Regaleon: The Forgotten Knight

Chapter 110: Skinning The Antelope

For several long heartbeats, the forest remained eerily silent as the three men stood around the twitching body of the Scarlet Streak Antelope.

The majestic Anima gave one final convulsion before its limbs slackened completely. The vibrant crimson glow that had lingered within its eyes gradually dimmed, vanishing into lifeless emptiness.

No one moved... And it was only after a few moments had passed that Regaleon finally step forward.

Without a word, he wrapped one gauntleted hand around the shaft of his halberd and pulled it free from the Antelope’s throat with a wet, tearing sound. Dark crimson blood slid down the polished silver blade before dripping steadily onto the grass below.

With the ease of long practice, he flicked his wrist, scattering the remaining blood across the surrounding undergrowth before resting the weapon comfortably at his side.

Behind them, the flames Vaelorin had unleashed throughout the chase gradually lost their fury. The blazing inferno that had cut off the Scarlet Streak Antelope’s escape routes dwindled into scattered embers before disappearing entirely, leaving only blackened earth, curling wisps of smoke, and the lingering scent of burnt timber as silent testimony to the fierce pursuit that had unfolded moments earlier.

The forest slowly reclaimed its peace as the rustling of leaves replaced the deafening clash of battle...

Eventually, Veyrath let out a long breath before lowering his massive bronze Cauldron onto the ground with a heavy thud. Planting both hands upon his knees, he bent over as sweat streamed freely down his face.

"I was honestly beginning to think that thing would keep running forever."

His exhausted chuckle echoed softly through the clearing.

Nearby, Vaelorin dismissed his staff, allowing it to dissolve into countless crimson motes that scattered into the air. He rolled his sore shoulders before repeatedly flexing his stiff fingers.

"You know..." He said, glancing sideways at the failed Alchemist. "If anyone has the right to complain, it certainly isn’t you."

Veyrath looked up and asked. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means..." Vaelorin replied matter-of-factly. "...that nobody forced you to join this hunt. You practically volunteered the moment Regaleon mentioned we were tracking a Rank One Anima."

"I wasn’t complaining." Veyrath replied, straightening himself with a groan before wiping the sweat from his forehead. "I was merely commenting on the sheer persistence and speed of that thing."

He then pointed toward the dead antelope as he continued. "It escaped from us twice already. So forgive me if I wasn’t exactly expecting us to... you know... actually kill it."

Regaleon looked over his shoulder and asked. "Is that really so surprising?"

Both men turned toward him...

The failed Knight rested his halberd against one shoulder before speaking calmly.

"If you consider everything we’ve gone through just to bring it down, then this outcome was inevitable." He gestured toward the carcass before continuing. "Actually, nothing about this was easy, was it?"

Veyrath slowly nodded as he understood that Regaleon wasn’t entirely wrong.

Although the hunt appeared almost effortless in the end, the reality couldn’t have been more different.

Over the past several days, the three of them had discussed strategy after strategy. They had carefully observed the Scarlet Streak Antelope’s habits, mapped possible escape routes, studied its incredible speed, and rehearsed countless plans until every movement became second nature.

Even then, the hunt had nearly failed... Twice.

The Scarlet Streak Antelope might have been a herbivorous Anima, but it remained a Rank One creature of the Crimson Forest. And like every other Anima, it possessed both an Outgrowth and an Impulse.

Its frightening speed alone had nearly allowed it to escape multiple times.

Had Regaleon allowed it even a brief opportunity to unleash its Impulse, them Veyrath doubted any of them would still be standing here.

But thankfully, hours of planning, relentless training, and perfect coordination had finally borne fruit.

"I suppose you’re right." Veyrath said, letting out another sigh before standing upright. "I guess we really earned this one."

Regaleon’s attention returned to the fallen Anima. He crouched beside it, gently placing one hand against its sleek crimson hide...

Even in death, the creature possessed a certain elegance.

Its scarlet fur shimmered beneath the crimson canopy overhead, while the silver streaks running along its body seemed almost painted by nature itself.

Vaelorin folded his arms as he stared at the corpse. "You know, we’ve actually gotten better."

His voice carried unusual seriousness as he spoke. "Only a few days ago we were running for our lives from an army of living statues. But now, we’ve successfully hunted down a Rank One Anima."

He looked toward the others when he proceeded.

"If anything I’d say we’ve grown stronger; even if it is only by a little..."

Regaleon immediately shook his head.

"No. Don’t allow one victory to cloud your judgment. This may have looked easy, but trust me when I say that it wasn’t."

He stood on his feet before resting his halberd across one shoulder...

"Never forget that a creature on the level of the Scarlet Streak Antelope nearly wiped out four of us back at the ruined temple considering there is virtually no difference between this creature and that tiger."

His golden eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke further. "In fact, the only reason this hunt ended differently was because we refused to give it an opportunity to fight on its own terms. If that Antelope had managed to activate its Impulse, then the corpses lying on this forest floor would have belonged to us."

Neither Vaelorin nor Veyrath argued because they knew that he was right...

Vaelorin eventually nodded before speaking. "I understand. Actually, I’m not saying we’ve become powerful; I’m only saying that we’ve become better than we were."

His crimson eyes drifted toward the distant forest as he elaborated. "You know, a few days ago, none of us would’ve even dared to approach a Rank One Anima much less hunted one. But now, we’ve actually killed one. I mean, that has to count for something, right?"

Veyrath laughed softly as he nodded. "Right. I suppose that’s true..."

He looked down at the antelope once again.

"Though I suspect our improvement has less to do with talent and more to do with surviving Aureleah’s training."

Hearing that, Vaelorin immediately burst into laughter.

"You’re not entirely wrong."

Regaleon’s lips twitched ever so slightly as he recalled everything they’ve been put through over the last few days...

Over the past several days, Aureleah had taken complete control of everyone’s combat training and calling her methods "strict" would have been an insult to strictness itself.

From sunrise until dusk, every exercise had pushed them beyond their physical limits. There were footwork, reaction drills, weapon control, endurance, repeated sparring... And then more endurance...

There were no shortcuts, no excuses... And no mercy.

Truthfully, part of the reason Veyrath had volunteered for today’s hunt was simply to escape another one of Aureleah’s brutal training sessions.

Because if given the choice between spending an entire day chasing dangerous Animas through the Crimson Forest or enduring another lesson under the silver-haired assassin, then honestly, he would choose the Animas every single time.

He had voiced this complaint to Regaleon more times than he cared to count. But unfortunately, the failed Knight had dismissed every single protest without hesitation.

And at this point, Veyrath had developed a rather outrageous theory.

He was already beginning to suspect that Aureleah somehow had Regaleon completely wrapped around her finger.

He possessed absolutely no evidence to support such a claim. But one day... He was convinced that he would uncover something...

A comfortable silence settled over the clearing. The wind gently stirred the surrounding trees while the smell of fresh grass mixed with the scent of blood and smoke...

Eventually, Veyrath clapped his hands together. "Well, standing here isn’t going to make it any deader, is it? So, Regaleon, why don’t you do your thing."

He grinned at the silver-haired knight before adding. "I mean, you’re the craftsman among us."

Regaleon shot him a sideways glance before letting out a resigned sigh. Then without another word, he knelt beside the carcass once more.

Using the axe blade of his Halberd, he began working with practiced precision; every movement was efficient and every cut deliberate as the blade separated hide from flesh with remarkable speed, wasting neither effort nor material...

Vaelorin watched for several moments before grimacing. "You know, no matter how many times I watch you do that, I still don’t understand how you manage it."

He wrinkled his nose.

"I mean, handling the steaming entrails of a creature like it’s completely normal; that’s honestly disgusting."

Veyrath visibly shuddered before adding. "I’ve wondered the exact same thing. In fact, forget about the skinning because for me, It’s the smell. I swear I’d empty my stomach before making it halfway through the process."

He looked toward Regaleon with genuine admiration.

"Sometimes I wonder how you do all that of without vomiting your guts out."

Regaleon didn’t even look up from his work as he asked. "Would both of you kindly stop trying to make my job harder by talking? I’m trying to concentrate here."

The two exchanged an embarrassed glance.

"...Right."

"...Sorry."

Then after that, silence returned to the clearing...

And only the rhythmic scrape of steel against hide echoed softly through the tranquil forest as the failed Knight continued preparing the Scarlet Streak Antelope for the long journey back to the cave...