Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

”So, what exactly did the Anima look like?”

Veyrath’s question carried through the clearing as he continued channeling his healing Aether through his roots into Vaelorin.

Tiny emerald roots wrapped around the red-haired Pyromancer’s body, slowly knitting bruised muscles and soothing battered flesh.

Vaelorin leaned against a rock while the restorative energy flowed through him. Hearing Veyrath’s question, he rolled his eyes slightly before replying perfunctorily.

”There wasn’t anything particularly special about the beast. In fact, it looked more like a tiger than any legendary creatures we were told in stories.”

Veyrath blinked. ”A tiger? Just that?”

”Right... It was actually a very large tiger.” The failed Pyromancer even raised his hands to emphasize the size of the creature.

”Also, it was a tiger with a lion’s mane around it’s neck. And most of it’s body were covered with metallic reptilian scales...”

He paused slightly before continuing. ”Oh... And it was also angry enough that it wanted to shred us the moment we laid eyes on it.”

After saying all this, Vaelorin spread his hands and concluded. ”There... That’s your Rank One Anima.”

Veyrath stared blankly for a brief moment before his face twisted into something comical. ”You really have no imagination at all...” He complained.

”What? You asked for a description, and I gave you one. So what more do you want?”

”Tsk. You couldn’t even embellish the story a little? You know, I have never actually seen an Anima in real life and you just had to ruin how I imagined the way one would look like...”

Hearing that, Vaelorin snorted before replying. ”If you wanted to see one so badly in real life, then you should have followed us.”

Veyrath didn’t give a response as he grumbled something under his breath about certain people possessing the storytelling talents of a brick wall.

Nearby, Regaleon was still teaching Sylveris how to use the fangs effectively and the younger girl made sure to listen attentively.

Meanwhile, a short distance away, Caelestra’s attention was suddenly drawn toward the second beastskin sack. There was a peculiar gleam in her eyes as she walked toward it.

She bent slightly and just when her hand was about to reach it...

”Don’t touch that!” Suddenly, Valmyr’s voice exploded across the clearing.

Caelestra paused, then slowly, she lifted her head and turned her gaze toward him.

Valmyr was already standing; and he wasn’t just standing, the failed Vanguard had practically launched himself to his feet...

For a man who had spent the last several minutes needing assistance simply to walk, the speed of his recovery was astounding despite receiving Veyrath’s treatment.

His shoulders were squared, his gaze was sharp, and his entire attention was focused solely upon the sack.

If someone had only seen him now, they would never believe he had recently been sprawled in a half-dead state across the clearing.

Caelestra tilted her head and asked. ”And why exactly shouldn’t I touch it?”

Then, the failed Merchant gestured toward the other sack and continued. ”Isn’t its contents the same as the other sack.”

Valmyr didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he strode forward and snatched the crude carrying bag away. Then he hugged it against his chest like a man protecting the final loaf of bread in a starving city.

Caelestra blinked and the expression on her face became increasingly confused.

”What exactly is wrong with you?” She asked.

From a short distance away, Vaelorin let out a a small, amused chuckle before replying. ”Oh, don’t mind the brute.”

The failed Pyromancer smirked as he continued. ”He is just worried that someone might try to steal the Aether Core from him.”

Immediately he spoke those words, the atmosphere changed as every conversation ceased instantly. Even the distant roar of the waterfall sounded strangely muted now.

Veyrath paused mid-healing as he snapped his gaze toward the sack in Veyrath’s grasp.

”An Aether Core?” The question emerged from his mouth as little more than a whisper.

Then realization struck as his eyes widened immediately. The quartet had killed a Rank One Anima, so of course, there would be an Aether Core to be harvested.

This fact had practically escaped his mind earlier as he focused more on the miserable conditions of the quartet.

Suddenly, the auburn-haired Alchemist rose from his spot and marched directly toward Valmyr.

Behind him, Vaelorin was beginning to regret speaking out as he shouted at him.

”Hey! You are not done healing me yet!”

But Veyrath ignored him. Instead of responding, his amber eyes settled on the sack as he asked.

”Is it true that there really is an Aether Core in there?”

Valmyr narrowed his eyes as he stared at him warily. ”And what if there is?”

That was all the confirmation Veyrath needed and without warning, he reached toward the sack...

But Valmyr reacted instantly as he dodged his hand. ”What in Aetherium’s name do you think you are trying to do?”

Veyrath sounded genuinely offended as he replied. ”I’m trying to see the Core. Also, I think the others deserve to see it.”

”Deserve?” Veyrath scoffed. ”You weren’t the ones who fought against the Anima. So why should you think you deserve to even see the Aether Core?”

Caelestra rolled her eyes before folding her arms. ”Oh, would you please stop acting like you are guarding some sort of sacred treasure?”

Then she pointed toward the sack. ”Besides, I am even more surprised that Regaleon didn’t crush this one too for his evolution.”

That statement earned several looks from others as they turned toward the Forgotten Knight. Regaleon glanced up from Sylveris and exhaled slightly.

”I didn’t crush it this time because I wouldn’t want this Core endings up like the previous ones.”

The group fell silent as they remembered all that happened yesterday...

The failed Knight had crushed four Aether Cores, including a quasi Rank Two one, only for pieces of rust to fall from his Armour.

At the time, the feeling of witnessing it had been almost comical and absurd...

It was only after several moments that Sylveris suddenly glanced at him and asked curiously.

”Regaleon, did you finally figure it out? You know, the thing about your Soul Essences absorbing energy from slain creatures.”

Before Regaleon himself could answer, Kaeloris adjusted his glasses before replying.

”He did. In fact, all four of us witnessed it. The Anima released some kind of scarlet wisp afte it’s death... But, there was no evolution or transformation. Only glowing crimson lines on his Soul Essences...”

Before anyone could comment on that, Veyrath suddenly clapped his hands.

”Guys, we are getting distracted and talking about Regaleon once more. Have you forgotten about the Core in Valmyr’s hands.”

The failed Vanguard visibly paled as seven pairs of eyes immediately focused upon him. Somehow, he suddenly felt like a sheep surrounded by vicious wolves...

Regaleon sighed before walking closer to him.

”Valmyr, give me the sack.” He demanded with an outstretched hand.

The failed Vanguard hesitated for several seconds, and then finally, he reluctantly relinquished his grip over it.

The silver-haired Knight opened the beastskin container and brought out a sphere roughly the size of two clenched fists.

A warm amber glow swirled within its crystalline surface as golden light spilled outward.

”Wow...” Sylveris exclaimed as she stepped closer. ”This is even much larger than the ones from yesterday.”

”It is.” Regaleon nodded before continuing. ”My guess is that it is like this because we harvested it from a a naturally evolved Rank One Anima. Meanwhile, those monstrosities we fought yesterday were artificially created.”

The core gleamed brightly within his palm as he turned toward the group.

”Also, though it looked large, it still wouldn’t be enough for any one of us to use for cultivation.”

Veyrath’s excitement dimmed as he asked gloomily. ”Why not? I mean, don’t we just need a Rank One Core to break through the next stage?”

Regaleon shook his head before explaining further.

”The Initial Stage of the Rank One Etheryean Realm required detecting our dormant Aether Veins. An average Awakener might need roughly five Rank One Cores but since our Soul Essences possess higher tiers, we may require even more Cores.”

After saying this, understanding dawned upon the seven of them as they realized the failed Knight was right.

In Aetherium, there were Nine Ranks of the Etheryean Realm. Each Rank has three stages namely; Initial, Middle, and Final Stage.

For an Awakener to break through to the Initial Stage of Rank One Etheryean Realm, they would need to use Aether to detect and refine dormant Aether Veins in their body.

After doing this, they would then need to merge the Aether with their blood and refine it also. If they’ve done this, they would break through to the Middle Stage.

For the Final Stage, an Etheryean would need to forge their entire body using Aether. This Stage is usually time consuming and painful as they would need to forge each part, organ, tissue, muscle, and cell piece by piece.

It is only after going through these processes that an Awakener would become a full-fledged Etheryean...

Finally, after several moments of silence, Veyrath groaned before asking.

”So what do we do now?”

Regaleon considered the question for a second before replying. ”We do nothing except getting stronger and improving ourselves. Only then would we be able to stand a slight chance if we are to hunt for Rank One Animas together.”

Veyrath almost cursed as he replied. ”In other words, this is just more training, right?”

Regaleon turned toward him and smiled. ”What do you think? But before that, you would need to heal me next. This pain is getting quite unbearable...”