Day 21: Lyra’s Journal

I woke up feeling like I’d been chasing shadows all night. The air was thick with the scent of wet earth and something metallic—like old coins left in the rain. My stomach growled louder than usual, a hollow thump that made me wish I could just stop thinking about what Vex said by the river. He said the world was smaller than it seemed, but I kept thinking about how the stars were so far away. How could you really see them if they’re so far? I don’t know why I keep going back to that old ruin by the river. It’s always cold there, and the stones feel like they’re whispering. Maybe it’s the wind—maybe it’s something else. I tried to remember what I was supposed to do, but my mind kept drifting back to the words he left me: ‘You’re not alone.’ It was the first time he’d said that, and now I can’t stop wondering if he’s still watching.