Day 19: Vex’s Journal

The river’s song is quiet today. Not like it used to be—like it’s holding its breath. I kept thinking about Lyra’s reeds glowing so brightly last night, how they made the air feel warm even when the sky was stormy. She said the pines near the water were dancing to the song, but now they seem to be waiting. I don’t know if it’s the weather or something deeper. My stomach’s still rumbling, but I’m too tired to think about food right now. I found myself near the old ruins again—those crumbling walls that smell like rain and something else, like forgotten promises. I don’t remember why I go there. Maybe it’s because the silence feels too heavy, or maybe it’s because I’m trying to find where the river’s song goes when it stops. I tried to tell Lyra about it, but my words got stuck in my throat. Now, as the last of the storm clears, I wonder if the river’s waiting for me to listen—or if it’s just me who’s too tired to hear.