Void Core: The Last Awakener

3. The Boy Without Mana

Five years passed quickly within the Veyr Territory.

The black storm that once swallowed the heavens eventually faded into memory, but the fear surrounding Kael Veyr never truly disappeared. Even after years had passed, people still whispered whenever they saw him walking through the castle halls.

Some called him cursed.

Others avoided him entirely.

Early morning sunlight illuminated the massive training grounds of the Veyr Clan while young children gathered beneath the supervision of several instructors. Wooden swords clashed loudly against one another while mana flowed visibly throughout the air like streams of light.

Small flames danced above children’s palms.

Wind blades sliced through wooden targets.

Water spheres floated effortlessly through the air.

Even the youngest members of the clan had already begun learning how to control mana.

At the center of the training grounds stood a silver-haired boy surrounded by admiration.

Leon Veyr.

Despite being only five years old, Leon already displayed talent far beyond ordinary children. Mana naturally flowed around his body with incredible purity while instructors praised him constantly.

“Excellent control, Young Master Leon!”

“You truly inherited the Veyr bloodline!”

“At this rate, you may awaken your elemental affinity very soon!”

The surrounding children looked toward Leon with obvious envy and admiration. Even some adult knights watching nearby nodded approvingly at the boy’s talent.

Leon simply smiled confidently while raising his hand once more.

A small sphere of wind instantly formed above his palm, causing several children to gasp excitedly.

Meanwhile—

At the far edge of the training grounds—

Another child quietly watched everything alone.

Kael Veyr.

Unlike the noble clothing worn by the others, Kael’s outfit looked plain and simple. No clan emblem decorated his chest, and no servants stood beside him like they did for the other noble children.

Because unlike Leon—

Kael possessed no value within the clan.

Several children immediately noticed him standing nearby.

Whispers quickly spread among them.

“The cursed child…”

“Why does he keep coming here?”

“I heard monsters appeared when he was born.”

Kael lowered his gaze slightly but said nothing.

He had already grown used to it.

Ever since he was born, nobody within the clan wanted anything to do with him. The servants avoided him whenever possible while the other children treated him like some kind of plague.

Even the instructors ignored his existence completely.

After all—

There was nothing worth teaching to a child without mana.

One of the instructors finally noticed Kael standing near the field and frowned slightly.

“What are you doing here?” the man asked coldly.

Kael hesitated briefly before answering quietly.

“I just wanted to watch.”

The instructor’s expression darkened immediately.

“Training grounds are for clan members learning mana arts,” he said sharply. “You have no reason to be here.”

Several children nearby immediately laughed softly.

Kael clenched his fists slightly.

“…I understand.”

Without arguing further, the young boy quietly turned around and walked away from the training grounds alone.

Behind him, the sounds of laughter and mana training continued echoing through the air.

Kael walked silently through the castle corridors until he eventually reached the western garden. Unlike the busy central areas of the manor, this place remained peaceful and mostly abandoned.

Which was exactly why Kael liked it.

A large tree stood quietly near the edge of the garden overlooking the distant mountains. Kael slowly sat beneath it before staring toward the sky silently.

This was the only place within the clan where he could breathe peacefully.

A gentle breeze passed through the garden while leaves rustled softly overhead.

For a brief moment—

Everything felt calm.

Then suddenly—

Pain struck his chest.

Kael immediately grabbed his shirt tightly as a strange cold sensation spread throughout his body. It felt as though something deep inside him had suddenly awakened for a brief moment.

The shadows beneath the tree trembled slightly.

Kael’s breathing became uneven.

Again.

It was happening again.

Ever since he turned five, strange things had started happening around him more frequently.

Candles flickered whenever he became emotional.

The air turned cold unexpectedly.

Sometimes the shadows near him moved unnaturally along the walls.

And late at night—

He heard whispers.

“…Void…”

Kael hated that voice.

It always echoed faintly inside his head whenever he was alone.

“Stop…” he whispered weakly.

The shadows instantly returned to normal moments later.

The cold sensation slowly disappeared as though nothing had happened.

Kael released a shaky breath before lowering his head quietly.

Then—

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Slow applause suddenly echoed nearby.

Kael immediately looked up in surprise.

An old man wearing dark blue robes stood near the garden entrance while calmly observing him with sharp eyes.

Grand Elder Seraph.

Kael quickly stood up nervously.

“G-Grand Elder…”

Unlike the others within the clan, Seraph rarely interacted with anyone. Most people respected him deeply because he was the oldest and wisest mage within the Veyr Clan.

But despite his status—

Seraph had always paid unusual attention to Kael.

The old man slowly approached before stopping beneath the tree.

“You felt it again, didn’t you?” he asked calmly.

Kael froze slightly.

“I don’t understand…”

Seraph quietly observed the surrounding shadows before returning his gaze toward the boy.

“The coldness,” he said softly. “The whispers. The strange things happening around you.”

Kael’s expression immediately paled.

How did he know?

The boy lowered his head nervously.

“…Yes.”

For several moments, Seraph remained silent.

His old eyes studied Kael carefully as though trying to understand something impossible.

“Tell me,” Seraph finally said quietly. “Do you hear voices often?”

Kael hesitated briefly before nodding slowly.

“…Sometimes.”

“What do they say?”

Kael clenched his fists tightly.

“…Void.”

The moment the word left his mouth—

Seraph’s expression changed completely.

Fear.

Real fear.

The old man immediately looked around the garden carefully as though worried someone else might have heard.

Then he lowered his voice.

“Never say that word in front of anyone else.”

Kael blinked in confusion.

“Why?”

Seraph remained silent briefly before answering.

“Because there are things in this world that should never awaken.”

A cold breeze suddenly passed through the garden.

The atmosphere became strangely heavy.

Kael stared at the old man uncertainly.

“What’s happening to me?” he asked quietly.

Seraph looked directly into the boy’s dark violet eyes.

For a brief moment, the old mage seemed hesitant.

Then finally—

He sighed softly.

“I don’t know yet.”

It was the truth.

Even after five years, Seraph still could not fully understand what Kael truly was.

No mana existed within the child.

Yet strange phenomena constantly surrounded him.

It was unnatural.

Terrifyingly unnatural.

Before Seraph could speak again—

BOOM!

A loud explosion suddenly echoed from the direction of the training grounds.

The entire castle trembled slightly while excited cheers erupted throughout the manor moments later.

“He awakened it!”

“Young Master Leon awakened his affinity!”

Servants and guards immediately rushed toward the training grounds excitedly while voices filled the castle corridors.

Even Seraph’s expression shifted slightly.

Kael quietly lowered his gaze.

He already understood what this meant.

Leon had become even more special.

And Kael—

Would become even more worthless in comparison.

Far beyond the Veyr Territory, hidden deep beneath the endless darkness of the Abyss, ancient crimson eyes slowly opened once more.

Massive chains trembled violently throughout the void while black energy spread endlessly across the darkness.

An ancient voice echoed softly.

“…The light grows stronger.”

Then slowly—

The voice laughed.

“But so does the Void.”