Void Core: The Last Awakener

13. Chains of Fear

The atmosphere inside the Veyr Manor changed completely after the elders’ meeting.

Whispers spread through every corridor.

Servants lowered their voices whenever Kael’s name was mentioned while guards stationed near the western wing increased overnight. Even the younger clan members began avoiding that side of the manor entirely.

Fear had finally become official.

Inside his chamber, Kael quietly sat near the window while staring toward the cloudy afternoon sky.

He already knew something had happened.

The guards outside sounded different now.

More tense.

More cautious.

Almost like they expected him to become a monster at any moment.

“…Because they do…”

Kael clenched his fists immediately.

“Stop.”

The whisper softly laughed inside his mind.

“…You hear their fear…”

The shadows near the walls flickered faintly before calming again.

Kael lowered his gaze tiredly.

Ever since the assassin incident, the voice had become increasingly active. Sometimes it whispered softly.

Other times—

It sounded terrifyingly close.

Knock.

Knock.

Kael immediately looked toward the door.

A moment later, it opened slowly.

Lady Evelyne entered carrying a small tray of food while several nervous servants remained waiting outside the hallway.

Unlike everyone else—

Her eyes held no fear.

Only worry.

“Mother…”

Evelyne smiled softly after seeing him.

“You haven’t eaten since morning.”

Kael lowered his gaze slightly.

“…I wasn’t hungry.”

The gentle woman quietly placed the tray onto the table before sitting beside him near the window.

For several moments, neither spoke.

Only the distant sound of rain echoed softly outside.

Then Evelyne carefully reached for Kael’s trembling hand.

The boy stiffened slightly.

“…Aren’t you scared of me?” he asked quietly.

The question caused pain to flash briefly across Evelyne’s face.

“Never.”

Her answer came instantly.

Without hesitation.

Kael looked toward her silently.

Evelyne slowly brushed several strands of dark hair away from his forehead.

“You are my son,” she said softly. “Nothing will ever change that.”

Kael’s chest tightened painfully.

Because lately—

It felt like everything else was changing.

“…Even Father?”

Evelyne’s expression dimmed slightly.

She remained silent for a moment before answering carefully.

“Your father carries the burden of protecting this clan.”

Kael lowered his gaze again.

That was not an answer.

The silence between them grew heavier.

Eventually, Evelyne sighed softly before pulling Kael gently into her embrace.

The boy froze slightly at first.

Then slowly relaxed.

For a brief moment—

The fear inside him became quieter.

“…Warm…”

Even the voice inside his mind sounded distant now.

Evelyne held him carefully while looking toward the rain outside the window.

No matter what the clan believed—

Kael was still just a child.

And children should never carry this much loneliness.

Meanwhile—

Inside the eastern training grounds, powerful winds exploded across the arena repeatedly.

BOOM!

Leon’s wind blades shattered another stone target instantly while nearby instructors exchanged impressed glances.

Yet despite the praise surrounding him—

Leon’s expression remained distracted.

The assassin’s words continued echoing inside his mind.

Void Child.

Awakening.

End.

None of it left him peacefully.

“Young Master Leon!”

One instructor smiled proudly.

“Your mana control improves daily.”

Leon lowered his hand slowly.

“…Instructor.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever heard of the Void?”

The instructor blinked in surprise.

“The Void?”

Leon nodded slightly.

The man frowned while thinking briefly.

“…Only old myths,” he answered eventually. “Ancient stories meant to frighten children.”

“What kind of stories?”

The instructor’s expression became uneasy.

“They say the Void was a power capable of devouring mana itself.”

Leon’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The instructor quickly laughed awkwardly afterward.

“But those are just legends. Such things shouldn’t exist.”

Leon quietly looked toward the shattered targets across the arena.

Yet after seeing Kael’s darkness with his own eyes—

He was no longer certain what should or should not exist anymore.

Far away inside the western wing, Kael finally forced himself to eat a little after Evelyne insisted repeatedly.

The atmosphere inside the room gradually became calmer.

At least—

Until footsteps suddenly echoed outside the corridor.

Heavy footsteps.

The guards immediately straightened nervously.

Then—

Knock.

Knock.

Evelyne’s expression tightened slightly.

She already recognized who it was.

“Enter,” she said softly.

The chamber door opened slowly.

Magnus Veyr stepped inside.

Silence instantly filled the room.

Kael instinctively lowered his gaze while Evelyne stood slowly beside him.

Magnus’ sharp golden eyes briefly landed on the untouched food before shifting toward Kael.

“You seem stable today.”

Kael quietly nodded.

“…Yes.”

The atmosphere remained painfully stiff.

Evelyne finally spoke first.

“The elders pressured you again, didn’t they?”

Magnus remained silent briefly before answering.

“They fear what happened.”

“And what about you?”

That question lingered heavily inside the room.

Magnus looked toward Kael silently.

The boy avoided eye contact completely now.

For a brief moment—

Something painful flickered across Magnus’ expression.

Then vanished instantly.

“I fear what I do not understand,” he admitted calmly.

Kael’s chest tightened immediately.

Even hearing the truth directly somehow hurt worse.

Evelyne frowned.

“He’s your son.”

“And I am responsible for this entire clan.”

His voice remained calm.

But colder now.

“If the Void inside him truly becomes uncontrollable someday—”

“Stop.”

Evelyne’s sharp interruption stunned the room briefly.

For once—

Anger appeared within her usually gentle eyes.

“He is not some weapon or disaster,” she said firmly. “He is our child.”

Magnus’ expression hardened slightly.

“And if that child destroys everything?”

Silence.

Kael quietly clenched his fists beneath the table while lowering his head further.

The whisper inside his mind returned softly.

“…See?”

The shadows beneath the chair trembled faintly.

“…Even now he doubts you…”

Kael squeezed his eyes shut briefly.

No.

Stop.

Magnus noticed the slight trembling immediately.

His gaze sharpened.

“Kael.”

The boy looked up slowly.

For several seconds, Magnus silently observed him.

Then finally—

“Show me your hands.”

Kael froze.

Evelyne frowned immediately.

“Magnus.”

But Magnus’ voice remained firm.

“Now.”

Slowly—

Kael extended his trembling hands forward.

For a brief moment, nothing happened.

Then suddenly—

Thin black veins surfaced faintly beneath his pale skin.

Evelyne’s expression paled slightly.

Magnus’ eyes narrowed instantly.

The shadows beneath the room flickered unnaturally.

“…Fear…”

The whisper laughed softly inside Kael’s mind.

“…Their fear feeds the Void…”

Kael immediately pulled his hands back while breathing unevenly.

“I-I’m trying…”

The black veins slowly faded again moments later.

But the silence afterward became suffocating.

Magnus looked toward Seraph’s ancient books resting nearby on the table.

Then finally—

“We don’t have much time.”

Evelyne’s expression tightened.

“What do you mean?”

Magnus slowly turned toward the window.

“The Abyss Cult already knows Kael exists.”

Rain continued falling heavily outside the manor.

“If more of them come…” Magnus said quietly, “the northern territories may become a battlefield.”

Kael stared silently at the floor.

Everything happening around him now—

The fear.

The whispers.

The danger.

It all existed because of him.

“…Monster…”

Kael’s chest tightened painfully again.

Then suddenly—

BOOM!

A violent explosion echoed from somewhere deep within the manor.

The entire western wing trembled violently.

Guards shouted outside instantly.

“Intruders!”

“Protect the archives!”

Magnus’ expression changed immediately.

Another explosion echoed shortly afterward.

CRASH!

The distant sound of collapsing stone spread through the castle halls while alarms rang throughout the manor once more.

But this time—

The fear inside Magnus’ eyes became sharper than before.

Because only one location mattered enough for enemies to attack directly.

The forbidden archives.

And somewhere within those ancient records—

Lay the hidden truth about the Void.