Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

The group advanced through the Crimson Forest in a steady formation. The region they now traversed lay far deeper than the places they had explored before. The trees grew taller, their gnarled trunks thicker, while the undergrowth had become so dense that even walking demanded constant vigilance.

Tangled vines coiled around ancient branches like serpents, thorn-covered shrubs stretched endlessly across the forest floor, and colossal roots twisted through the earth like the backs of slumbering dragons.

The canopy overhead was so impenetrable that it swallowed almost every trace of the crimson sky, casting the wilderness below into perpetual twilight. The oppressive darkness, coupled with the unnatural stillness of the forest, gave the entire region a distinctly claustrophobic atmosphere.

The only illumination piercing this veil of gloom came from the occasional shafts of crimson light filtering through tiny breaks in the foliage and the warm golden radiance emanating from Kaeloris’ Lantern.

As they advanced, the group maintained the formation they had refined through countless life-and-death encounters within the Crimson Forest.

Naturally, Aelric led the way.

The green-eyed youth moved silently through the wilderness, every footstep deliberate yet effortless. His pace was neither hurried nor slow, but perfectly measured, as though he had long since memorized every winding trail, every protruding root, and every weathered boulder hidden beneath the undergrowth. He scarcely hesitated, weaving through the forest with uncanny familiarity.

As a matter of fact, the only time he ever glanced behind him was to ensure the eight exiles were still following. Even then, he offered them nothing more than a fleeting look before continuing onward.

A short distance behind him walked Regaleon.

Clad in his golden armor, the young knight carried his silver halberd firmly in his right hand, its polished blade catching every stray ray of crimson light that filtered through the canopy.

His movements were disciplined and economical, each step silent despite the weight of his armor. His golden eyes swept across the surroundings with unwavering vigilance, carefully studying every shadow and every rustling bush for the slightest sign of danger.

Directly behind him walked Sylveris, Caelestra, Kaeloris, and Veyrath.

Sylveris gripped the pair of ivory fangs they had fashioned into short swords. Being the youngest, and by far the smallest, amongst them, the fourteen-year-old had to lengthen her stride considerably just to keep pace with everyone else.

Even so, she never complained. Instead, she stubbornly matched every step they took, her determined expression refusing to betray even the slightest fatigue.

Beside her, Caelestra walked with measured elegance, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

Kaeloris carried the glowing Lantern high enough to illuminate the path ahead, its gentle golden radiance pushing back the oppressive darkness surrounding them.

Meanwhile, Veyrath remained unusually quiet. Unlike his usual self, whose curiosity often led him to ask endless questions, the failed Alchemist simply focused on placing one foot before the other.

Guarding the flanks were Aureleah and Vaelorin.

Wrapped within her Shadow Cloak, Aureleah appeared almost ethereal beneath the forest’s dim lighting. The Cloak blended seamlessly with the surrounding darkness, making her figure flicker in and out of sight with every passing step.

Combined with the twin Daggers resting loosely within her hands, she resembled less a human and more an apparition silently stalking its prey through the woods.

On the opposite flank walked Vaelorin.

His Fiery Staff rested comfortably within his right hand while his crimson eyes remained sharp and alert. Though he appeared calm, one could easily tell from the occasional tightening of his grip that he remained ready to unleash his flames at the slightest sign of danger.

Bringing up the rear was Valmyr.

Built like a fortress, the bulky youth wore a suit of beastskin armor crafted from the hide of the feline Anima they had slain days ago. The rugged armor accentuated his already imposing physique, making him appear even more formidable.

Resting upon his shoulder was his massive Greatsword, its broad blade gleaming beneath the mingled crimson and golden lights with an almost numinous brilliance. Strapped securely to his left arm rested his Great Shield, its enormous frame resembling the unyielding gate of an ancient fortress capable of withstanding an army’s assault.

Despite the malevolent environment surrounding them, the atmosphere within the group was noticeably lighter.

Their expressions still carried traces of caution, as they always should within the Nether Lands, but the uncertainty that had haunted every step since their arrival had diminished considerably.

For the first time since entering this cursed world, they were no longer wandering aimlessly in search of survival or stumbling blindly into forgotten crypts guarded by ancient Terracotta warriors.

They now possessed purpose and were walking toward strength.

The only sounds accompanying their march were the crunching of fallen leaves beneath their boots, the occasional snapping of brittle branches, and the distant cries echoing from somewhere deep within the crimson wilderness.

Of all these sounds, however, it was those distant roars that unsettled them the most.

Every howl, every shriek, every guttural growl served as a grim reminder that another Anima or Netheryte prowled somewhere within the endless forest; perhaps hunting, perhaps watching, or perhaps waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike.

And this made the atmosphere all the more foreboding.

The silence lingered, almost oppressive in its weight. But no one seemed particularly interested in breaking it, and so the group continued walking without exchanging a single word.

Several more minutes passed until finally...

"Aelric..." Veyrath’s exhausted voice suddenly broke the silence.

His tone carried obvious fatigue as he rubbed the back of his neck. "How much farther is this place?"

It wasn’t a complaint nor was he trying to question Aelric’s judgment, he was simply tired.

After all, they had begun this journey shortly after the crimson sky brightened, and nearly four hours had passed since then... Four uninterrupted hours of walking through uneven terrain.

Four hours of climbing over tangled roots, squeezing through thick vegetation, and navigating rocky slopes.

At first, Veyrath had endured the relentless march without saying a word. Now, however, every muscle in his legs burned with fatigue; his feet ached, his shoulders felt heavy, and even his breathing had become noticeably more laborious.

He had remained silent because he didn’t wish to appear petulant, indolent, or fainthearted before everyone else.

Still, everyone had their limits and he had reached his.

Aelric heard him, yet he never slowed his pace. Without looking back, he calmly answered. "Not much farther."

He stepped over a fallen trunk before continuing. "Just hold on a little longer. We’ll arrive very soon."

Veyrath nearly groaned aloud.

If he didn’t know Aelric any better, he would have assumed the green-eyed youth was deliberately leading them in circles.

After all, "very soon" was hardly an answer.

Ever since this expedition began, Aelric had refused to disclose their exact destination. In fact, whenever someone asked where they were going, his response had always been the same.

"You’ll know when we get there."

Nothing more, nothing less. He offered no explanations, landmarks, or reassurance; just those maddeningly cryptic words.

Initially, everyone had assumed he was joking. But as the hours passed, they gradually realized he had been completely serious. Even so, none of them chose to question him any further.

And the reason for this was simple. Aelric represented their greatest hope of becoming true Etheryeans.

Technically speaking, they could attempt the breakthrough on their own. However, such a path demanded two things they could scarcely afford... Time and effort.

Time, because they would first need to locate enough Rank One Animas, hunt them down, and harvest their cores.

Unfortunately, despite spending days within the Crimson Forest, they had already learned one undeniable truth, Rank One Animas were extraordinarily elusive.

Finding one was difficult enough but successfully killing one was another matter entirely.

Previously, it had taken four of them working together merely to bring down a single Rank One creature. Even so, the Scarlet Streak Antelope had only fallen because they meticulously planned every stage of the hunt before striking with overwhelming precision.

Even then, the battle had ended swiftly only because they understood that prolonging it would almost certainly cost lives.

Under such circumstances, attempting to gather enough cores for everyone’s breakthrough through ordinary hunting would take weeks... Perhaps even months.

Time they simply did not possess.

And it was precisely because of this that the group had ultimately decided to place their trust in Aelric.

Whether his methods appeared mysterious or not, he remained the only person capable of leading them toward a quicker path to the Etheryean Realm.

For that reason alone, he deserved the benefit of the doubt.

"Not much farther isn’t exactly specific, is it?"

Caelestra finally spoke, breaking another stretch of silence.

"I mean, you could at least give us an estimate instead of asking us to simply keep walking."

This time, Aelric sighed softly. But without stopping, he replied. "Actually... It really is just ahead."

He pointed beyond a cluster of towering crimson trees.

"Only a few more minutes." After a brief pause, he added. "Trust me. We’re almost there."

It still wasn’t the precise answer Caelestra had hoped for. Nevertheless, she chose not to press the matter further.

Only the faint crease forming between her brows betrayed the lingering skepticism she still harbored.

Seeing no reason to argue, she simply exhaled quietly.

And so, the group continued deeper into the silent Crimson Forest once more, each step bringing them closer to the destination Aelric had spoken of, though none of them yet knew exactly what awaited them there...