The creature vanished in an instant, leaving nothing but the faint echo of its presence behind. In its wake, the candles scattered around the room flickered to life, casting a dim, ghostly light across the space. The house, abandoned and decayed, groaned softly under the weight of time. The candlelight revealed crumbling walls, tattered curtains hanging from broken windows, and dust-covered furniture that had long since been forgotten. Cobwebs clung to the corners of the room, swaying slightly in the breeze that slipped through the cracks in the decrepit structure.
Against one of the worn, rotting bookshelves leaned a young man, his posture casual but commanding, as if he owned the room by mere presence alone. His black hair, slicked back with precision, had a few rebellious strands that hung forward, framing his sharp features. His eyes, an unnatural teal that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light—watched the boy with a cold, calculated gaze. His fingernails, sharpened to wicked points, glinted ominously, matching the regal but eerie nobility of his tailored outfit. Everything about him screamed danger, though it was cloaked in elegance and refinement.
"Ask your question, child. Your confused face is bothering me," Silas said, his voice cold and dismissive, cutting through the silence like a blade. His eyes never left the boy, observing every twitch of fear that crossed the boy's face, every tremor in his body.
The boy flinched at the sharpness of Silas' words, his shoulders hunched as if trying to make himself smaller. His gaze was glued to the floor, unable—or perhaps too frightened—to meet Silas' piercing eyes. "S-Sorry, Silas… It's just… I know you explained it before, but what exactly did I summon?" The words trembled out of his mouth, his voice weak and uncertain, as though each word cost him immense effort. His fingers clenched into the fabric of his clothes, his knuckles white with tension.
Silas raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. There was something almost amused in the way he looked at the boy, as though he enjoyed watching the fear unfold before him. "There's no harm in asking questions," he began, his tone softening into something more sinisterly patient, like a predator toying with its prey. "After all, you'll need to know how to control your new pet." His grin widened slightly, revealing the barest hint of sharp teeth. He pushed off the bookshelf, taking a step closer to the boy, his presence overwhelming in the dimly lit room.
"What you just summoned," Silas continued, his voice dripping with satisfaction, "was a void creature. One of the lowest-ranking residents of the void, and yet… their power is beyond anything this world could comprehend." He paused for effect, watching the way the boy stiffened at his words. "Void creatures," he went on, his voice smooth and deliberate, "are the most numerous of the void's inhabitants. They are the soldiers, the servants, the shadowy beasts that linger in the darkness, awaiting the call of those who dare summon them. Despite their rank in the void, even the weakest of them is more dangerous than any creature this world has ever seen."
The boy swallowed hard, his lips parting as if to speak, but no words came out. He glanced nervously at Silas, then quickly back down at the floor. The weight of what he had summoned, the immense power he now commanded, was starting to sink in.
Silas chuckled darkly, the sound echoing in the empty room. "Don't be so afraid, boy. The void creature is yours to control now. It obeys your will, and only your will—so long as you don't falter." He narrowed his eyes, his tone sharpening again. "But make no mistake. If you lose control, if you show even the slightest weakness, it will turn on you in an instant. The void does not tolerate weakness."
The boy's breath quickened, his heart pounding in his chest as he tried to steady himself. "I… I understand…" he whispered, though the fear still lingered in his voice.
"Good," Silas replied, his grin returning. He took another step forward, close enough now that the boy could feel the coldness radiating from him. "Void creatures are also the most accessible to summoners like you—those with little experience, but enough ambition. You managed to summon one of them… impressive, for someone like you." He let the words hang in the air, a mixture of condescension and twisted praise.
"But," Silas added, his voice lowering to a near whisper, "this is only the beginning. If you continue to develop your summoning abilities, you can call forth even greater entities from the void. Giants, beasts of unimaginable power—creatures that could level cities with a mere thought." His eyes gleamed with dark promise. "But for now, focus on mastering what you've summoned. Learn to command it. Only then can you unlock the full potential of the void's gifts."
The boy nodded weakly, still staring at the floor, his mind racing with the possibilities—and the dangers—that lay ahead. He had crossed a line, summoned something from beyond the mortal realm, and now he had to live with the consequences.
Silas, sensing the boy's turmoil, let out a satisfied hum. "You've taken the first step, child. But remember…" His voice dropped, a shadow passing over his face. "The void gives… and the void takes. Learn that well."
"Once a void creature has been summoned, a mark appears on the inner thigh of the summoner," Silas began, his voice smooth and commanding, as though every word he spoke was laden with ancient knowledge. He paused, his teal eyes glinting in the dim light as they watched the boy absorb the information. "This mark serves as a binding link between the summoner and the void creature, tethering them across realms. Without this connection, the void creature cannot materialize in this world—its existence here would be nothing more than a fleeting shadow, impossible to control or command."
The boy shifted slightly, the weight of Silas' words pressing down on him. His hand instinctively twitched toward his inner thigh, as if to check for the mark, though fear and hesitation stilled his movement. "So… it's bound to me?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. "It's really forced to obey everything I say?"
"Exactly," Silas replied, stepping closer, his posture confident and relaxed, but the coldness in his gaze never wavered. "The void creature has no choice but to follow your every command. No matter what thoughts, instincts, or desires it might harbor within its twisted existence, it will obey you. That is the power of the void—absolute dominion over its creations."
The boy swallowed hard, his thoughts swirling in a mix of awe and apprehension. He felt the weight of this new power settle over him like a dark cloak, but doubt still gnawed at the edges of his mind. His lips parted, and before he could stop himself, he asked, "…How do you know all of this?"
Silas' expression didn't falter, but a faint, hidden grin spread across his face, a shadow of amusement dancing behind his eyes. He chuckled softly, the sound low and dangerous, like the distant rumble of thunder before a storm.