Chapter 6. Echoes of Truth

Lyra’s POV

The night air hung heavy with the scent of pine and damp earth as we gathered silently beneath the stars. The crackling fire cast long shadows over our faces, flickering in time with the rapid beat of my heart. I sat cross-legged beside Kael and Draven, trying to steady my nerves as Aunt Lucy prepared to share something she’d kept hidden for far too long.

I swallowed hard, glancing around at the others. We were all young — barely adults — but the weight of what we were about to hear made us feel centuries older.

Kael shifted on the log beside me and whispered, “Aunt Stone, why are you telling us all this?”

Draven’s eyes narrowed, voice low and steady. “Yeah, what does this have to do with us?”

I nodded in agreement, feeling the questions swirl in my mind like a storm. The