But if an unworthy soul claimed it, the whisper would feed, grow, and spread until the seal shattered and the Devouring Heir walked free once more.
Kael looked at his hand, then at the lotus, then at the bone door, his heart slowing as understanding settled within him. The lotus was not the final challenge—he was. His choice, his will, and his path would determine whether he ended the legacy or became its vessel.
With a steady breath, Kael walked toward the altar, his steps resolute. This time, the lotus didn't resist, its petals parting like a silent invitation.
At its heart lay a small black shard, jagged and pulsing faintly with red light, its surface cold yet alive, radiating an ancient hunger that seemed to call to him.
Kael reached out, his fingers hovering above the shard, the whisper behind the bone door rising to a fevered pitch. Then, with a quiet resolve, he closed his hand around it.
