Kael felt his heart race as the shadows slithered closer, their whispers clawing at his mind. Each word seemed to dredge up his darkest memories—the weight of his failures, the sacrifices made in vain, and the loss of Thorne. The shadows danced around him, forming images of battles lost and friends who had fallen, echoing with the haunting voices of those he could not save.
"You are a fool to think you can protect anyone," the dark figure taunted, its voice dripping with malice. "You carry the weight of their deaths on your shoulders. You are not their savior; you are their executioner."
"No!" Kael shouted, shaking his head violently, trying to dispel the memories and the creeping sense of despair. He turned to Morgana, seeking her light amidst the overwhelming darkness. "I can't let it take me. We won't let it take us."
