The Void Heart Devourer

Chapter 11: Leaving the Holy City

Dawn had barely broken when Akseli opened his bedroom door. The corridors of the Vainio Clan residence were still dark. Most of the household was still asleep, with only the sound of the morning wind blowing softly through the old windows.

A small bag hung from his shoulder. Inside were only his family’s heirloom sword, a map to the Tomb of the Kings, his mother’s black pendant, and a letter he had folded neatly. There were no luxuries or valuable supplies, as if he truly intended to start his life from scratch.

Akseli stared down the hallway for a long time. For eighteen years, this house had been his entire world. It was here he had grown up, endured insults for being born without an Aether Heart, and it was here that he had decided to leave it all behind.

His footsteps sounded faint on the wooden floor. Each step felt heavier than the last—not out of hesitation, but because he realized this journey might not bring him back home.

As he passed the main hall, he stopped. On the table sat a cup of tea, now cold. Beside it lay a scrap of paper.

Return safely.

A faint smile appeared on Akseli’s face. He folded the note and tucked it into his bag.

"I will return, Father."

"After I find all the answers."

He was about to open the door when a voice stopped him.

"I knew you would leave early."

Akseli turned. The Vainio Patriarch stood at the end of the hall in simple sleepwear. His face looked tired, but his gaze was much calmer than it had been in recent days.

"Father..."

"I have no intention of stopping you," the man said as he walked closer. "But as a father, at least let me walk you to the gate."

The sun began to show its rays as Akseli reached the main road of the Holy City.

Although it was still early, the atmosphere was quite busy. Merchants were starting to open their shops, carriages were passing by, and young cultivators were heading toward their respective training grounds.

But as soon as someone recognized him, the crowd slowly changed.

"That’s him... the boy who destroyed the Awakening Crystal."

"The Harbinger of Disaster."

Some people intentionally moved out of Akseli's path, as if afraid to be too close to him. A mother even pulled her son behind her.

"Don't go near him."

"You'll catch his bad luck."

The little boy looked at Akseli innocently.

"But, Mother... he doesn't look evil."

His mother immediately tugged the child's hand.

"Don't ask questions."

Akseli heard it all but kept walking without changing his expression. Once, every insult would have made his chest tighten. Now, those words felt distant. Not because they weren't hurtful, but because he had begun to understand that people only believed what they saw. No one truly wanted to seek the truth.

As he passed a tavern, loud laughter erupted from inside.

"Look who’s passing by."

"Edrik was right."

"That cripple finally got kicked out."

Several men eating breakfast looked at him with cynical smiles.

"If I were him, I wouldn't bother coming back."

"What's the point of living if you only bring trouble?"

Akseli kept walking. He didn't retort, nor did he quicken his pace. His calm demeanor actually made them lose interest in mocking him further.

Soon, the main gate of the Holy City came into view. A massive stone wall towered high, protecting the city that had stood for thousands of years. In front of the gate, a dozen guards in silver cloaks stood watch as usual.

One of them immediately recognized Akseli.

"Clear the way."

Another guard turned.

"Oh... so it’s him."

Their gazes were filled with vigilance. The guard commander stepped forward.

"You want to leave the city?"

Akseli nodded.

"Yes."

The man studied him for a moment before taking out a small scroll.

"The Grand Council has issued a notice. If you leave the Holy City, we will not stop you. But any return must be reported."

"I understand."

The commander didn't hand over the scroll yet. He looked at Akseli for a long time before saying in a flat tone:

"Forget everything that happened."

"Live somewhere else."

"Don't come back unless you have to."

The words sounded simple, but the meaning was clear. The Holy City no longer wanted him.

Akseli accepted the scroll without a word. He stepped through the gate. As his feet touched the road outside the city walls, a colder breeze greeted him.

He paused for a moment.

Slowly, he looked back.

From a distance, the Holy City still looked magnificent. Its crystal towers shimmered in the morning sunlight. This place had once been his home.

Now...

he was leaving it without knowing when he would return.

Akseli took a long breath.

"I will return."

"Not for revenge."

"But to find the truth."

After speaking, he turned and continued his journey.

Not far behind him, an old man in a grey cloak stood on a large tree branch. His gaze followed Akseli’s every step.

"Young Master..."

"I hope the Patriarch's decision is the right one."

In an instant, his figure vanished among the trees.

Meanwhile, Akseli continued walking along the rocky path that cut through vast grasslands. The further he left the Holy City, the lonelier his surroundings became. Buildings began to disappear, replaced by hills, small streams, and stretches of forest that seemed endless.

By noon, he stopped at a large rock to rest. He pulled out the dried bread Orvo had given him.

Just as he was about to eat, the sound of horse hooves echoed from a distance.

A merchant carriage passed by with several guards. The caravan leader watched Akseli for a moment before stopping his horse.

"Young man."

"Are you alone?"

"Yes."

"Where are you headed?"

Akseli thought for a second.

"North."

The man shook his head slowly.

"Then be careful."

"The Ashen Forest hasn't been safe these past few months."

"Many monsters have been coming out of its territory."

"Even some experienced hunters haven't returned."

Without waiting for an answer, the caravan continued on its journey until it disappeared around a bend.

"Ashen Forest..."

Akseli took out his mother’s map. His index finger followed the route drawn in black ink. Ahead of him lay only one path to the Tomb of the Kings.

And that path...

forced him to pass through the Ashen Forest.

He put the map away and continued his journey.

Before long, his steps halted again.

Before him, giant trees began to fill the horizon. Their trunks were grayish, while a thin mist enveloped the entire area. Even from a distance, the atmosphere felt silent and oppressive.

A bird flying too low suddenly vanished into the mist.

A few seconds later...

a sharp scream echoed from deep within the forest.

Then...

everything returned to silence.

Akseli stared at the forest without blinking.

"Is this..."

"...the Ashen Forest?"

For some reason, since standing before the woods, the black mark on his palm felt warm again.

As if...

something in there was waiting for him.

The mist in front of the Ashen Forest moved slowly, as if alive.

Akseli stood for a while, watching the giant trees that towered until they covered the sky. There were no birds, no hum of insects. The silence felt more menacing than the roar of a monster.

He took a deep breath before stepping inside.

Once he crossed the forest boundary, the atmosphere changed instantly. The warm sunlight disappeared, blocked by the thick canopy. The air became much colder, while the scent of damp earth mixed with a faint smell of blood filled his senses.

"Strange..."

Akseli furrowed his brow.

According to the stories he’d heard, the Ashen Forest was indeed dangerous. But no one had ever said that this place felt... alive.

As if the entire forest were watching him.

He gripped the hilt of the old sword at his waist. Although he had never been in a real fight, the presence of the weapon calmed his nerves slightly.

A few minutes passed.

Nothing happened.

That was exactly what made Akseli increasingly wary.

"This forest is too quiet."

The moment the words left his lips, the sound of a snapping branch came from behind the bushes.

Snap...

Akseli turned instantly.

His hand instinctively drew his sword.

"Who’s there?"

No answer.

Only the bushes swaying gently in the wind.

A few seconds later, a small rabbit hopped out before scurrying away.

Akseli let out a relieved breath.

"It was just..."

Before he could finish his sentence...

GRRRR...

A heavy growl echoed from behind.

Akseli’s body went rigid.

He turned slowly.

A pair of burning red eyes was watching him from behind the trees.

Then, another pair appeared.

Then another.

In a matter of seconds, six pairs of red eyes surrounded him from all directions.

"Aether Wolves..."

Akseli had seen pictures of these monsters in his family’s library books.

TierOne monsters.

To an ordinary cultivator, they weren't a major threat.

But to someone who didn't even possess an Aether Heart...

A single one was lethal enough.

The wolves’ growls grew deeper.

They hadn't attacked yet.

They were waiting.

Observing their prey.

Akseli gripped his sword tighter.

"If I run..."

"...they will chase."

He recalled a lesson taught by an old instructor when he was a child.

"Never show your back to a predator."

Slowly, he shifted his feet, looking for a better position.

But the wolf pack moved with him.

They continued to tighten the circle.

It was clear they were used to hunting together.

"You guys are even smarter than I imagined."

The largest wolf finally stepped forward.

Its body was nearly as tall as Akseli’s chest.

Its long fangs were stained with fresh blood.

Without warning...

the monster lunged.

Akseli hurriedly raised his sword.

Clang!

The heavy impact made his arms tremble violently.

He managed to deflect the bite, but his body was shoved back until he fell.

Before he could stand up...

a second wolf leaped from the side.

Akseli rolled to avoid it.

Craaak!

The monster’s claws struck the earth, leaving deep gouges.

Cold sweat began to trickle down Akseli’s temple.

"If it keeps going like this..."

"...I’m going to die."

He tried to find an opening.

But the six wolves didn't give him a chance.

They attacked in turns with terrifying discipline.

Akseli could only defend.

He swung his sword occasionally.

But none of his attacks hit the mark.

Too slow.

Too stiff.

All the sword training he had learned turned out to be nearly useless in a fight for survival.

Sret!

One wolf managed to claw his left arm.

Blood immediately flowed, soaking his sleeve.

Akseli winced in pain.

Before he could retreat, another wolf lunged again.

His body was thrown back, slamming into a tree trunk.

Thud!

His breath was knocked out of him.

The sword in his hand almost flew out.

The wolves approached slowly again.

This time, they were certain.

Their prey was no longer able to fight back.

Akseli tried to stand, supporting himself with his sword.

His breathing was ragged.

His hands were trembling.

For the first time since leaving the Holy City...

he truly felt the thin line between life and death.

"Is this..."

"...where my journey ends?"

The leader of the pack growled low again.

Then it leaped.

Akseli raised his sword by reflex.

But he knew...

He was too late.

Just as the monster’s fangs almost reached his throat...

Sraaat!

A flash of light streaked by.

The wolf’s head was sent flying into the air.

Its body dropped without a sound.

The five other wolves immediately stepped back.

They were no longer looking at Akseli.

Their eyes were now fixed behind him.

Someone had just arrived.

Akseli turned slowly.

Standing atop a large rock was a middleaged man in a worn leather coat. A long black bow hung on his back, while his right hand held a short sword still dripping with the monster’s blood.

The man sighed softly.

"Kids these days..."

"Entering the Ashen Forest alone without experience."

He shook his head while looking at Akseli.

"If I had been a few seconds late..."

"...you would have been their lunch."

Akseli was still trying to catch his breath.

"Thank you..."

The man smirked faintly.

"Save the thank you for later."

"Because our problem..."

Before he could finish speaking...

A roar far louder echoed from deep within the Ashen Forest.

ROOOAAARRR!!

The sound caused the entire pack of wolves to flee immediately without daring to look back.

The middleaged man’s expression turned serious instantly.

"Damn it..."

"That thing woke up earlier than expected."

Akseli stared at him, confused.

"What do you mean?"

The man didn't answer.

He only stared toward the darkening forest.

"Run."

"Now."