Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

For several moments, silence lingered around the campfire. And the crackling of burning firewood and the distant roar of the waterfall were the only sounds breaking the stillness.

None of them had anything to say because the revelation Aelric had just shared was simply too overwhelming to digest all at once.

However, it seemed the green-eyed youth wasn’t expecting a response either, because after waiting for a few heartbeats, he simply continued.

He leaned forward, picked up another roasted skewer, and took an unhurried bite. Only after swallowing did he look back at the group.

”So yes...” He began casually. ”The Nether Lands is far more than a glorified prison.”

His green eyes then shifted toward Aureleah, his expression becoming serious as he stared at her through furrowed brows.

”Now, you asked why its regions matter to you. But the answer is simple as they matter far more than you currently realize.”

He paused briefly before continuing. ”First, you should understand that not every part of the Nether Lands is equally dangerous.”

This earned unconvinced looks from the group and upon seeing their doubtful expressions, Aelric chuckled.

”I know that’s difficult to believe. After all, everything you’ve been taught paints this place as nothing but a land of endless death. But trust me the more you travel beyond the confines of this forest... The more you’ll realize that danger doesn’t lurk behind every single tree. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I said people eventually grow accustomed to living here.”

Kaeloris rubbed the back of his neck thoughtfully before speaking softly. ”It really is difficult to accept.”

He adjusted his spectacles before continuing.

”I mean, our entire lives we’ve been told that the Nether Lands is where criminals, failed Awakeners, disgraced nobles, and other outcasts are exiled. In fact, there are even legends claiming this place is responsible for the Tide Seasons. So hearing you say that not every region is constantly overflowing with danger...”

He shook his head before concluding. ”...it’s difficult to reconcile that with everything we’ve known.”

Aelric smiled.”I understand. And one day, you’ll see it for yourselves...”

He then raised a finger. ”Now, unto the second reason the regions matter. Resources...”

He allowed a brief silence to reign before beginning his explanation.

”The Nether Lands is unimaginably vast, and every region possesses its own unique ecosystem. Different environments produce different resources, different creatures, and different dangers.”

He then gestured toward the endless crimson forest surrounding them.

”For example, this place; the Crimson Forest. It is generally considered as part of the outermost regions of the Nether Lands because the creatures found here are primarily Mutated Beasts alongside relatively few Rank One Animas.”

”Uhm... Sorry to interrupt.” Sylveris suddenly raised her hand. ”But can I ask something?”

Aelric smiled and gave his permission. ”Go ahead.”

The young girl shifted slightly closer. ”You mentioned Mutated Beasts and Animas. I know what Animas are... But what exactly are Mutated Beasts?”

Valmyr scratched his head. ”Yeah. In fact, this is also my first time hearing that name too.”

Aelric fell silent for several moments before nodding.

”Actually, the difference isn’t as large as you might think. When we speak of Mutated Beasts, which we also call them Netherytes, they are basically creatures that have been corrupted by Nether.”

He glanced around the campfire. ”I’m assuming all of you know what Nether is, right?”

He asked a rather simple question but instead of receiving answers, he was greeted by an awkward silence...

Everyone exchanged uncertain glances before slowly shaking their heads. Finally, Kaeloris spoke.

”I’ve heard the word before but I honestly don’t know what it is... Or how it even came to exist.”

Aelric blinked, then spoke through a groan. ”...Aetherium.”

He rubbed his forehead. ”Are you seriously telling me that none of you know what Nether is?”

He looked around once more.

”And please don’t tell me none of you also know why this place is called the Nether Lands either.”

The silence that followed answered his question. Eventually, Aelric pinched the bridge of his nose before sighing.

”What exactly are they teaching children these days...? Oh well, I suppose I’ll have to explain that too.”

He looked toward Regaleon.

”But before that, you all know what Aether is, right? Like the energy used by Awakeners to cultivate into Etheryeans. And please don’t tell me that I have to explain that as well.”

Regaleon nodded. ”You don’t need to bother. We already know about Aether.”

”Good.” Aelric visibly relaxed.

”That makes things easier. Actually, you can simply think of Nether as the opposite of Aether. Where Aether is pure, stable, and nurtures life.... Nether is corrupted, unstable, and destructive. Therefore, it cannot be cultivated safely unlike Aether.”

He stared thoughtfully into the dancing flames before continuing.

”Aeons ago, after the great catastrophe that destroyed the ancient civilization, an unimaginable amount of Nether flooded this continent. It became so concentrated that the entire land transformed into a dead zone. And according to surviving records, nothing could survive within it. Not beasts nor plants and not even insects... Nothing at all.”

He paused for a few heartbeats before speaking further.

”The situation remained that way for thousands of years. And it was only after the Nether concentration gradually diminished that life began to return.”

Caelestra frowned and asked. ”But if the Nether has weakened, why is it still called the Nether Lands?”

”I’m getting to that.” Aelric replied. He took another bite of the skewer before continuing through a mouthful.

”Actually, the Nether didn’t disappear; it merely declined. Even today, there are regions where the concentration of Nether is so overwhelming that entering them is little different from committing suicide. Now, I’m not going to tell you where those places are because you’ll eventually discover them yourselves.”

He spread one hand before moving cross the clearing. ”As for here, there is still Nether in the atmosphere. But the concentration is extremely low... So low that ordinary people won’t even notice its presence.”

Veyrath leaned forward. ”So if Aether is the energy of cultivation... Nether is essentially its corrupted opposite?”

”Exactly.” Aelric nodded approvingly.

”Now, back to the subject of Netherytes. Netherytes are creatures that cultivate Nether instead of Aether. This didn’t just occured overnight as it was a change that began over countless aeons... And evolution if you will. Also, just as Animas possess Impulses, Outgrowths, and Aether Cores... Netherytes possess their own versions. The difference is that instead of an Aether Core, they develop something called a Nether Core.”

He paused slightly to wipe his lips before continuing. ”Besides those facts, they are also known to be stronger and more aggressive than Animas of the same Rank.”

Then he pointed toward the strips of roasted Scarlet Streak Antelope resting beside the fire.

”In fact, had that antelope been a Netheryte instead of an Anima, I’m afraid none of you would’ve survived. Not even if all of you fought it together.”

Aureleah’s silver eyes narrowed as she leaned in slightly and asked critical. ”Is strength and aggression the only differences between the two? I mean, what about how they can be identified or something.”

Aelric gave her a side glance and spoke.

”You can actually differentiate between an Anima and a Netheryte through their appearance. In nature, Animas usually resemble ordinary beasts; you know they are basically the enhanced version of mundane beats. Netherytes on the other hand... Are twisted.”

He paused briefly before elaborating. ”I told you that they evolved to cultivate using Nether. But despite that evolution, the corruption still changes them in a bad way. You’ll often see decayed flesh, unnatural growths, blackened veins, malformed limbs... Simply put, they look grotesque. Wrong. And unnatural.”

Regaleon’s eyes slowly narrowed...

Almost instinctively, his thoughts drifted back to that monstrous Drake they had encountered on only their second day in the Nether Lands.

Compared to the tiger they had faced in the ruined temple, that creature had been incomparably more terrifying.

It had taken all four of their fighters working together merely to restrain it and even then, they were still vastly overpowered.

At the time, none of them had understood why. But now, hearing about the Netherytes, everything finally made sense.

It wasn’t because the twisted Drake, as the called it, had simply been stronger. It was because it had been a Netheryte...

However, before Regaleon could dwell on the revelation any further, Aelric spoke again. But this time, his tone became unusually grave.

”Oh... I almost forgot something important.”

His green eyes swept across every face around the campfire. ”If you ever encounter a Nether Core, do not touch it. And under absolutely no circumstances should you attempt to cultivate with it.”

His voice became frighteningly calm as he explained. ”This is because the moment an Awakener or an Etheryean tries to absorb Nether into themselves their fate is already sealed. And trust me, you don’t want to know the outcome of such a mistake.”

Silence descended upon the campfire once more. But this time, it was a tense stillness because immediately the weight of Aelric’s warning settled over them, an unsettling realization quietly took root in each of their hearts...