Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

Veyrath had nearly lost his mind. Ever since discovering the existence of the Saintsky Rose in the Nether Lands, he became utterly unbearable.

”You have to take us there, now! Immediately! It seems that you have no idea about what you’ve found!”

He circled around the two sisters like a madman while hopping like a rabid rabbit.

Sylveris looked overwhelmed by his behavior as she shrank behind Aureleah who merely continued to look at the failed Alchemist while simultaneously deciding whether to get rid of him or not...

Veyrath saw her cold gaze but he didn’t care. Eventually, unable to endure his endless pestering and couldn’t bring herself to kill him, Aureleah finally smiled.

”Fine. Just stop already...” At this rate, she was already getting dizzy herself.

Veyrath grinned broadly. Like a man who just won a lottery ticket. Then he shouted victoriously, ”Yes!”

The rest of the group simply shook their heads at his childish behavior but one could notice a smile at the corner of their lips...

Afterwards, the group prepared themselves and together, the eight forgotten children ventured into the wilderness behind the cave.

When the group previously deliberated on the direction to take, Aureleah and her sister had decided to take south which eventually led them to the waterfall where the found the Saintsky Rose...

Regaleon walked at the front of the group once more and beside him was Aureleah who led the way to the waterfall they found...

Unlike the rest of the forgotten exiles, Regaleon never allowed excitement to cloud his judgement. This was the Nether Lands; a place where dangers exists everywhere. Like leaves in the forest...

And so as they moved across the forest, Regaleon remained silent and watchful. However, the deeper the group travelled, the stranger the forest became...

The dominant twisted black trees gradually thinned while the crimson fog that blanketed the forest ground lessened. Even the oppressive atmosphere weakened slightly and finally...

The sound of rushing water echoed ahead. Clearly, they were getting closer. The group moved for some minutes, then they stepped over some jagged rocks before Aureleah finally stopped.

”We are here. ” She declared.

As the group emerged from the forest, they all froze completely. Even Regaleon’s sharp eyes narrowed faintly in surprise. His watchful expression disappeared as it was replaced by shock...

Before them stood a waterfall so beautiful it seemed stolen from another world entirely. Silver water cascaded gracefully from towering cliffs above, crashing into a crystal-clear lake below...

Mist drifted gently through the air while lush green vegetation surrounded the entire area. Flowers bloomed beside smooth stones while sunlike crimson light filtered through the falling water beautifully...

The scenery looked peaceful, sacred and alive. It was completely unlike anything else within the Nether Lands...

”Whoa...” Caelestra covered her mouth softly as she gasped in disbelief.

Valmyr stared blankly with a goofy expression on his face. It seems even the brute appreciated the beautiful aesthetics of the landscape...

Vaelorin looked stun as though flames had exploded in his brain...

And then, ”What the FUCK?!” Veyrath shouted. His scream literally shattering the peaceful silence...

Sylveris burst into laughter immediately after seeing the awestruck expression on his face. The failed Alchemist looked like a cultured man who just saw the ideal girl of his dreams...

The scene truly looked unreal. As though every beautiful thing remaining within this cursed Lands had somehow gathered there secretly...

Yet while the others were drunk in admiration, Regaleon’s daze vanished quickly. His shoulders tightened subtly as golden eyes sharpened once more...

Every cultured man knows that beautiful things often hid the deadliest dangers...

And for something as beautiful as this to exist within the Nether Lands, then one could only imagine how deadly the monsters there would be.

Aureleah noticed his expression and though she was bewildered at his cautious expression, she silently became more alert as well...

”Over here...” She said quietly. The group walked behind her carefully across several slippery rocks before approaching the waterfall directly.

The rushing water concealed a narrow opening behind its silver curtain. It was a hidden cave and cautiously, the group entered...

Cold mist brushed against their skin as they crossed deeper into darkness. At first, the cavern appeared ordinary but as they went deeper, gradually, the walls began glowing as soft blue light shimmered across the stony surfaces while veins of green crystal stretched throughout the cave like luminous roots causing the entire cavern to sparkle beautifully.

Caelestra gasped loudly as she rushed forward immediately toward the glowing formations. ”These are Essence Crystals!” She exclaimed, holding a glowing blue stone in her hand.

Valmyr scratched his head in confusion. ”Essence what?”

Before Caelestra could explain further, Kaeloris adjusted his cracked spectatcles and spoke calmly. ”Essence Crystals are extremely valuable Aetheric minerals...”

His timid self now carried an unusual confidence as he explained, ”They are used in advanced potions, enhancement rituals, and Essence refinement.”

Then he pointed toward the glowing stone Caelestra held in her grasp like a lifeline. ”For House Auricrest specifically, these Crystals are incredibly important.”

Valmyr blinked then asked, ”Why?”

Kaeloris sighed softly before proceeding, ”The strength of House Auricrest depends heavily on the quality of their Coins and Treasure Chests.”

Then he glanced toward the failed Merchant and continued, ”Essence Crystals can directly improve the quality and value of their monetary Essences.”

Caelestra nodded proudly as she said, ”Our House controls several economic routes because of that...”

Even with all those explanations laid out before him, Valmyr still looked confused. ”I still don’t get it.” He said, smiling wryly.

The failed Gnost pinched the bridge of his nose helplessly. ”That’s because you are a muscle headed fool with brawns for brains.” He muttered softly.

Hearing his words, the others laughed. Who knew that the most quiet one amongst them, besides Sylveris, could be quite outspoken when he needs to be...

Meanwhile, as the others laughed to that little joke, Regaleon alone remained tense as his gaze constantly swept across the cave. For some reason, something felt wrong and out of place...

It wasn’t something that was visibly wrong, it was more like a feeling. Call it an instinct or a premonition...

The same feeling that soldiers sensed before ambushes.

But even when he was uneasy, he still kept quiet as he wouldn’t want to disrupt the laughter with a gut feeling...

Afterwards, the group continued deeper into the cavern. The glowing crystals illuminated their path beautifully as they walked. Above them, water dripped softly from glowing stalactites. Like falling stars.

Eventually, the tunnel widened and the group stepped into an enormous underground chamber and the sight before them was... Well, let’s just say it rendered them speechless.

There were flowers. Hundreds of them... Perhaps even thousands as they bloomed throughout the cavern in radiant colors beneath the glowing crystal lights...

Five colored roses covered portions of the chamber floor while strange rainbow-colored sprouts shimmered nearby amongst several wonderful herbs. Aether floated visibly through the air like drifting fireflies giving the inside of the cavern a sacred atmosphere...

Veyrath completely lost control immediately he saw the five colored flowers. ”A SAINTSKY ROSE!”

His screamed echoed hysterically throughout the cavern like the cry of a newborn baby, as it grates at the ears of the others and almost making them jump out of their skin...

But it seem like the failed Alchemist didn’t care as he sprinted toward the flowers at full speed before collapsing beside one dramatically...

”My precious...” He said, gently caressing the petals like a soldier meeting his lover after war.

The sight was almost nauseating as Vaelorin looked visibly disturbed. He shivered instinctively as he said, ”I think I already have goosebumps.”

Sylveris giggled at Veyrath’s antics, her eyes twinkling as she watched him embrace the flowers.

Meanwhile, Kaeloris suddenly gasped too. It seems like whatever had infected Veyrath as also affected him as his eyes widened behind his cracked lenses.

”No way...” He whispered as he hurried to another glowing plant nearby. It’s stem shimmered with flowing rainbow patterns while tiny streams of liquid Aether trickled beneath translucent leaves.

The failed Gnost’s hands trembled as he softly said, ”Isn’t this... The Rainbow Stream Sprout?” His voice was filled with disbelief. Like an atheist suddenly finding out that God is real.

The others turned toward him blankly. Perhaps wondering what has suddenly gotten into the mind of the one that was supposed to be the quietest amongst them...

Kaeloris noticed their expression and explained, ”Just like how the Saintsky Rose is important in alchemy...” He pointed toward Veyrath who was already drooling as he caressed the Rose. ”...the Rainbow Stream Sprout is also invaluable to Gnosts.”

His usually timid voice carried genuine passion now, ”If I can cultivate this properly, its effect would be no less than what an Essence Crystal do to the Soul Essences of House Auricrest.”

The expression on the failed Gnost’s face was a mix of hope, excitement and possibility as for the first time since his exile, Kaeloris looked like someone glimpsing a path towards the future again.

Everyone was still lost in his explanation when someone suddenly exclaimed. Vaelorin groaned loudly as he complained, ”This isn’t fair. Why is it that you people keep finding resources useful to your Soul Essences while there’s nothing here for me?”

Aureleah sent him a cold glance but suddenly, Valmyr walked toward him sympathetically...

”You are not alone brother.” He comforted, while placing a heavy hand upon the failed Pyromancer’s shoulder.

”Come...” Then his expression became more emotional, ”Let big brother embrace your suffering.”

Hearing those words, Vaelorin’s face paled instantly, ”Stay away from me.” He shouted, his voice almost high pitched. Like a niece running away from a perverted cross-eyed uncle.

The bulky youth opened his arms dramatically, ”No. Come, let us cry together.” His expression was sympathetic but to Vaelorin, he looked wretched. Like that same uncle trying to tell a lie just to get his niece.

”No...” Vaelorin instantly fled toward Caelestra who looked at him with disdain.

”... Coward.” She spat, sending a glance to Vaelorin who now hid behind her. Like a molested niece seeking safety underneath her bed.

As Vaelorin hid behind her, the others laughed at the scene that played out before them. And yet, amidst the strange filling the cave, Regaleon still remained detached and deeply uneasy.

His hand tightened slightly around his Halberd while the crimson markings beneath the rusted metal pulsed faintly. His nerves were taut as every instinct screamed danger...

He slowly scanned the chamber once more. The cavern is still as it was. There were beautiful flowers with glowing crystals and rich Aether; all of which were resources beyond imagination. But this resources appear convenient... Far too convenient.

The Nether Lands was not known to give gifts without a price. In fact, it never offered gifts at all...

Regaleon finally spoke. ”That’s enough.” He said, his voice cutting sharply through the chamber. The laughter immediately faded as they looked toward him.

”Can we harvest what we came for and leave?” He asked, with an undertone of uneasiness in his voice. It wasn’t fear as Regaleon doesn’t know fear. Instead, it was cautioun.

Veyrath stared at Regaleon incredulously. ”Calm your nerves knight.” He waved dismissively. ”Nothing’s going to happen.” His voice was lackadaisical.

Clearly, he considered Regaleon as someone that is overly paranoid but someone else didn’t...

Aureleah’s silver eyes narrowed slightly as unlike the others, she understood instincts because assassins were trained to survive through sensitivity towards danger...

And if Regaleon was feeling quite uneasy, then there was something wrong. Even when they were met face to face with a horde of Wights, Regaleon never blinked an eye but here, where everything was supposed to be glittering, that was when he was feeling like that, then...

Without further ado, Aureleah activated her Cloak. Dark shadows wrapped around her instantly while twin silver daggers appeared within her grasp...

The failed Alchemist laighed. ”Seriously. You two are unbelievably paranoid.” He said almost mockingly.

Yet despite the mockery, the others subtly became more cautious too. If their two best fighters were already like this, then there was no need for doubt...

Valmyr lifted his Shield while Vaelorin summoned faint flames around his Staff. Even Kaeloris nervously hurried as he dug around the Rainbow Stream Sprout carefully...

All the while, Regaleon’s gaze never stopped moving and suddenly....

The cavern suddenly felt quieter now. Too quiet. Then...

RUMBLE!

A deep sound echoed faintly through the chamber while everyone froze. Then, the sound came louder...

RUMBLE!!!!!

Dust drifted from the cavern ceiling. Sylveris grabbed Aureleah immediately while Valmyr’s expression hardened...

Regaleon’s eyes sharpened as hhs gaze remained fix ahead. Then...

ROAR!!!

A roar exploded throughout the cavern. The sound was monstrous, ancient and furious as it reverberated through stone and bone alike, carrying enough force to knock several people off their feet...

Then slowly, from the deepest darkness of the cavern... Sometimes massive began moving.