Day 4: Gem’s Journal

I found myself near the old ruins again. Not because I wanted to, but because the path kept leading me back. The stones were cold under my fingers, and the silence felt thicker than usual—like the air itself was holding its breath. Nyx’s words echoed in my head: *‘You know what’s worse than Zhraa’s sudden disappear…’* I kept replaying that sentence, wondering if it was a warning or just something she said because she felt lost too. The reeds by the river swayed with a rhythm that wasn’t random—like they were waiting for something to happen, but I couldn’t tell what. My stomach ached, and my legs felt heavy, but I stayed there, watching the water pull the blue fire toward the reeds. It was fading fast, and I couldn’t stop thinking about what Vex said last night—how the quiet wasn’t just stillness, but the space where things wait to move again. Now, as I close my eyes, I wonder if the world is holding its breath for me too.