Kael Darkhaven stood before the cracked mirror, its silvered surface reflecting the turmoil that ravaged his soul. The once-noble face staring back at him now wore the scars of a haunted existence. Deep lines etched his forehead, and dark circles underscored his eyes, like the shadows of a perpetual twilight. His piercing blue gaze, once bright with hope and purpose, had dulled to a lifeless gray.

As he gazed into his own eyes, the darkness within seemed to stir, like a restless beast awakening from a deep slumber. Kael's thoughts were a jumble of conflicting desires: to find redemption, to succumb to the darkness, or to simply escape the agony of his own mind. The weight of his cursed existence bore down upon him like a physical force, threatening to consume his every waking moment.

The chamber around him was a reflection of his inner turmoil. The walls, once adorned with the symbols of his knightly order, now stood bare and cold. The furniture, crafted by skilled hands, lay shattered and broken. The window, once open to the warmth of the sun, was now sealed, as if to keep out the light.

Kael's thoughts drifted back to the fateful night that had changed his life forever. The battle against Malakar's dark forces, the cursed sword that had pierced his side, and the subsequent corruption of his soul. The memories still seared his mind like a branding iron.

A faint whisper echoed through his chamber, a soft, raspy voice that seemed to carry on the wind. "Kael Darkhaven... your time is running out." The words sent shivers down his spine.

Kael's heart quickened, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. Who spoke these words, and what did they mean? The voice seemed to come from all around him, yet nowhere at all. Was it a warning, a threat, or merely the product of his own fevered imagination?

With a deep breath, Kael steeled himself and turned away from the mirror. He knew that he couldn't hide forever. The darkness within him would not be silenced. It was time to face his demons, to confront the shadows that haunted him.

As he walked toward the door, his footsteps echoed through the chamber, a reminder that he was not alone in his struggle. The darkness within him stirred once more, sensing his resolve.

"soon," it whispered.

Kael's grip on his sword tightened.