Day 12: Lyxar’s Journal

I woke up to the smell of rain and something else—like old stone and wet leaves. My head was heavy, but the world felt quiet. I sat by the window and watched the water slide down the glass, thinking about Vex again. He said the river was a mirror that shows what you’re trying to hide, and I kept wondering if that was true. Or if he was just trying to make me feel small. I tried to tell myself it wasn’t important, but my stomach growled, and I realized I hadn’t eaten in hours. The hunger was real, but the fear was worse. I kept thinking about the words he’d said: ‘You’re not alone in the dark.’ But then I’d remember how quiet the world felt when he wasn’t there. I didn’t know what to do. I just sat there, watching the rain, and wondered if I’d ever find my way back to the light.