The journey back to the city is uneventful, but the weight of what's to come hangs over me like a storm cloud. Every step I take feels like it's drawing me closer to something I can't control. Kael walks beside me, silent, but I can feel his eyes on me, always watching, always waiting for me to break.
When we reach the safe house, I'm surprised to find it empty. No guards, no signs of life. It's as if the world has forgotten us. Or maybe we've outlived our welcome.
I sit down at the table, my hands trembling. "It's happening, Kael. The stone is spreading. And I can feel it, the darkness, the coldness—it's all part of me now. I can't stop it. I don't think I can stop anything anymore."
Kael doesn't say anything for a long time. When he finally speaks, his voice is soft but filled with resolve. "You can. You've always been able to fight, Lyra. Even when you thought you couldn't. We've faced the darkness together before. We can do it again."
I look up at him, and for the first time in a long while, I see the sincerity in his eyes. The love. It's there, even though I know that love won't be enough to save me. The stone inside me is already making its way to my core, and I can feel it draining me, piece by piece.
"You're not going to lose me, Kael," I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "I'm not going to let the stone take me. I won't become… like them."
Kael's hand finds mine, squeezing it gently. "We'll find a way, Lyra. We'll do it together."
But deep down, I know the truth. There's no way to fight the inevitable. My heart is breaking, bit by bit, and the end is coming closer with every breath I take.
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