Void Core: The Last Awakener

8. The Eyes of Suspicion

The atmosphere inside the western garden remained tense long after Leon arrived.

A cold breeze passed quietly beneath the tree while cracked earth surrounded Kael like evidence of something unnatural. Although Seraph had concealed the remaining traces of dark energy, the destruction still looked impossible for ordinary children to cause.

Leon’s silver eyes lingered briefly on the damaged ground before shifting toward Kael again.

“You caused this?” he asked calmly.

Kael instinctively stiffened.

Before he could answer—

Seraph stepped forward first.

“I was testing his physical endurance,” the old mage said smoothly. “The ground shattered from mana pressure during the training.”

Leon frowned slightly.

“Mana pressure?”

The silver-haired boy glanced toward Kael once more.

Everyone within the clan knew Kael possessed no mana.

Even Leon knew that better than anyone.

Seraph calmly met Leon’s gaze without hesitation.

“Not every form of training requires mana.”

For several moments, Leon remained silent.

Then eventually—

“…I see.”

But despite his response, suspicion still lingered faintly within his eyes.

Kael lowered his gaze quietly.

For some reason, standing near Leon always made him uncomfortable lately. It was not hatred.

Not fear.

Something else.

Almost like the strange darkness inside him reacted instinctively whenever Leon approached.

Then suddenly—

“…Light…”

The whisper echoed faintly inside Kael’s mind again.

Kael immediately froze.

“…The bloodline of light…”

A painful chill spread briefly through his chest before disappearing moments later.

Kael clenched his fists tightly.

Leon noticed the movement immediately.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Kael quickly looked away.

“…Nothing.”

Leon continued observing him silently for several seconds.

Then finally—

“You’ve been acting strange lately.”

The words caused Kael’s chest to tighten slightly.

Had Leon noticed something?

Before the silence could grow heavier, Seraph calmly interrupted.

“The festival preparations exhausted everyone,” the old mage said. “You should return to your training, Young Master Leon.”

Leon glanced toward Seraph briefly before nodding.

“…Understood.”

But before leaving, his silver eyes shifted toward Kael one final time.

“There are strange rumors spreading around the castle,” Leon said quietly. “You should avoid causing unnecessary attention.”

Then without waiting for a response—

He turned around and walked away from the garden.

Only after Leon disappeared from sight did Kael finally release the breath he had been holding.

Seraph’s expression darkened slightly.

“He’s starting to notice.”

Kael lowered his gaze.

“I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”

“I know.”

The old mage sighed heavily before looking toward the cracked ground beneath the tree once more.

“But intent no longer matters if your power continues leaking out this way.”

Kael remained silent.

Because deep down—

He knew Seraph was right.

That night, heavy rain began falling across the Veyr Territory once again.

Thunder echoed faintly beyond the mountains while cold winds swept through the castle halls. Most servants returned to their rooms early, leaving large sections of the manor unusually quiet.

Inside his small chamber near the western wing, Kael sat beside the window while silently staring at the storm outside.

Sleep had become difficult lately.

Every time he closed his eyes—

The whispers returned.

“…Alone…”

Kael immediately tightened his grip around the blanket.

“Please stop…”

The candlelight inside the room flickered violently.

“…They fear you…”

Shadows slowly stretched unnaturally along the walls.

The temperature dropped sharply.

Kael’s breathing became uneven as the voice inside his mind grew louder than ever before.

“…They will always hate you…”

Black veins surfaced faintly beneath his skin once again.

The darkness in the corners of the room began twisting slowly like living smoke.

“…Accept the Void…”

“NO!”

BOOM!

A violent surge of dark pressure exploded outward instantly.

The windows shattered apart.

The candle flames extinguished immediately.

The shadows across the room surged wildly toward Kael before spiraling around him like black mist.

Kael’s violet eyes widened in horror.

He couldn’t stop it.

The whisper laughed softly inside his head.

“…Good…”

Then suddenly—

The chamber door burst open.

“KAEL!”

Grand Elder Seraph rushed inside surrounded by blue mana while several defensive seals illuminated around his hands instantly.

The old mage’s expression changed the moment he saw the black shadows surrounding the boy.

“…Impossible.”

The darkness continued writhing violently around Kael’s trembling body while cracks slowly spread across the chamber walls.

Kael looked terrified.

“I-I can’t control it!”

Seraph immediately slammed his staff against the floor.

BOOM!

A powerful wave of blue mana erupted throughout the chamber before forming glowing seals around Kael instantly. Ancient symbols surrounded the room while the shadows violently resisted against the containment.

The entire chamber shook beneath the pressure.

“…The Void resists sealing…” Seraph muttered darkly.

Kael screamed as freezing pain spread throughout his chest.

The black energy around him surged wildly one final time before slowly weakening beneath Seraph’s suppression seals.

Eventually—

Silence returned.

The shadows disappeared completely.

The freezing pressure vanished.

Kael collapsed onto the floor breathing heavily while sweat covered his pale face.

The chamber looked devastated.

Broken glass scattered everywhere while cracks covered parts of the walls and floor.

Seraph stared silently at the destruction.

For the first time in years—

Fear visibly appeared across the old mage’s face.

Because tonight confirmed his worst suspicion.

The power inside Kael was awakening far faster than expected.

Then suddenly—

Footsteps echoed outside the damaged chamber.

Seraph’s expression immediately darkened.

Too late.

The door slowly opened wider.

Magnus Veyr stood there.

Behind him—

Leon silently observed the destroyed room with narrowed eyes.

And for the first time—

Both of them saw the darkness surrounding Kael with their own eyes.