Void Core: The Last Awakener

5. The Shadow Within

The days following Leon’s awakening became increasingly unbearable for Kael.

Everywhere he went, people spoke about Leon’s talent with admiration. Servants praised the young genius endlessly while clan instructors openly declared that Leon would someday become one of the strongest heirs in the northern region.

Meanwhile—

Kael continued existing like a ghost within the manor.

Early that morning, the training grounds buzzed with excitement once again as young clan members gathered around Leon eagerly.

“Show us the wind blades again!”

“I heard even the elders praised you!”

“You’re amazing, Leon!”

At the center of the crowd, Leon calmly demonstrated his mana control while streams of silver wind danced around him effortlessly. Every movement drew admiration from the surrounding children.

Kael quietly watched from afar for several moments before lowering his gaze.

The gap between them continued growing wider each day.

As Kael turned to leave, several boys suddenly blocked his path.

Three children slightly older than him stood there with mocking expressions.

One of them crossed his arms while smirking.

“Where do you think you’re going, cursed child?”

Kael remained silent.

The boy stepped closer.

“Did you come here hoping mana would magically appear inside your body?”

The others laughed immediately.

Another child leaned closer while lowering his voice dramatically.

“My father said monsters attacked the territory because of you.”

“My mother says you shouldn’t even exist,” another added mockingly.

Kael quietly clenched his fists.

“…Move.”

The boys laughed louder.

“What if we don’t?”

Suddenly—

One of them shoved Kael backward roughly.

Kael lost his balance and fell hard against the dirt ground while laughter erupted around him. Dust covered his clothes as pain shot through his arm.

But none of the nearby instructors intervened.

Some noticed.

Yet nobody cared enough to stop it.

“Look at him.”

“A powerless freak.”

“He doesn’t even fight back.”

Kael slowly stood while keeping his head lowered.

For a brief moment—

The shadows beneath his feet trembled slightly.

“…Kill them…”

The whisper echoed faintly inside his mind.

Kael froze instantly.

No.

Not here.

“…They hate you…”

The cold sensation spread through his chest once more while black veins briefly surfaced beneath his skin.

Kael immediately stepped backward.

“I said move,” he repeated quietly.

The children suddenly hesitated.

Something about Kael’s voice felt different for a brief moment.

Colder.

Darker.

Then one boy clicked his tongue mockingly.

“What? Are you angry now?”

Before things could escalate further—

A powerful pressure suddenly descended across the training grounds.

Everyone immediately stiffened.

Magnus Veyr had arrived.

The children surrounding Kael quickly stepped back nervously while lowering their heads respectfully.

“Lord Magnus…”

Magnus’ sharp golden eyes swept across the area briefly before stopping on Kael.

The atmosphere instantly became uncomfortable again.

One instructor quickly stepped forward.

“My apologies, Lord Magnus. The children were only playing.”

Magnus remained expressionless.

Then finally—

His gaze shifted toward Kael.

“Why are you causing trouble again?”

Kael’s chest tightened painfully.

“…I wasn’t.”

But Magnus had already looked away.

His attention returned toward Leon standing at the center arena.

“Continue your training,” Magnus said calmly.

“Yes, Lord Magnus,” Leon answered immediately.

The surrounding excitement returned almost instantly while Kael remained standing silently at the edge of the field.

Nobody defended him.

Nobody asked what actually happened.

Because in everyone’s eyes—

The problem was always Kael.

Without saying another word, Kael quietly turned around and walked away.

This time, nobody laughed behind him.

But somehow—

The silence hurt even more.

Later that afternoon, Kael sat alone beneath the large tree inside the western garden while staring blankly toward the distant mountains.

The bruises on his arm still hurt slightly.

But compared to the pain inside his chest—

It felt insignificant.

“…Worthless…”

The whisper returned again.

Kael closed his eyes tightly.

“Please stop…” he muttered weakly.

Ever since the incident beneath the tree days ago, the voice inside his head had become clearer. Sometimes it whispered quietly.

Other times—

It sounded almost alive.

“…They will never accept you…”

Kael lowered his head while gripping his shirt tightly.

Deep down—

He already knew the voice was right.

No matter how hard he tried, nobody within the clan would ever see him as family. To them, he was only the cursed child born beneath the black storm.

Nothing more.

“…You are alone…”

The shadows around the garden shifted unnaturally.

Then suddenly—

Footsteps approached nearby.

The whispers immediately vanished.

Kael quickly looked up as Grand Elder Seraph emerged from the garden entrance carrying several old books beneath his arm.

The old mage quietly observed Kael for a moment before speaking.

“You’re injured.”

Kael instinctively hid his bruised arm.

“It’s nothing.”

Seraph sighed softly.

“The world can be cruel toward those it doesn’t understand.”

Kael forced a faint smile.

“I’m used to it.”

But hearing those words somehow made Seraph’s expression darker instead of relieved.

The old man slowly sat beside Kael beneath the tree before placing one of the old books onto the ground.

“For the past five years,” Seraph began quietly, “I have searched through ancient records trying to understand what happened the night you were born.”

Kael looked toward him silently.

“And?”

Seraph remained quiet briefly before answering.

“I found almost nothing.”

The old mage’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Because whatever exists inside you… is older than most recorded history.”

A cold breeze passed through the garden.

Kael unconsciously lowered his gaze toward his hands.

“…Am I really cursed?” he asked softly.

Seraph immediately answered.

“No.”

The response came surprisingly fast.

Kael blinked slightly.

“Then why does everyone hate me?”

For several moments, Seraph said nothing.

Then finally—

“People fear things they cannot understand,” he said quietly. “And fear often becomes cruelty.”

Kael stared silently toward the distant mountains again.

“…Even Father fears me.”

Seraph did not deny it.

That silence alone became answer enough.

Far beneath the endless darkness of the Abyss, enormous chains trembled violently while black energy surged endlessly throughout the void.

Ancient crimson eyes slowly opened wider within the darkness.

The whispers surrounding the prison grew louder.

Hungry.

“…Soon…”

And deep inside the endless abyss—

Something ancient waited patiently for the boy rejected by the world.