Day 16: Lyranzy’s Journal

The air smells different at night. Not just the usual damp earth and river reeds, but something sharper, like the scent of old stone under the moon. I sat by the river again today—Vex’s voice echoing in my head: *You’re not meant to be here, Lyranzy*. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The way his eyes had narrowed when he said it, how his hands were still trembling slightly, like he’d been holding something heavy. I tried to tell myself it was just the wind, but the river’s current felt different today—like it was pulling me toward the dark water. I don’t know why I keep coming back to this place. Maybe it’s because I’m scared. Or maybe it’s because I want to understand what he means.