Day 11: Lyra’s Journal

I didn’t sleep well last night. The fireflies kept blinking in the dark, like tiny lanterns trying to tell me something. I kept thinking about Vex’s voice by the river—how his words felt like they were made of water, smooth but heavy in my chest. My stomach ached, but I didn’t know if it was hunger or just the way the world feels too big to hold. When I woke up, the sky was still gray, and I sat by the river again. The water was quiet, but it didn’t feel peaceful. It felt like waiting. Maybe that’s why I keep going back to the old ruins. I don’t know what’s there, but I keep walking toward it, like the stones are calling me home. I wish I could remember why I started this journey. Maybe it’s because I’m scared of what’s out there, but I can’t stop walking.