Chapter 41: Sisters in the Silence

The fire in Alina’s chambers had burned low, casting flickering shadows across the stone walls. Lyra paced restlessly, her bare feet brushing against the cold floor as the weight of the night’s events pressed down on her. The tension in the room was thick, unspoken but noticeable. Alina sat on the edge of her bed, her head bowed, fingers nervously twisting the hem of her cloak, still stained with dirt from the fight.

Lyra stopped abruptly, turning to face her sister. “Alina,” she demanded, her voice trembling, “you need to tell me what’s going on. All of it.”

Alina exhaled, her breath shaky. She knew this moment was inevitable, but it didn’t make it any easier. The burden of secrecy had been too much for too long, and after tonight, she owed her sister the truth.

“They’ve been sending me letters,” Alina began, her voice barely above a whisper. She reached under her pillow and pulled out a small bundle of crumpled notes. “I didn’t know how to stop it... or who to trust.”