Kael's mind raced as the Sentinel's words echoed around the crystalline expanse. He tightened his grip on the fragment, its pulse matching the rapid beat of his heart.
"A choice?" Kael asked, his voice hoarse. "What kind of choice?"
The Sentinel's form shifted, growing brighter and darker in waves. "A choice between salvation and destruction. The Heart binds all realms, yet it also divides them. To wield it is to choose which realm thrives... and which one falls."
Morgana's expression hardened. "You're saying Kael must decide who lives and who dies? That's not a choice—it's a curse!"
The Sentinel turned to her, its flickering gaze steady. "Mortals often confuse the two. The Heart was never meant to favor one over the other, but those who seek it have corrupted its purpose. Now, its arbiter must decide how the balance is restored."
