The clearing grew deathly still, a quiet tension hanging in the air as Kael, Morgana, and Vallon gathered themselves. The dark presence encroaching from the edges of the sacred space was more than a shadow—it was a malevolence, a corruption antithetical to everything the convergence represented. The Warden's influence was palpable, his power clawing at the edges of their unity like cold, skeletal fingers.
Kael felt a surge of doubt, but the orb in his hand pulsed, resonating with the rhythm of his heartbeat. Its light was steady, defiant. Morgana's hand tightened on his arm as if sensing his hesitation. Her emerald eyes locked with his, filled with determination. "Kael, you're the bearer of the Heart. The Counterpart chose you. Trust in its guidance."
