Void Core: The Last Awakener

10. The Prisoner of the Western Wing

The western wing of the Veyr Manor became silent after that night.

Not ordinary silence.

The kind filled with fear.

Servants no longer entered the area unless directly ordered to do so. Even the guards stationed nearby kept their distance whenever possible, whispering nervously among themselves while glancing toward Kael’s chamber like something monstrous might emerge at any moment.

Rumors spread throughout the clan faster than wildfire.

Some claimed black shadows exploded from Kael’s room.

Others swore they heard inhuman whispers echoing through the halls during the storm.

And though nobody knew the full truth—

Everyone understood one thing.

The cursed child had become dangerous.

Inside his room, Kael sat quietly beside the broken window while staring toward the gray morning sky.

Rainwater still dripped from the damaged ceiling while cold wind entered through the cracks left behind by the previous night’s incident. The shattered walls had already been repaired partially by earth mages earlier that morning, but traces of destruction remained visible everywhere.

Just like the fear lingering inside Kael’s chest.

He still remembered Magnus’ eyes.

Cold.

Distant.

Like looking at something inhuman.

Kael lowered his gaze toward his trembling hands.

“…What am I…” he whispered softly.

No answer came.

For once—

Even the voice inside his mind remained silent.

Knock.

Knock.

Kael looked toward the door as it slowly opened.

Grand Elder Seraph stepped inside carrying several old scrolls beneath his arm. Unlike usual, the old mage looked visibly exhausted.

Dark circles lingered beneath his eyes as though he had not slept at all.

Kael immediately stood nervously.

“…Grand Elder.”

Seraph quietly closed the door behind him before placing the scrolls onto a nearby table.

“How are you feeling?” he asked calmly.

Kael hesitated briefly.

“…Scared.”

The honesty in the answer caused Seraph’s expression to soften slightly.

The old mage slowly approached the broken window before observing the cloudy sky outside.

“You should be,” he admitted quietly. “What happened last night was dangerous.”

Kael clenhed his fists.

“I tried to stop it.”

“I know.”

Seraph turned toward him again.

“But intention alone will not protect you anymore.”

Silence filled the room briefly.

Then Kael finally asked the question weighing heavily inside him.

“…Is Father going to imprison me?”

Seraph remained quiet for several moments.

“…The clan is divided,” he answered honestly. “Some elders want stricter measures.”

Kael lowered his gaze immediately.

Of course they did.

“They fear what they saw.”

Kael laughed bitterly under his breath.

“They always feared me.”

This time—

Seraph could not deny it.

The old mage sighed softly before reaching for one of the ancient scrolls resting on the table.

“For years, I searched for answers regarding the power inside you,” he said quietly. “Most records describing it were erased long ago.”

Kael looked toward him silently.

Seraph carefully unrolled the old scroll.

Ancient symbols filled the faded parchment alongside illustrations of dark shadows swallowing stars and mana circles collapsing into emptiness.

At the center of the scroll—

A single symbol appeared repeatedly.

A black circle resembling an endless void.

Kael instinctively felt cold the moment he saw it.

Seraph’s voice lowered slightly.

“In ancient times, there existed forces beyond mana. Powers connected to concepts humanity could not fully control.”

His finger rested against the black symbol.

“One of those powers was called the Void.”

The moment the word echoed through the room—

Kael’s chest tightened violently.

“…Void…”

The whisper returned instantly inside his mind.

Stronger than before.

Kael grabbed the edge of the table tightly while his breathing became uneven.

Seraph immediately noticed.

“Kael.”

“…It hears…”

The shadows inside the room flickered faintly.

Seraph’s expression darkened.

“Focus on my voice.”

Kael squeezed his eyes shut desperately.

The whisper grew louder.

“…Awaken…”

A freezing sensation spread throughout his chest while black veins slowly surfaced beneath his skin again.

“…They fear you because they know…”

“STOP…”

The candles inside the room flickered violently.

Seraph instantly activated several blue sealing symbols around the chamber while mana pressure spread throughout the air.

“Kael!”

The boy’s breathing became increasingly unstable.

Then suddenly—

The voice disappeared.

Silence returned instantly.

Kael nearly collapsed against the table while breathing heavily.

Seraph stared at him grimly.

“…Just hearing the word strengthens the reaction now.”

Kael slowly looked up.

Fear filled his dark violet eyes.

“What if I hurt someone someday?”

The question lingered heavily inside the room.

Seraph remained silent briefly before answering carefully.

“That is exactly why we must learn control.”

Kael lowered his gaze again.

Control.

Everyone kept talking about control.

But nobody explained how he was supposed to control something he did not even understand.

Later that afternoon, news about Kael’s confinement spread throughout the clan officially.

Children whispered excitedly throughout the training grounds while servants exchanged nervous rumors behind closed doors.

“The cursed child has been locked away.”

“I heard dark energy exploded from his room.”

“They say even Lord Magnus looked disturbed.”

At the center arena, Leon trained silently while listening to the surrounding whispers.

Wind currents spiraled sharply around him before slicing through training targets effortlessly. Yet unlike usual—

His focus felt unstable today.

The shattered room from last night continued replaying inside his mind.

The shadows.

The unnatural pressure.

Kael’s terrified expression.

None of it resembled ordinary mana.

One instructor smiled proudly while observing Leon’s training.

“Young Master Leon improves rapidly as always.”

Leon lowered his hand slowly.

“…Instructor.”

“Yes?”

Leon hesitated briefly.

“…Do you believe someone can be born dangerous?”

The instructor blinked in surprise before chuckling lightly.

“Dangerous people are shaped through their choices,” he answered casually. “Why ask something so strange?”

Leon remained quiet.

Because deep down—

He wasn’t sure anymore.

Meanwhile, inside the western wing, Kael remained isolated completely from the rest of the manor.

Food was delivered outside his door.

Servants avoided entering.

Even the guards stationed nearby looked uncomfortable whenever he appeared near the hallway.

Kael sat quietly beside the window again later that evening while watching distant lights from the main castle.

He could faintly hear laughter echoing from far away.

Normal life continued for everyone else.

But for him—

Everything had changed.

“…Alone…”

The whisper returned softly once more.

Kael closed his eyes tiredly.

“…Why are you doing this to me?”

For the first time—

The voice answered differently.

“…Because you are mine…”

Kael’s eyes widened instantly.

The freezing sensation inside his chest intensified sharply while shadows trembled faintly along the walls.

“…Who are you?” he whispered fearfully.

Silence followed briefly.

Then—

A low laugh echoed inside his mind.

“…I am the darkness buried beneath this world…”

Kael’s breathing became uneven again.

“…Leave me alone.”

“…You cannot escape what you are…”

The shadows stretched unnaturally across the floor toward him.

“…The world rejected you first…”

Kael grabbed his head tightly.

“Stop…”

“…And eventually…”

The voice grew colder.

“…you will reject the world in return.”

BOOM!

Suddenly, powerful mana pressure erupted outside the western wing.

The whispers vanished instantly.

Kael quickly looked toward the window as bright golden mana illuminated part of the castle grounds outside. Multiple guards rushed through the corridors while alarm bells echoed faintly throughout the manor.

Shouts erupted nearby.

“An intruder?!”

“Protect the main hall!”

Kael immediately stood in confusion.

What was happening?

Then suddenly—

The chamber door burst open.

Leon stood there breathing heavily.

Kael froze in shock.

“Leon?”

The silver-haired boy’s expression looked unusually serious.

“There’s an assassin inside the manor,” he said quickly. “They’re targeting the clan elders.”

Kael’s eyes widened slightly.

Why was Leon telling him this?

Then Leon continued.

“The western wing is isolated. If someone slips past the guards…”

He hesitated briefly before looking directly at Kael.

“You might die before anyone notices.”

For several moments, silence filled the room.

Kael stared at him uncertainly.

“…Why are you warning me?”

Leon looked away briefly.

“…Because despite everything…”

His silver eyes narrowed slightly.

“You’re still part of this clan.”

Before Kael could respond—

BOOM!

A violent explosion suddenly shook the western wing itself.

The entire corridor trembled violently while screams echoed outside.

Leon’s expression changed instantly.

“They’re already here.”

Then slowly—

A dark figure emerged from the smoke-filled hallway beyond Kael’s shattered doorway.

The intruder wore black robes stained with blood while crimson mana flowed around his blade.

But the moment the assassin’s eyes landed on Kael—

His expression changed completely.

Shock.

Then fear.

“…Impossible…” the man whispered.

His trembling gaze remained fixed on Kael’s dark violet eyes.

“The Void Child…”