Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

"So, Cedric... who is this?"

The question came from the indolent youth named Tristan after the laughter amongst them had finally subsided. His gaze drifted toward Maverick, who stood quietly beside Cedric as though he had become little more than an unobtrusive fixture within the gathering.

Only after hearing the question did Cedric seem to remember why he had called everyone over in the first place. For a brief moment, amidst the laughter and haze of conviviality, he had utterly forgotten about Maverick’s presence.

Clearing his throat lightly, Cedric stepped forward and spoke. "Everyone, allow me to introduce my cousin, Maverick."

The announcement immediately drew every gaze toward the newcomer.

Despite suddenly becoming the center of attention, Maverick’s composure remained utterly unperturbed. If anything, he continued wearing the same calm, restrained expression that had accompanied him since arriving at the training grounds, neither eager to impress nor uncomfortable beneath their scrutiny.

"Maverick?" the girl with the golden ponytail suddenly asked.

Her brows knitted together as her narrowed eyes seem to search through old memories. Several moments later, realization dawned upon her face.

"Wait. Are you talking about the Maverick whose father was sent by His Majesty to guard the Frozen North?" she asked before her eyes widened slightly. "That little Maverick?"

Judging by the familiarity in her tone and the effortless way she uttered those words, it was obvious that she knew exactly who he was.

This revelation surprised Maverick more than anyone else.

Truthfully, he remembered very little about the younger generation standing before him. Nearly a decade had passed since he’d left House Valehart, and childhood faces naturally faded with time. Yet judging by the ease with which she addressed him, it was evident that they had once known each other quite well; perhaps even played together during their younger years.

More importantly, the nickname "little Maverick" implied she remembered him not as Lord Goldric’s son, but as the mischievous child might have once been.

Maverick wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Even Cedric blinked in surprise.

After a brief stunned silence, however, the young heir recovered with a smile.

"You’re right, Elena. It’s the very same Maverick."

He gestured toward his cousin and continued speaking.

"He returned yesterday after nearly ten years in the Frozen North. And since he’s been away from House Valehart for so long, I thought I’d show him around the estate while introducing him to everyone. That way, he’ll become familiar with both the House... and its people much faster."

"So that’s why you gathered us?" Tristan asked, openly examining Maverick from head to toe.

Cedric nodded with an affirmative smile.

"Exactly. Now that all of you know who he is, it’s only fair that he learns who all of you are."

Turning toward Maverick, Cedric began making introductions. He first pointed toward the ponytailed girl and spoke.

"Maverick, this is Elena. She’s the granddaughter of one of the Grand Elders. Also, among all of us, she’s probably the most diligent and intelligent."

He chuckled softly before adding. "You could say she’s everyone’s older sister..."

He paused briefly before adding with a helpless smile. "Myself included."

Maverick inclined his head politely and replied. "It’s a pleasure to meet you."

His response was curt yet courteous, carrying neither excessive warmth nor unnecessary aloofness.

Elena returned the nod with a pleasant smile. "The pleasure is mine."

Just as Cedric was about to continue, she suddenly spoke again.

"You know..." Her emerald eyes carefully examined Maverick. "This is honestly surprising. When you were little, you were rough, noisy, and constantly getting into trouble."

Her smile widened. "But now... You seem so calm and composed. It seems the Frozen North really changed you a lot, didn’t it?"

Maverick merely shrugged before answering.

"I wouldn’t say it changed me. I’d simply say I outgrew my childish self."

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he added. "You can’t expect me to remain a child forever now, can you?"

Elena regarded him with an appraising gaze before laughing softly. "I suppose not."

Then she smiled warmly. "Nevertheless... It’s nice to have you back, little Maverick."

His brows twitched almost imperceptibly upon hearing those last two words. For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, hearing himself called "little Maverick" somehow grated against him.

Still, he chose not to argue. Instead, he simply looked toward Cedric.

The young heir glanced between the two before continuing.

He pointed toward the lanky youth standing nearby.

"This is Tristan. His father is one of House Valehart’s elite commanding knights."

The instant those words were spoken, Tristan unconsciously straightened his posture, a flicker of pride surfacing upon his face.

Unfortunately for him, Cedric wasn’t finished.

"However..." Cedric continued with an amused smirk. "Despite coming from such a valiant bloodline, he’s always looking for the easiest path. He avoids responsibility whenever possible. In fact, you could say he’s House Valehart’s resident slacker and professional freeloader."

"Hey!" Tristan protested immediately, both indignation and embarrassment written across his face.

"Why would you introduce me like that? I’m courageous too, you know!"

He puffed out his chest, assuming a grandiose pose. "Tell me, who else here has ever fought and killed an Anima?"

Maven suddenly snorted before replying. Of course nobody. Because you killed it in your dreams."

The entire group erupted into laughter when he said that.

However, Tristan shot him a murderous glare. If looks alone possessed lethal force, Maven would have perished several times over beneath its intensity.

"Oh?" Tristan folded his arms. "Says the person who couldn’t even handle an ordinary Beast."

His voice dripped with derision when he spoke.

But Maven merely rolled his eyes as he said.

"At least I don’t boast about accomplishments that only exist inside my imagination."

The laughter only intensified, embarrassing Tristan further.

Cedric merely shook his head helplessly. As expected, this two would never miss the chance to argue with one another.

At this point, he was quite used to it. So ignoring their continued bickering, Cedric turned toward another youth.

This one stood roughly a head shorter than him. And among the assembled youths, his height was slightly above average, yet compared to individuals like Maven and several of the broader knights, he appeared noticeably more compact in build.

"This is Cassian." Cedric started, his expression growing noticeably more serious.

"Don’t let his stature deceive you. He’s also the grandson of a Grand Elder. And..."

A hint of admiration surfaced in Cedric’s eyes as he added. "One of the bravest young men House Valehart has ever produced."

Maverick looked at the youth more carefully.

For Cedric to offer such sincere praise, especially without exaggeration, meant there was undoubtedly more to Cassian than first met the eye.

Indeed, judging solely by appearance, Cassian seemed entirely ordinary. His physique was neither imposing nor particularly eye-catching.

Yet when Maverick examined him more closely, his pupils contracted ever so slightly.

This was because Cassian... Was an Initial Stage Rank One Etheryean.

The discovery genuinely surprised him.

Earlier, Maverick had sensed Maven’s cultivation almost immediately because the larger youth unconsciously emitted a robust martial aura.

Cassian, however, radiated nothing.

His presence was astonishingly restrained; it was as though he had completely withdrawn every trace of his cultivation, allowing himself to blend seamlessly into the background.

Exactly as Maverick himself often did.

That single observation told Maverick more than appearances ever could.

This youth possessed remarkable control over his own aura.

And someone who was capable of concealing their strength so naturally was undoubtedly far more dangerous than they initially appeared.

At that moment, Maverick finally began to understand something. House Valehart truly was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers resided.

Here, the most unassuming individual might very well be the most formidable. And because of that, he silently reminded himself never to judge anyone by appearances alone...