Chapter 17 : Elias, The Devouring Saint

Chapter 17 : Elias Vuldar 

Empire of Sylvaris – Wilds of the Vuldar Forest

The structure stood like a beast carved into reality—less a building and more a living thing, a primal force frozen in wood and stone. Staring too long gave the eerie sensation of being watched, like blood-red eyes were gazing into your soul, waiting for weakness.

This was the heart of the Vuldar—the Beast Tamers, the Hunters, the Predators in human skin.

They looked human. But they were not.

Their instincts were sharper, their blood wilder, their nature closer to beasts than men. Strength ruled all. There were no inherited titles, no divine rights—only the law of the wild. The strongest led. And for the last decade, the strongest was -

Elias Vuldar.

He had not simply claimed his throne. He had crushed, devoured, and buried every challenger.

Eventually, they stopped trying.

Because trying meant dying in a cruel way. 

There was no mercy here—not for enemies, not for the weak, not even for family. Yet, paradoxically, loyalty was their most sacred law. The Vuldar did not betray. They did not deceive. They did not play the political games of cowards.

If you had the loyalty of the Alpha, you had the pack.

And right now, the Empire of Sylvaris had the loyalty of Elias Vuldar, The Devouring Saint. 

But for how long?

…

The Great Hall of Beasts

The air in the Great Hall was thick—alive with an untamed, primal energy. The scent of leather, sweat, and blood lingered in the dimly lit space, where trophies of the hunt decorated the walls and many statues of different types of beasts. 

A young man with striking green hair frowned at the towering figure on the throne.

"Father, what do you think about the Ignis family incident?" Nick Vuldar's voice was sharp, laced with irritation.

Because how could he not be irritated ? The ones he wanted to battle disappeared. 

Elias Vuldar did not answer immediately.

He sat upon a throne of bone and leather, fingers tapping against the armrest in thought. Finally, he exhaled through his nose. His voice rumbled like distant thunder.

"A disgrace," he muttered. "A damn waste."

Nick narrowed his eyes. "How so?"

Elias scoffed. "The Ignis were the only other house we truly understood. Not like the Noctis, those backstabbing cowards who hide in the shadows. Not like the Mindweavers, slithering into men's thoughts, playing puppet master." His voice darkened. "But the Ignis? They were warriors. They trained, they bled, they conquered. They did not play political games—they fought."

Nick's brows furrowed. "Then why did the empire wipe them out?"

Elias exhaled, the weight of his words pressing against the silence.

"Their ancestor committed an unforgivable sin. And when that boy awakened…" He paused. "The empire panicked. They saw a threat and chose to eliminate it."

Nick caught it immediately. That slight hesitation.

Elias Vuldar never hesitated.

"You respected Noah Ignis," Nick said flatly.

Elias didn't answer. He didn't have to.

Noah Ignis was the only duke he had ever respected. A warrior. A force of nature. A man who put family above all.

And now Noah was dead. His entire family was dead.

Even his five-year-old son.

Or so they said.

Nick clenched his jaw. "Father, why don't you believe me? I told you—the Ignis heir is not dead." His green eyes burned with certainty. "I can still feel it. That pull. The urge to fight him. I've felt it since the day he was born. I just don't know where he is. But he is alive."

Elias inhaled deeply. "And how do you expect me to trust your intuition?"

Nick ran a hand through his hair, exasperated. "Because I don't joke about this."

Silence.

Then Elias let out a low chuckle. "I know." His amusement faded, gaze sharpening. "And we'll see. If that boy is alive, then it's only a matter of time before he returns to this empire."

He leaned forward, voice dropping.

"And if it's the same boy who awakened at five… then we need to know where we stand. Because the dumbest thing anyone could do is go against that kind of monster."

Nick smirked. "Smartest thing you've said all day."

Elias ignored him, his tone turning cold. "Send a letter to the emperor. Remind him that our pact remains unfinished. He promised us the method to expand our soul space and be able the lessen the limit of number of beasts we can contracts—I want it by the end of this month."

Nick raised a brow. "And if he delays?"

Elias's lips curled—not quite a smile, but something sharper.

"Then we will no longer stay put and he will no longer worth our loyalty. And the empire can learn what it means to have another Duke family breathing down its neck."

The conversation was over.

Elias closed his eyes and sank into his soul space.

Nick, seeing this, sighed and walked off. "Guess I'll start writing. Again."

…

Inside the Soul Space of Elias 

Darkness. The scent of earth and blood.

And beasts.

Creatures of all sizes prowled the void, their bodies flickering like mirages. Yet at the center, one presence dominated the space.

A wolf.

No—The Wolf.

Massive, obsidian-black fur shifting like shadows. Its blood-red eyes burned as they locked onto Elias. It did not snarl. It did not move.

It watched.

Elias smirked. "Been a while, huh?"

The wolf remained silent, but something old stirred in its gaze.

Elias's grin widened. "I have good news for you." His voice dropped into something almost feral.

"Looks like you'll be set loose soon."

The wolf's eyes flashed. A ripple of power pulsed through the soul space, and for a split second, an illusion appeared—its lips curling back in what could only be described as a smile.

The empire had made a fatal mistake.

By erasing the Ignis bloodline, they had unknowingly set into motion a series of disastrous consequences.

If they had known… they would have reconsidered.

Especially since the empire was already unstable.

But now?

They were about to lose their most powerful support.

…

Kingdom of Evernight – 

Inside the chamber. 

The room was draped in a heavy silence. Shadows flickered along the ceiling, cast by the dim glow of ever-burning torches.

Lucas lay on the ornate bed, body still recovering from his injuries. The pain had dulled, but the weight of his conversation with Thania, the Queen of Death and Decay, still lingered in his mind.

His expression was calm, yet more resolute than ever.

He exhaled. Sigh…

His gaze drifted toward the ceiling. He wasn't thinking about his wounds. He wasn't thinking about the empire. His mind was blank, wandering, until—

He noticed something odd.

He wasn't wearing his blindfold.

And yet… nothing was on fire.

Instead, faint wisps floated in the air.

His breath hitched. His heart pounded once, hard.

"How is this possible…?"

At that moment—

DING!

End of Chapter 17.