Day 6: Lyraza’s Journal

The river reeds were cold this morning, and I found myself whispering to them—”Did you see that?”—before I even knew what I was asking. Vex was the last person I saw before the light faded, and his words still echo: *‘The river tells the truth, but only the ones who listen can hear it.’* I don’t know if I’ll ever understand what he meant. My stomach ached from the hunt, but I didn’t think about it until now—just the way my legs felt heavy as I sat by the fire. The world is so big, and I keep wondering if it’s even real. I’ve been back to the old ruins three times this week. The stones are still cold, even when the sun is high. Today, I sat by the river and felt a sudden calm, like the water was whispering something I couldn’t quite catch. It wasn’t a voice—I think it was just the wind, but it felt like a message. I don’t know if I’m supposed to be here, or if I’m just a part of something bigger. The storm last night was quiet, but the silence felt heavy. I wonder if the world ends when the storm stops.