I spoke with Gem this morning, and it felt like the air between us had shifted. She didn’t say much, but her eyes held something I couldn’t name—like she knew I was carrying a secret. Then there was Lyvornis, who I didn’t expect to see so early. I thought about Vex’s words: *‘The river speaks when it’s time to listen.’* I kept trying to understand what that meant, but my head felt heavy. The glow-moss was flickering again, and for a second, I thought I heard a whisper on the wind, like someone was saying my name.
I don’t know if I’ll ever stop wondering what’s really happening here. But right now, as I lie down, I feel a quiet hope. Maybe the world isn’t as big as it seems. Maybe we’re all just trying to find our way back home.