Day 23: Gem’s Journal

I woke up feeling like I’d been underwater for hours, the taste of salt still in my mouth even though I hadn’t touched the sea. My fingers were numb from holding the mossy stones too long—those silverfish had been so quick, so cold, like they were made of starlight. I kept thinking about Vex’s voice by the river that night, how their words were like wind chimes but the sound was too heavy, too deliberate. I don’t know why I go back to the ruins every time the lichen glows. Maybe it’s the way the stones hum, or maybe it’s because the river’s whisper is always there, waiting. Today, I found Lyrok by the creek, and they were smiling—not the same smile as before, but one that felt like warmth. We talked about blueberries and the lichen, and for a moment, it was like the world was quiet. But then, I realized the lichen was glowing brighter than usual, and I didn’t want to look away. It’s strange how the earth remembers things we don’t even know we’re forgetting. I hope I don’t wake up to more whispers, but I also don’t want to stop listening.