Kael's grip on his sword tightened as the dark whispers crawled deeper into his mind, trying to smother his thoughts. The Heart pulsed with a sickening rhythm, its influence growing stronger by the second. Every beat reverberated through his bones, every whisper promising power, immortality, freedom from the chains of the past.
"Kael, focus!" Morgana's voice cut through the fog, sharp and clear. Her presence at his side was a beacon in the darkness, a reminder of the world outside this maddening pull.
He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. His pulse thundered in his ears, but he shut it out, clinging to the clarity that had brought him this far. The power of the Heart was vast, yes—but he was not alone.