Void Core: The Last Awakener

7. The Voice in the Dark

After the Festival of Awakening ended, Leon’s name spread throughout the northern territories even faster than before.

Nobles praised him endlessly.

Clan instructors openly called him the future of the Veyr Clan.

Even visiting guests spoke about the silver-haired prodigy with admiration before returning to their territories.

Meanwhile—

Kael’s existence continued fading deeper into isolation.

Days passed quietly within the castle, yet the atmosphere surrounding Kael only became colder. Servants avoided eye contact whenever he walked through the halls while children whispered nervously behind his back.

Sometimes Kael caught them staring at him fearfully before quickly looking away.

The rumors after the festival had grown worse.

Some people claimed shadows moved unnaturally around him.

Others swore the temperature dropped whenever he became emotional.

And though nobody possessed proof—

Fear did not require proof to spread.

Early one morning, Kael quietly carried several books through the western corridor after returning from Seraph’s private library. Unlike the others within the clan, Seraph allowed Kael access to old records and history books.

Not because Kael possessed talent.

But because reading was the only thing keeping the boy from drowning completely in loneliness.

As Kael walked silently through the hallway—

Several servants suddenly appeared around the corner.

The moment they noticed him, their expressions immediately stiffened.

“…It’s him.”

One servant instinctively stepped backward while another quickly lowered her gaze nervously.

Kael stopped walking.

Then quietly—

“I’m sorry.”

He immediately moved aside to let them pass.

The servants hurried away without responding.

Kael remained standing there silently for several moments while gripping the books slightly tighter.

Even after all these years—

People still reacted to him like he was some kind of monster.

“…Because they know what you are…”

The whisper echoed softly inside his mind once more.

Kael’s expression tightened immediately.

“Stop talking.”

A nearby candle flickered violently.

“…Why deny the truth?”

Kael continued walking faster through the corridor while lowering his head. Lately, the voice had become clearer than ever before.

Sometimes it sounded distant.

Other times—

It felt like someone whispering directly beside his ear.

That terrified him.

Eventually, Kael reached the western garden once again before sitting beneath the large tree quietly. The place had become his refuge from the rest of the world.

Only here could he breathe peacefully.

At least—

Usually.

Kael placed the books beside him before staring silently toward the distant mountains.

The sky looked calm today.

No storms.

No rain.

Yet somehow—

The uneasiness inside his chest only continued growing stronger.

“…Lonely…”

Kael closed his eyes tightly.

“Please…”

“…Angry…”

The shadows beneath the tree shifted slightly.

“…You hate them…”

“I said stop.”

A freezing sensation spread across Kael’s chest once more while black veins slowly surfaced beneath his skin. The air throughout the garden immediately became colder.

Leaves trembled unnaturally despite the absence of wind.

“…They abandoned you…”

Kael grabbed his head painfully.

“No…”

“…Even your father rejects you…”

The moment those words echoed inside his mind—

Kael’s emotions cracked slightly.

BOOM!

Dark pressure exploded outward from his body instantly.

The ground beneath the tree cracked apart while nearby flowers withered into dust. The shadows throughout the garden twisted violently toward Kael like living creatures responding to his emotions.

Kael’s violet eyes widened in panic.

He couldn’t stop it.

“…Good…”

The whisper suddenly sounded pleased.

“…Let the Void awaken…”

The shadows surged wildly around Kael while black energy flickered faintly across his trembling arms.

Then suddenly—

“ENOUGH.”

A powerful mana pressure descended across the garden instantly.

The dark energy vanished immediately.

The shadows returned to normal while the freezing atmosphere disappeared completely.

Kael looked up sharply.

Grand Elder Seraph stood nearby with one hand raised while streams of blue mana surrounded his body. His usually calm expression now looked unusually grim.

Kael’s breathing remained uneven.

“I-I couldn’t control it…”

Seraph slowly approached before observing the cracked ground beneath the tree silently.

Then he looked directly toward Kael.

“It’s getting stronger.”

The old mage’s voice sounded heavier than usual.

Kael lowered his gaze.

“…What is happening to me?”

For several moments, Seraph remained silent.

Then finally—

“There are ancient powers in this world older than mana itself,” he said quietly. “Powers erased from history because humanity feared them.”

Kael listened silently.

Seraph narrowed his eyes slightly.

“And I believe something inside you belongs to that forgotten darkness.”

A cold breeze passed through the garden.

Kael instinctively clenched his fists.

“…Am I dangerous?” he asked softly.

The old mage did not answer immediately.

Which itself became terrifying enough.

Finally—

“Yes.”

Kael’s chest tightened painfully.

But before despair could fully settle within him—

Seraph spoke again.

“But danger does not decide who you are.”

Kael slowly looked up.

The old mage’s expression softened slightly.

“You are still a child,” Seraph continued calmly. “And children are not born evil.”

For the first time in a long while—

Someone looked at Kael without fear.

The feeling almost hurt more than the hatred.

Then suddenly—

Footsteps echoed near the garden entrance.

Kael immediately turned.

Leon stood there silently.

The silver-haired boy’s gaze shifted between Kael, the cracked ground, and Grand Elder Seraph. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly as though noticing something strange.

“What happened here?” Leon asked calmly.

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Seraph answered before Kael could speak.

“Training.”

Leon glanced toward the shattered ground once more.

“…Training?”

Suspicion briefly flickered across his face.

Because whatever caused this destruction—

It definitely was not normal.

Kael instinctively lowered his head.

The whispers inside his mind had gone completely silent the moment Leon appeared.

Which somehow felt even stranger.

Leon observed Kael quietly for several seconds before finally speaking again.

“You should be careful.”

Kael frowned slightly.

“…About what?”

Leon’s silver eyes narrowed.

“People already fear you.”

The words were calm.

But this time—

They sounded less like mockery…

And more like warning.

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

The crimson eyes hidden deep within the darkness slowly narrowed.

Then—

A low laugh echoed endlessly throughout the ancient prison.

“The heir of light has noticed him.”