Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

The butchering process took far longer than bringing the Scarlet Streak Antelope down.

This was because unlike ordinary beasts, the hide of this Rank One Anima possessed an unnatural toughness.

In fact, Regaleon had to activate Silver Sheen several times just to separate the crimson hide cleanly from the flesh beneath. And even then, every precise cut demanded complete concentration.

Eventually, after several painstaking minutes, Regaleon enlisted the help of the other two to craft crude skin sacks from the antelope’s hide.

He punched evenly spaced holes around the edges while Veyrath threaded strips of tendon through them. Vaelorin followed behind, tightening every knot until the hide was securely stitched together...

They repeated the process a second time, and before long, two rough yet surprisingly durable skin sacks had taken shape.

Once they were finished, the meat, organs, horns, hide scraps, and every other useful part of the Scarlet Streak Antelope were carefully packed away before the openings were tightly secured.

Regaleon slung one sack over his shoulder while Vaelorin reluctantly carried the second, leaving Veyrath with nothing more to do.

And just like that, the journey back to the cave began...

The Crimson Forest was unusually peaceful...

Crimson leaves drifted lazily through the morning air while a cool breeze carried the scent of damp earth mixed with the lingering smell of fresh blood from the hunt.

Somewhere high above, unseen birds released eerie cries before disappearing deeper into the scarlet canopy. Compared to the battle they had just fought, the forest almost felt tranquil.

Almost!

None of them were foolish enough to trust the silence because the Crimson Forest was less a woodland and more a smiling predator patiently waiting for its next victim.

Regaleon walked at the front, his Halberd resting casually in one hand while the skin sack hung over his shoulder. Vaelorin followed a few steps behind, struggling to maintain the knight’s pace beneath the surprising weight of the sack. Despite its appearance, it was far heavier than it looked.

Bringing up the rear was Veyrath. Having long since demanifested his Soul Essence, the failed Alchemist walked leisurely with both hands clasped behind his back, softly whistling a tune that only he seemed to know...

For several minutes, none of them spoke...

As always, however, Veyrath was the first to break the silence. It was almost as though the failed Alchemist had been born incapable of keeping his mouth shut for very long.

He quickened his pace until he was walking beside Regaleon.

”You know, Regaleon..” He began. ”You never really told us about your first... Quarry. Or what was it called again?”

The silver-haired knight spared him a brief glance before answering curtly.

”It is called the Chivalry of the First Quarry.”

”Right. That’s the one.” Veyrath nodded. ”You told us the name, but you never actually explained what it was.”

Before Regaleon could answer, Vaelorin spoke between strained breaths.

”And how is that significant to our current situation?”

Veyrath rolled his eyes dramatically.

”Oh, would you stop being such a killjoy? I’m merely curious. I’ve been wondering what kind of House would send a twelve-year-old heir into the wilderness just to hunt a beast.”

Silence lingered for several moments before Regaleon finally answered.

”Not heir.” His voice remained calm as he explained further. ”In fact, I was never viewed as an heir by House Valehart and calling me an outcast would actually be far more accurate.”

Veyrath blinked before speaking.

”If that was your position, then why were you made to undergo that Chivalry? Was it so compulsory?”

Regaleon let out a dry, humorless chuckle. ”Compulsory? No.”

He shook his head.

”At that age, I wasn’t even supposed to participate in the First Quarry. As I told you before, the Chivalries are rites of passage meant to introduce young knights into noble society.”

His golden eyes stared ahead, carrying a wistful expression within them as he spoke with melancholy.

”But to me, they were never simply rites of passage.”

”Oh, whatever you say.” Veyrath waved dismissively before grinning. ”You mentioned there are twelve Chivalries, right? But how many of them have you completed?”

Vaelorin sighed before asking.

”Why are you suddenly so interested in Regaleon’s past?”

”Would you stop interrupting?” Veyrath groaned. ”I told you, I’m just curious.”

His playful expression slowly faded.

”Besides...”

He looked ahead at the endless crimson trees with genuine melancholy crossing his face. His smile disappeared completely, replaced by a quiet yearning as he added.

”I’ve been missing Valoria.”

The confession caused an immediate silence to settle over the trio.

Even the breeze seemed quieter... And it was only after several moments that Vaelorin finally let out a cold scoff.

”Valoria?” He looked at Veyrath as though the very idea disgusted him. ”You miss that place?”

Veyrath frowned. Turning toward the red-haired Pyromancer, he asked him.

”Seriously? Don’t tell me you don’t miss home.”

Vaelorin’s fiery red eyes turned icy as he spat. ”Home?”

He laughed bitterly before adding. ”Have you forgotten how that ’home’ treated us? We were cast aside because of defective awakenings; something that wasn’t even our fault.”

Pain seeped into every word when he spoke. And then without even waiting for an answer, he looked away, his gaze settling on the swaying crimson grass.

”That place stopped being my home the day they exiled me.”

His grip tightened around the skin sack.

”Since then, I’ve stopped caring about Valoria. The only thing that matters now is surviving.”

His voice softened.

”No... What actually matters is making sure that we all survive. You know, to put them to shame and while we are at it, spite those that once scorned and rejected us.”

Veyrath remained silent for several moments before turning toward Regaleon.

”What about you?” He hesitated briefly before asking. ”Do you feel the same way?”

Regaleon didn’t answer immediately... But when he finally did, his response was just one word.

”...Yes.”

It was only a single word, yet it carried years of bitterness.

”Though unlike Vaelorin...” He continued quietly. ”I stopped considering Valoria my home the day my mother died.”

His expression remained unreadable.

”Looking back now, perhaps the greatest thing that ever happened to me after her death was being exiled into the Nether Lands. Because it was only then that I truly realize just how inhumane and heartless House Valehart had always been.”

Veyrath lowered his head, a weary sigh escaping his lips.

”I suppose, you two are right.” He said resignedly.

Then his smile returned, though it was a hollow one. ”Maybe I’m only clinging to memories of the few good moments I had there and not the place itself.”

No one replied to his statement and after that, the walk toward the cave became noticeably quieter...

Veyrath remained lost in thought, silently reflecting on everything that had been said. Vaelorin’s expression was equally grim, his jaw clenched as painful memories threatened to resurface.

Only Regaleon appeared unchanged.

Then... The silver-haired knight suddenly stopped walking. His golden eyes slowly swept across the surrounding forest...

At first, neither of the others noticed... Until eventually, however, Veyrath caught the subtle change.

His brows knitted together.

”Regaleon...”

His voice unconsciously became tense.

”...What’s wrong?”

He still vividly remembered the first hunt they had shared together. Back then, Regaleon had worn this exact same expression moments before everything descended into chaos. And whenever Regaleon suddenly stopped like this, it usually meant danger.

Without needing to be told, Vaelorin immediately dropped the skin sack onto the forest floor before manifesting his Fiery Staff once more.

Regaleon’s grip tightened around his Halberd. His instincts were screaming at him; yet no matter how carefully he examined the forest, he couldn’t detect a single trace of danger.

There was no movement nor a discernable killing intent. But still, if there was one thing Regaleon trusted more than his own eyes, it was his instincts because they have never failed him before.

Therefore, even though the danger seemed absent, the silver-haired knight still silently prepared himself...

The three stood motionless as tension steadily thickened the air. Seconds crawled by and at first, it appeared as though Regaleon was just being paranoid.

Then...

”DOWN!”

Regaleon’s roar exploded through the forest.

The warning was directed at Veyrath and without even thinking, the failed Alchemist threw himself flat against the ground...

At almost the exact same instant, razor-thin streak of silver tore through the empty space where his neck had been less than a heartbeat earlier...

WHOOSH!

The gleaming projectile sliced through the air with terrifying speed before disappearing into the depths of the crimson forest like a phantom...