The next day came with a strange kind of freshness, sunlight spilled through the curtains, soft winds brushing past the window. Yet, even with the calm around her, Lyra’s mind refused to rest.
She lay on her bed staring at the ceiling, the memories of last night circling in her head. She wasn’t done. Not even close. The first stage of her mission had succeeded, but there were still pieces missing… dangerous, vital ones.
Slowly, she sat up and let her bare feet touch the wooden floor. The coolness steadied her in a way.
“Now that the first stage is done,” she muttered under her breath, “I need to find out how the guards patrol… how often they pass the Eastern wall.”
The words sounded small in the quiet room, but their weight pressed deep. If she failed to learn this, every step she’d ta
