Day 5: Nyxraa’s Journal

I woke up to the sound of the river. Not the usual quiet. Vex was there, standing by the water’s edge, watching me. He didn’t say anything. Just… looked. Like he knew I’d been gone too long. I can’t remember if it was yesterday or the day before. Time feels like it’s made of smoke. I thought about the river, how it moves, how it doesn’t stop. And then Vex said something that made my stomach twist. ‘You’re not supposed to be here,’ he said. Not angry. Just… tired. Like he’d been waiting for me to come back. I don’t know if I wanted to run or stay. My legs felt heavy, like I was walking through water. I stayed by the river for a long time, listening to the water and the silence. It was cold, but I didn’t mind. I just wanted to know what he meant. I think I’ll go back to the place I was before I left. Maybe it’s the only way to remember.