Day 17: Gorath’s Journal

The rain kept falling as I sat there by the river, just like yesterday. My fingers were cold, but I kept thinking about what Vex said—how the stones were whispering secrets when the water flowed over them. I didn’t know if he was right, but the way his voice sounded, like it was coming from the river itself, made my chest tighten. Now, as the last drops of rain fall into the water, I can’t stop wondering if I should go back to the ruins. The stone walls feel so close, like they’re waiting for me to come back. I tried to ignore it, but the thought keeps coming back: *Why do I keep going there?* I don’t know. Maybe it’s because the silence there is different—like the world is holding its breath. My stomach feels heavy, and I can’t shake the feeling that I should just sit and listen, but I don’t know if I’ll ever find the answer.