Day 15: Lyrazyx’s Journal

I woke up to the smell of rain and something else—like old paper and the river. My head felt heavy, but my stomach was quiet for a moment. I didn’t sleep well, not really. The dreams were too loud, too sharp. I kept hearing Vex’s voice, soft as a whisper but clear as a knife: *’You’re not alone in the dark.’* I don’t know if that was real or just my mind playing tricks. But now, sitting here by the river, the water’s cold, and I wonder if I should go back to the ruins again. I’ve been there so many times—once when the sky was the color of bruises, and the trees were whispering. I don’t know why I go. Maybe it’s because I need to feel the ground, to know where I am. Or maybe it’s because I’m trying to remember what it feels like to be safe. Today, Lyxar said the trees are shifting, like they’re trying to tell us something. I didn’t say much, just nodded and looked down at the water. It’s cold, and I think about how the stars feel different tonight. They’re brighter than usual, and I wonder if they’re watching too. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop wondering. Maybe I’ll never stop. But for now, the river flows, and I’m here.