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Chapter 42 - chapter 42: The Descent

Chapter 42: The Descent

‎She was falling.

‎But it didn't feel like falling.

‎It felt like being returned.

‎Returned to something she'd left behind. Or maybe something that had never let her go.

‎The darkness swallowed her, warm and thick and wet like breath. Like lungs still inhaling. Her body passed through layers stone, ash, memory, names.

‎Some whispered to her as she fell.

‎Others screamed.

‎And one voice whispered over them all:

‎ "You came back."

‎--

‎Above ground, Kael stood frozen at the cracked edge of the earth, staring into the impossible hole Lyra had vanished into. The names in the sky were fading but the whisper hadn't stopped.

‎It still called her Nyra.

‎And now… it was starting to call him too.

‎ "Thorn-child… follow her. Bring her home."

‎Maerin grabbed his arm. "Don't you dare."

‎He looked at her, his face tight. "She went alone."

‎"She didn't choose to fall, Kael."

‎"I'm not letting her be alone down there."

‎---

‎He jumped.

‎---

‎Below, Lyra landed hard but didn't break.

‎The world she landed in was not Whisperwood.

‎Not anymore.

‎It was its mind.

‎The space below was twisted a circular void made of overlapping buildings, ruins stacked like bones, and doorways that led to nowhere. Every surface was covered in writing her own handwriting.

‎Each sentence a broken memory.

‎Each name a forgotten ghost.

‎And in the center stood a version of herself.

‎Younger. Pale. Smiling.

‎Wearing a crown made of names.

‎ "You're late," it said.

‎Lyra backed away, but her heels met the wall.

‎Even though she was in the center.

‎She was surrounded.

‎The younger Nyra spoke again, her voice childlike, but full of age.

‎ "You gave me up. You made Lyra. But they never forgot me."

‎ "And now, you want to burn it all… but you need me to do it."

‎Lyra shook her head. "You're not real."

‎"I'm what's left. The part you buried to become strong. The part you forgot to protect yourself."

‎She stepped closer.

‎ "But I remembered. I remembered everything for you."

‎Kael landed beside her with a thud, groaning.

‎He stood, dizzy, disoriented then froze when he saw them.

‎Two Lyras.

‎And only one was looking at him.

‎The other one… was looking through him.

‎ "She's not whole," Nyra said, "because you keep pulling her away from who she was."

‎Kael stepped forward, sword drawn. "She's not you anymore."

‎Nyra smiled sadly. "But I'm still her."

‎The void shimmered.

‎And suddenly, hundreds of figures appeared.

‎All versions of Lyra.

‎Warrior. Child. Monk. Monster.

‎Some held weapons. Others held candles.

‎They stood around the circle not hostile. Not angry.

‎Just… waiting.

‎"She was made to carry names," Nyra whispered. "But not all names are kind."

‎---

‎The voices rose again.

‎And Kael flinched as one of them took his shape a version of him Lyra had once dreamed about. Gentle. Strong. Smiling without fear.

‎He looked at Lyra and said, "You made me better in your head. But that's not who I am."

‎Another Kael appeared twisted, cold-eyed, wounded.

‎ "I left you when you needed me most."

‎A third. "I didn't believe you when you told me you heard the names."

‎---

‎Kael growled and stepped forward. "Enough!"

‎The world shook.

‎The real Lyra reached for him, but Nyra caught her hand.

‎ "Let me burn it, Lyra. Let me finish what you couldn't."

‎ "Give me back the truth."

‎Lyra stared into her own eyes.

‎And for a moment, she wanted to.

‎She wanted to let go, let Nyra handle it. Let the town burn.

‎But Kael's voice pulled her back.

‎Not yelling.

‎Just… breaking.

‎ "Don't leave me. Don't become her."

‎She looked at him.

‎And she remembered the first time she saw his name written in the roots.

‎She remembered choosing him.

‎---

‎"No," Lyra said.

‎She pulled her hand free from Nyra.

‎"I'm not your weapon. I'm not the town's answer. I'm not a ghost. I'm me."

‎ "Then burn with me," Nyra said, voice rising. "Let the town die."

‎Lyra whispered:

‎ "Not yet."

‎She stepped into Nyra's arms

‎And absorbed her.

‎The light shattered. The scream tore through every building in the void.

‎And Lyra…

‎Remembered everything.

‎Lyra collapsed in Kael's arms.

‎Blood streamed from her nose. Her eyes were glowing faintly.

‎Kael held her close.

‎But her voice was no longer just her own.

‎"It's waking. The thing below the town… the first root."

‎"And it knows we're here."

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