Kael awoke with a jolt, his breaths shallow as he pulled himself from the dark void of the vision. The training chamber came back into focus, though the oppressive weight of the Shadowsoul's presence lingered in his chest. Morgana was at his side instantly, her hand gripping his shoulder.
"What happened?" she demanded, her eyes darting to Lyara and the other Sentinels, who watched with a mix of concern and detachment.
Kael shook his head, trying to steady his breathing. "The fragment… it spoke to me. Tried to turn me. It's not just power—it's alive, in some way."
Lyara's expression tightened, and she stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "And how did you resist?"
Kael hesitated. The temptation to embrace the fragment's power had been overwhelming, its promises tantalizing. But something stronger had held him back—a deep resolve rooted in his identity.
