convincing." His reply was simple. "But know this, I just happen to find it."

Silence followed his words. Some of them frowned as that explanation was far too equivocal to satisfy anyone.

Then finally, Valmyr was the one who broke the contemplative silence.

"We understand that you discovered it." His deep voice reverberated gently through the tunnel. "But surely it couldn’t have been pure coincidence."

He carefully ducked beneath a low-hanging root before continuing. "I mean, certainly there must have been something; or you know, some event or clue... At least something that led you here."

Realizing his words might have sounded somewhat intrusive, Valmyr quickly added.

"Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not trying to pry into your secrets. I mean, If it’s something personal, you don’t have to tell us. But if it isn’t then I suppose hearing the story would help pass the time till we eventually get to wherever you are leading us to."

Almost immediately...

"Well..." Vaelorin’s amused voice echoed from nearby. "Would you look at that. The brute actually managed to string together an articulate sentence. And with proper reasoning, no less."

A grin spread across the red-haired youth’s face, his expression dripping with mischievous derision.

Valmyr merely shot him a flat look, one devoid of emotion and his usual broad grin. It was as though Vaelorin’s teasing held no greater significance than the buzzing of an irritating fly.

Seeing himself ignored so thoroughly, Vaelorin simply chuckled. He wasn’t offended in the slightest. Instead, he looked toward Aelric.

"He’s right though. There definitely has to be more to the story."

He casually twirled his staff once before resting it across his shoulder.

"After all..." He smiled. "There’s rarely smoke without fire."

His words lingered within the quiet tunnel as all eight pairs of eyes gradually settled upon Aelric once more. Even while walking, their curiosity had finally become impossible to suppress...