The bronze coin burned against Clek's palm.
He stood in the heart chamber, the massive, pulsating mass of the true heart looming before him. Its green glow was steady, reassuring, a constant reminder of the light that still protected the world. But Clek was different now. He could feel the darkness coiled within him, a shadow that was now part of his very soul.
He was no longer the Keeper. He was the Shadow. The balance. The one who walked between the worlds.
Aria's presence flickered in his mind, soft and concerned. "Clek. You've been standing here for hours. What are you thinking about?"
"The heart," he said, his voice flat. "I'm thinking about the heart. It's still pure, still strong. But the darkness inside me is growing. I can feel it testing my control."
"Can you control it?"
C
