Chapter 61 – An Empty Void Circle
Chapter 61
An Empty Void Circle
Date : Day 3 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Hyoren and Elise stood at the plaza in front of the chief's house.
The morning light had brightened. The village stretched before them—silent and empty. Autumn wind blew strong, carrying chilly air that cut through their clothing. The breeze whispered through the abandoned streets, rustling the overgrown grass and the remnants of crops in the fields beyond.
Elise shuddered a bit. Her leather tunic she picked was aesthetically pleasant to look at, but it left some parts of her body uncovered—her shoulder and upper arms, her neck, her upper chest, and the gap between her short skirt and her stockings. The cold seeped through.
"Brrrrr... the air feels cold now. We should wear our cloak outside, Hyoren..."
Hyoren nodded. His own armor and tunic protected him from the weather more than Elise, but he still felt some chill. The autumn wind was sharp. He understood how Elise would shudder with her own armor.
"Right, Elise. We should, or we might catch a cold."
She manipulated her storage bag to take her cloak. Her hand reached into the spatial void.
The fabric materialized in her grip—black cloak. She quickly draped it over her body, then poured a small amount of Aethell on it. The temperature control runic array inside the fabric started to flare. A soft glow pulsed through the weave. It warmed her body almost instantly.
Hyoren did the same. He retrieved his own cloak from his storage bag. The fabric was heavier than he expected. Quality material. He draped it over his shoulders and poured his own Aethell into it. The warmth instantly enveloped him like being wrapped in a heated blanket.
"Man, I love the convenience of magic tools, Elise."
Elise beamed on his side. Her expression was bright despite the gloomy surroundings.
"Right? This cloak will protect us even in a snow storm during the deep winter. Just pour more Aethell on it."
She swirled. Her cloak swished with her motion—the fabric flowing around her like water. The display was almost playful.
"This cloak can even protect us from sweltering heat in summer or volcanic regions."
Hyoren nodded. He noticed the feature when pouring his own Aethell. It was like he could choose how strong the temperature control was, and how it was going to combat cold or heat. The runes responded to his intent. A thought was all it took to adjust the warmth.
He then asked Elise.
"So, let's investigate the village, Elise? How about we circle the houses in one direction? So we can check every house thoroughly."
Elise nodded.
“Yes. Let’s do that, Hyoren. Lead the way…”
***
He scanned the plaza, planning the route. His eyes moved from building to building. The village was laid out in a rough circle around the central plaza. The chief's house stood at the heart. The other buildings radiated outward like spokes on a wheel.
"Let's go this direction first."
He started to walk. His footsteps echoed on the cobblestones.
Elise smiled, then followed him. Her steps caught up with him, and they walked side by side. Her cloak swished gently with her movement.
"Fufu, I always led you around. It's refreshing to see you actually lead, Hyoren."
Hyoren turned his face, slowing down his pace. Uncertainty flickered in his chest.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Should I not, Elise?"
Elise chuckled. The sound was light and approving.
"Fufu. No need to be flustered. Investigation is not my strong suit. It's yours, Hyoren."
She tapped his back with her hands. Urging him to continue walking. The touch was encouraging.
"And it's you who deduced this case might be caused by Ritual Magic… something which I missed."
She smiled at him. The expression was genuine. Supportive.
"Remember, we are partners. We each have our own strong suit. If we need my experience, I will lead. But if your strong points are needed, I will follow your lead, Hyoren."
Hyoren nodded, then continued walking. Her words settled in his chest. A warm weight of reassurance.
"Phew. Okay then, Elise. I don't know if we can actually solve this case. But let's go."
Both of them then continued walking towards the east direction, checking the houses one by one. The village sprawled before them. Dozens of buildings. Dozens of potential clues.
They arrived at their first house. It was a modest dwelling. Wooden walls. A thatched roof. Small windows that were now dark and empty.
Hyoren opened the door. The hinges creaked—a protest against the intrusion—but the door opened easily. Inside, it was in a similar state as the chief's house. Dusty, with scattered furniture and traces of the tenants disappearing suddenly. A bowl on the table. A chair pushed back. A child's toy on the floor.
Before he entered, he scanned inside, then faced Elise.
"So, Elise, how do we actually investigate the house? From the looks of it, there is nothing remarkable. How do we find traces of Ritual Magic being used?"
Elise, who had stopped beside him, then nodded. Her expression was thoughtful.
"Right. They will always leave traces of Aethell on the place where the ritual is performed. And most will leave the Runic Arrays intact on the ground… unless they bother to clean them up after they are done."
Elise scanned the house. Her emerald eyes moved across the walls, floor, and ceiling.
"But even if the physical trace of the Runic Arrays is gone, if we focus, we still can find traces of them. As Aethell, when run through the arrays, will leave an almost permanent magical mark—etching the shape of the arrays on the surface where it painted before. Especially for Ritual Magic this big which enveloped the whole village."
Hyoren nodded. The information settled in his mind. A methodology.
"So we focused on the Aethell trace. Not a physical trace. I understand."
He then remembered. His own skill.
"Elise, I have Aethell Sense skill. Should I use it?"
Elise turned to him. Her eyes widened slightly. Then she smiled—a knowing expression of approval.
"Oh right. You actually got that skill. It's quite a rare skill. Only a handful of Mages and Scholars can get it after years of practice. A skill to actually visualize Aethell."
She patted his shoulder. Praising him. The touch was warm. Encouraging.
"At first I planned to focus and carefully trace the track on the surface with our hands, to detect Aethell anomaly. But with your Aethell Sense, with one single glance you would find the trace easily."
Elise then warned him next. Her tone shifted to concern.
"But don't overwork yourself, Hyoren. It took quite a bit of Aethell to activate, right?"
Hyoren nodded.
"Don't worry. We have time as this quest doesn't have a deadline, right? I will rest if my Aethell reserve runs low."
Elise nodded. Satisfied. The worry in her eyes eased.
"Good. Good. Now, let's start our investigation. Lead the way, Hyoren."
Hyoren then entered the house. Followed by Elise behind him. The interior was dim. Dust motes floated in the air. The smell of abandonment was thick—stale air and old wood.
He activated his skill—Aethell Sense. And the world changed color. The dim interior suddenly bloomed with faint light. He could see ambient Aethell in the air—a pale energy drifting like fog. The world was overlaid with a new layer of perception.
He looked at Elise. He saw swirling energy on her chest. Her Aethell Core. A bright concentration of power that pulsed with her heartbeat.
He actually could guess her power was roughly more than twice of his—matching her level. He was level 6, and she was level 15. The appraisal power of the skill was truly outstanding.
He then scanned the house. Room by room. The kitchen. The bedroom. A small storage closet. He didn't find any trace of Runic Arrays anywhere. It was empty of magical influence. He only found ambient Aethell everywhere—the natural background energy of the world.
As he exited the house, he deactivated his skill. The world returned to normal. The colors dimmed. The magical overlay vanished.
Elise then asked him.
"How is it, Hyoren? Found anything weird? And how's your condition? Your Aethell reserve is fine?"
Hyoren touched his own chest. Feeling his own reserve. The well of power within him. It was slightly diminished but still plentiful.
"I'm fine, Elise. This skill didn't take much from my reserve. As long as I don't continue using it and only activate it when we investigate the house, my regeneration will keep up."
Elise heaved a sigh. Relieved. Her shoulders relaxed.
"Right, I forgot your Magic status is quite high for warriors. Fufu. Okay, Hyoren, but don't push yourself too hard, okay?"
Hyoren nodded. Understanding her concern. Appreciating her care.
"Okay, Elise. Let's continue our investigation. This first house is a bust. I didn't find any trace of runic arrays."
They then continued their investigation. The day went on. The dual suns of Kresneger already reached their zenith. The light shifted. The shadows shortened.
They combed house by house. Looking for both physical clues and magical clues. Each door they opened revealed the same scene—dusty rooms, abandoned belongings, meals left unfinished. Each house was a snapshot of interrupted life.
Elise would look for physical clues—anything out of place, any signs of struggle, any remnants of ritual components. Hyoren would activate his Aethell Sense to look for magical clues—the traces of runic arrays, the echoes of ritual magic.
They stood at the front of one of the houses. The house of the blacksmith of this village. A larger structure than most. There was a small workshop beside it—the forge cold and silent, the anvil covered in dust. Tools hung on the walls, untouched for months.
Hyoren looked up to the suns. Calculating time. He used his hands to shield himself from the suns' light. The silver Luna was now way bigger than golden Sol. The silver rays were bright, but not hot at all. This made the air still feel chilly even at midday—a strange contrast between brilliant light and cool temperature.
Elise then asked beside him.
"We have already investigated more than half of the houses. But we haven't found any clues. Either physical or magical. What should we do, Hyoren?"
Hyoren faced Elise. Her expression was patient but curious. The mystery gnawed at both of them.
"My Aethell reserve is still good. And thanks to the weather, all this exertion does not really tire me out. And I'm determined to solve this village mystery."
He rolled his arms. Checking his body. He didn't sweat as the air was cold. And he didn't really do strenuous physical activity—just walking and activating his skill repeatedly.
And his mind was decided. He would solve the mystery. It made him really curious about the truth behind this case. The unanswered questions burned in his mind.
What happened to the villagers? Why was there no trace? What was the purpose of the ritual?
Elise smiled, feeling the same as him. Her green eyes sparkled with determination.
"Okay then, let's continue investigating. With our current pace, we should be done before night descent. I'm also curious about this case."
Hyoren then scanned their surroundings. His eyes moved across the village. The houses. The streets. The fields beyond. His eyes caught on a big building a short distances away from where they stood.
A building made from wood. But it was bigger than the rest of the houses—yet only one story tall. It seemed the villagers were using it as storage or a warehouse. Different from the granary though. He could see a round granary on the other side of the village—tall and cylindrical, built for storing grain.
He decided, and pointed at the building.
"Let's go, Elise. Let's investigate those warehouses next."
Elise's eyes wandered to the building he pointed at, and nodded.
"Okay, Hyoren. Lead the way."
Both of them then walked towards the warehouse. Their steps were still light. The mystery waited.
***
They walked to the warehouse. The distance was short but the silence made it feel longer. Their footsteps echoed on the cobblestones. The village remained still around them—frozen in time.
Hyoren scanned the surroundings as they approached. His eyes moved from building to building. Street to street. The layout of the village was becoming familiar now. He looked back at the direction of the central plaza, then noticed something. A realization struck him.
"Elise, this warehouse... it might be the source of the wraith. If I recall correctly, the wraith came from around this area last night."
Elise's eyebrows furrowed. The corners of her lips turned slightly downward. Her expression shifted from curious to concerned.
"This is concerning. If the wraith comes from this warehouse area, then this building might be the source of the ritual magic."
She faced Hyoren. Her emerald eyes darkened.
"Let's be careful. There might be more wraith inside."
She then unslung her bow from her shoulder. The weapon was ready in her hands. She prepared to nock an arrow—the motion was practiced and fluid.
Hyoren nodded. Following her example, he picked one of his Cinder-maw daggers. Ready to light it on fire at a moment's notice. The blade was reliable in his grip.
They crept closer. The warehouse loomed before them. Larger than the houses. More ominous. The wooden walls were weathered but sturdy.
Hyoren opened the door with his free hand. The door was heavy—thick oak reinforced with iron bands. He pushed it using his shoulder, utilizing his body weight. The wood groaned in protest. Finally the wide door opened with a creak that echoed in the silence. He peeked inside. Scanning the interior.
"It was... empty, Elise. No wraith sighted."
Elise on his back exhaled a relieved breath. But her stance was unchanged. Still ready to attack at a moment's notice. Her bow remained in her hands. Her eyes continued to scan the shadows.
"So I guess all wraiths have already been taken care of."
Hyoren nodded, and he opened the warehouse door wide, and entered. The sound of his footsteps echoed in the large space. The air inside was stale and dusty.
The wide windows high on the wall provided ample lighting to the warehouse. Beams of sunlight fell from above—golden Sol and silver Luna mingling in the air.
It was mostly empty, especially in the middle. Farming equipment, barrels, crates, broken wagons, and other stuff seemed to be deliberately moved to the side. Pushed against the walls. Arranged in neat piles. Leaving the center of the warehouse clear.
The window, ceiling, and pillar all were dusty. Layers of gray covered every surface. But the middle part seemed to be cleaned intentionally. The floor was swept. The dust was absent. The contrast was stark—a circle of cleanliness in a sea of dust.
Elise entered after him. Her footsteps were soft on the wooden floor. Her eyes widened as she took in the scene.
"Hyoren... this state. It seems we are correct. This warehouse might be the source of the ritual magic. The runic arrays seem to be erased already—leaving no physical trace. But the difference between the clean middle part and the dusty surrounding is too contrasting."
Elise then faced him. Her expression was serious.
"Please use your Aethell Sense."
Hyoren nodded. He then activated his skill. The world shifted. His skill added a new perception to his vision. The color of Aethell in the air became visible—pale energy drifting like smoke in the air. Then when he looked at the middle of the floor, his eyes widened.
There were complex runic arrays painted on the floor. Etched with Aethell itself. The patterns glowed faintly in his enhanced vision—intricate lines and curves forming a massive circular design. Symbols he didn't recognize. Shapes that seemed to shift and pulse with residual power.
He deactivated his skill. The runic arrays were gone. The floor was bare. Just clean wood. He activated his skill again. It appeared once more—glowing and ethereal. The evidence of ritual magic lingered in the space.
Hyoren slowly turned to Elise. His voice was quiet. Heavy with the weight of discovery.
"Elise, I can see it."
Elise swallowed her saliva with an audible gulp. The sound was loud in the silent warehouse.
"We are right then... this is the source, Hyoren."
Hyoren nodded. His eyes remained fixed on the invisible arrays.
"The runic array is wide. Around 10 meters in diameter. It's a complex rune and symbol. I don't understand it at all. But in the middle, there is a big symbol which is easily recognizable. A ring... or circle, with another solid circle in the middle."
Elise's emerald eyes turned dark. Her eyebrows furrowed even more. She stayed silent for a while. Thinking about the implication. Her mind worked through the possibilities.
Hyoren patiently waited. He didn't rush her. The discovery was significant. It required careful consideration.
After a while, Elise finally opened her mouth. Her voice was low.
"That symbol... It's definitely the symbol of Dark Magic. Each element has a distinct symbol. It is used on runic arrays to indicate what element it is. And most spellbooks will have them to indicate what kind of magic is inside."
Elise looked at the middle of the floor. She couldn't see the arrays as she didn't have the skill, but the implication dawned and weighed on her. Her shoulders tensed. Her jaw tightened.
"For Fire, it was a triangle with another inverted triangle inside. Earth got stacked two rectangles. Water is ellipses with one wavy line in the middle. Wind is three straight horizontal lines. Light is a six-pointed star with a circle inside."
She then averted her eyes, looking at the ceiling. The wooden beams above were stained with age. But she was not seeing those beams, she was seeing something more ominous.
"And for Dark. It was a circle with a solid circle in the middle. Almost like a ring of darkness."
Hyoren nodded. Understanding the concept easily. The symbols seemed to match the characteristic of each element perfectly. Fire was a flame shape. Earth was stable blocks. Water was flowing waves. Wind was layers of air. Light was a radiant star. And Dark was an empty void. It was easy to remember and understand.
"So. This ritual magic is utilizing dark magic, Elise?"
Elise nodded. She moved closer to the middle, then crouched. Trying to feel the runic arrays she couldn't see. But with her hands, she definitely could feel it—the place where the runic arrays were etched by the Aethell. The wood was slightly warm to touch. Residual energy lingered in the grain.
"Yes, Hyoren. Not many people will use this kind of magic. Not in this human kingdom. The suspect is narrowed down."
She then looked back over her shoulder, watching Hyoren walk closer to her.
Hyoren then crouched beside her. With Aethell Sense, he could easily see the arrays. He traced it with his hand. Felt the Aethell himself. The energy was faint but present—a warm sensation against his skin.
"I see. So should we find more clues, Elise?"
Elise stood, dusting her stockings.
"Yes, Hyoren. The suspect is narrowed down with the use of dark magic, but we still need more clues."
She scanned the warehouse. Her eyes moved across the piles of farming equipment. The barrels. The crates.
"Let's look around carefully. I doubt the culprit will leave anything behind, but sometimes small clues might be left alone. Especially if they need to move quickly after performing this Ritual Magic."
Both of them then split up. Looking around the warehouse. The space was large but cluttered with items pushed to the sides.
Elise went to check the wall and the door. Her fingers traced the wooden beams. Looking for anything unusual. Any marks. Any signs.
Hyoren went to check the crates, barrels, tools, and the broken wagons. They were all dusty—layers of gray covered every surface. Some crates and barrels were empty. Their lids were open. Their interiors were bare. Some were full of broken things—shattered tools, rotted rope, rusted metal. There were no clues whatsoever left. Everything seemed ordinary. But abandoned and forgotten.
He then looked around again. Scanning the floor. The walls. The corners. And he found a small door on the floor. It was barely noticeable—just a slight variation in the wood grain. The only indication was the hinges and the small ring handle. If he didn't look carefully, he wouldn't have seen it.
He called for Elise.
"Elise, come here. I found the basement door!"
Elise turned her head, then crossed the warehouse quickly to meet him. Her footsteps were hurried. Her expression was alert.
She crouched, and touched the door. Her fingers traced the hinges. The handle. The edge of the wood.
"Yeah. This door, the hinges, are well oiled. And it's clean. Definitely used a lot compared to the rest of the warehouse."
Hyoren tapped his own chin. Thinking. The implications were clear.
"Should we enter, Elise?"
Elise fell silent for a while. Her eyes moved from the door to Hyoren and back again. Weighing the risks. Considering the possibilities.
"I guess so... We need to check everything we can. So we can give accurate reports to the guild and baron."
Hyoren nodded.
"Okay then. Let's open it."
He then crouched beside her. And pulled the door open. The door opened easily with a creak sound. The hinges were indeed well-maintained—smooth and silent despite the age. A dark hole yawned below them. A ladder descended into the darkness.