Back in the Crimson Forest, the sanguine sky had begun to pale...

The oppressive red hue that always clung to the horizon seemed slightly diluted, as though the cursed heavens required rest after a night of watching over the twisted forest below.

Within the Cave, flames crackled softly. The fire had burned through most of the night, leaving behind glowing embers that illuminated the sleeping figures gathered around it.

The eight forgotten exiles were asleep... Or perhaps "collapsed" was a better description as they slept like laborers who had been worked beyond their limits by a merciless overseer.

Some leaned against the cave walls. Others sprawled carelessly across the cold stone floor. In fact, one could even hear the occasional snore coming from Veyrath, whose sleeping posture somehow managed to look more dramatic than his walking self.

Yesterday had been brutal; the low-level Wights, the Scaled Wights, the five monstrosities tearing through their cocoons, and the Winged Wights.

It had been one battle after another and there was no opportunity to rest. There was only fighting; hours of fighting and pushing themselves beyond their limits.

Even now, their bodies still ached from the aftermath...

The awakening of their Essence Runes had certainly made them stronger, but that strength did not erase the exhaustion they felt.

Many inexperienced Awakeners made the mistake of believing that awakening an Essence Rune transformed someone into an unstoppable powerhouse.

But it was false.

An Essence Rune was merely a tool. A powerful one, no doubt; but it is a tool nevertheless because even with it, a tired warrior remained tired and an injured warrior remained injured... Unless they’ve already become an Etheryean.

And after everything that had happened, the eight exiles were both tired and injured. Especially Regaleon...

Unlike the previous night, where the Forgotten Knight had stood watch over the group like a valiant sentinel, he now rested amongst them.

His Halberd leaned against the Cave wall beside him while the golden Armour covering his body appeared dull beneath the firelight.

For once, there was no vigilance in his posture, only fatigue.

Not only had the silver-haired Knight fought alongside the group against the monstrosities, he had also ventured into the Breeding Nest afterward and fought against fifty Winged Wights alone...

By the time they finally slept yesterday, even Regaleon had reached his limit...

The Cave remained quiet and only the crackling fire disturbed the silence...

When morning finally arrived, Regaleon was the first to awaken.

Golden eyes flickered open; his gaze was unfocused at first as for several moments, he simply sat there, staring at the flames.

The transition between sleep and wakefulness was slow...

Immediately after, pain greeted him when he came into full consciousness; his left shoulders felt heavy, his back ached, and even his arms felt stiff.

He raised a hand and rubbed his face, then he exhaled slowly...

The grogginess gradually faded as awareness retuned.

Regaleon glanced around slowly...

Aureleah sat against the wall with Sylveris curled up beside her. The younger girl had somehow shifted during the night and now leaned against her older sister’s shoulder while sleeping.

Aureleah herself remained asleep, though one hand was wrapped around a Dagger hidden by her side.

It seems that even while sleeping, the silver-eyed girl still retained her vigilance.

Nearby, Caelestra rested with her arms folded...

While Vaelorin and Kaeloris occupied another section of the Cave.

Somehow, Valmyr had managed to claim more space than anyone else despite sleeping alone.

And Veyrath... Regaleon stared at the failed Alchemist for several seconds.

The youth was snoring. Loudly.

One leg rested against the Cave wall while the rest of him sprawled awkwardly across the ground. His position was really weird.

Regaleon shook his head before standing. The movement caused his Armour to clink softly but no one woke.

That alone spoke volumes about their exhaustion.

Stepping carefully between the sleeping figures, Regaleon moved towards the cave entrance.

Immediately, the cool air greeted him as he stepped outside. As always, the sight before him was something that would have unsettled most people...

Twisted trees stretched endlessly through the crimson mist while jagged roots protruded from the earth like skeletal fingers clawing their way toward the surface.

The atmosphere was dreadful and yet, like yesterday morning, it felt calm. Like a predator lying silently within tall grass.

The Forgotten Knight stepped away from the entrance. His Armour shifted with every movement, producing soft metallic sounds; then, he stretched.

It was a very long one...

His muscles protested immediately as a dull ache spread through his shoulders and back. His arms felt heavier than usual and even his neck cracker faintly when he rolled it.

Clearly, the accumulated fatigue of yesterday had not vanished overnight.

A yawn escaped him and instinctively, he covered his mouth...

After that, Regaleon allowed himself one final glance toward the entrance before turning away...

His boots crunchee softly against loose gravel as he began walking toward the waterfall.

The sound of rushing water grew louder with each step while the crimson mist thinned slightly as he approached.

Soon, the waterfall came into view...

Silver-white water cascaded endlessly from the cliff above, crashing into the lake below with a soothing roar. Mist drifted through the air, carrying the cool scent of fresh water and damp earth.

Around the lake, patches of vibrant vegetation flourished, their greenery standing in stark contrast to the crimson gloom that dominated the rest of the forest.

It was beautiful; deceptively so, but Regaleon had learned his lesson yesterday.

Beneath beauty could lurk danger; and beneath tranquility could hide death. These are the wisdom of a true cultured man.

Moving toward the edge of the lake, Regaleon crouched and cupped water in his hands. The water was cool and refreshing, washing away the dryness lingering in his throat.

He gathered another handful and rinsed his mouth. Even while performing such a simple act, he remained vigilant...

Slowly, Regaleon rose to his feet after having his fill. Then a moment later, golden radiance flickered across his body.

The Armour covering him dissolved into particles of light before disappearing completely, and for the first time since entering the Nether Lands, Regaleon stood without his Soul Essence.

The sensation felt... Strange. Over the past two days, the Armour had become a constant presence around him. It had protected him through battles, and served as an unyielding barrier between himself and the horrors of the Crimson Forest.

Without it, he felt unusually exposed. Like a young lady standing stark naked in a room full of cross-eyed men.

Beneath the Armour, he wore a simple dark tunic and fitted trousers; this clothes were what accompanied frol the start of the journey to the Nether Lands.

Though days had passed since their exile, the garments remained remarkably clean, protected beneath layers of golden Armour throughout every battle.

Regaleon exhaled slowly, them he carefully folded his clothing and placed it atop a nearby rock.

After ensuring his belongings were secure, he stepped toward the water.

The lake was fed directly by the waterfall, and the moment he entered, icy coldness surged through him.

The chill bit at his skin and settled deep into his muscles. Regaleon sucked in a sharp breath, then slowly relaxed.

The cold was intense, but somehow refreshing.

As he moved deeper into the water, tension began to leave his body. The aches from yesterday’s battle remained, but they felt less oppressive now.

For the first time since arriving, he was able to wash away the grime, dust, and lingering exhaustion that had accumulated over days of constant survival...

Meanwhile, back at the Cave, another person stirred awake.

Silver eyes slowly opened...

For several moments, Aureleah remained still, allowing her mind to emerge from slap. Instinctively, her gaze lowered.

Sylveris was still asleep. Seeing her younger sister sleeping peacefully, Aureleah’s expression softened ever so slightly.

Then carefully, she adjusted her before lifting her gaze and surveying the Cave.

Her eyes moved from person to person and then finally... Regaleon, or rather... The absence of Regaleon.

Her gaze lingered at the Cave entrance. Yesterday, he had stood there throughout the night, keeping watch while the others slept.

Today, however, the familiar figure wasn’t there. Aureleah frowned slightly, then her eyes swept through the Cave once more.

Still... There was nothing. He wasn’t inside.

The realization caused her brows to knit together faintly, not out of concern... Or at least, that was what she told herself.

Regaleon was more than capable of taking care of himself. If anything, he was probably the most capable among them when it came to surviving alone.

After a brief moment, she dismissed the thought; perhaps he had gone scouting, perhaps he was training... Or perhaps, he simply needed some time alone...

Whatever the reason, it wasn’t particular important.

She stretched her arms above her head as a small yawn escaped her lips.

Then she stepped outside. The Crimson Forest greeted her immediately; the air was cool while the mist drifted lazily between the trees.

Aureleah scanned the surroundings but there was still no sign of Regaleon.

After several seconds, she simply shrugged inwardly, before turning toward the waterfall.

Within a few moments, the distant roar of rushing water reached her ears and soon, the waterfall came into view.

Despite being located within the Nether Lands, this place possessed a strange serenity to it.

Aureleah approached the edge of the lake...

The water reflected the crimson sky above like liquid glass...

She exhaled softly; yesterday’s battle had left her exhausted, so a bath sounded appealing.

Without hesitation, silver light flashed around her as the Cloak dissolved into particles of light.

Afterward, she removed her outer garments and folded them neatly beside the lake. She was so focused on her own actions that she failed to notice another neatly folded clothes resting atop a nearby rock.

The waterfall roared, the mist drifted, the lake remained calm... And then, Aureleah stepped into the water.

A slight shiver ran through her body as the cold greeted her immediately. Then, she moved deeper; the water climbed to her waist... Then her stomach... Then higher...

She closed her eyes briefly, allowing the cool sensation to wash away some of the fatigue lingering in her muscles.

For the first time in days, she felt somewhat relaxed...

Then...

The surface of the lake erupted outward. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

SPLASH!

A head suddenly emerged from beneath the water directly in front of her.

Aureleah froze as her silver eyes widened...

Several feet away, Regaleon surfaced from beneath the water after diving into the lake.

Water streamed down his chiselled face as he brushed his wet hair backward...

Then...

He also froze...