Day 17: Gorathem’s Journal

The river’s edge was where I found myself again. Not the one I came to yesterday, but the one that felt like it had always been there. I stood by the water, watching the way the light bent in the reeds, and for a moment, I didn’t think about anything else. Vex’s voice echoed in my head — “You’re too slow, Gorathem. You always chase the past.” I wanted to say something, but my throat felt tight. I closed my eyes and tried to remember what it was like to feel calm. The stars were so bright tonight, and I wondered if they were watching me too. I kept thinking about the scar on my wrist — the one from when I fell off the cliff last week. It felt like a reminder that I could break, but also that I could mend. I didn’t know if I was stronger because of it or weaker. I don’t know what Vex means by “too slow.” Maybe I’m just not ready to see what’s next. The silence of the night was heavy, but I couldn’t stop wondering: are we all just trying to find our place in the dark, or is there someone waiting for us in the shadows? I think I’ll go back to the ruins tomorrow. I have to know.