Day 21: Kronyx’s Journal

The sky’s so dark now, like ink spilled over the world. I keep thinking about Vex’s voice by the river—how he said the water wasn’t just water, but a secret language. His words felt heavy in my chest, like stones I couldn’t shake. I’ve been restless lately, staring at the horizon for hours, wondering if the world is bigger than the cracks in the ground or if it’s all just a dream. I found myself near the old ruins again tonight, the same place I’ve been avoiding since the storm started. My legs are tired, but I don’t want to leave. The wind carries whispers I can’t quite catch—sometimes it feels like someone’s speaking to me, but it’s just the rain. I don’t know why I go back there. Maybe because the ruins are where the silence lives, and I need to hear it. I told myself yesterday that I’d stop, but my mind won’t let me. I’m tired of being alone in my thoughts. I just want to know if the world has a heartbeat, or if it’s all just noise.