"She was with me," Lyra cried, her voice breaking. "Tessa, please… wake up. It's too cold." Her hands trembled as she touched Tessa's face, hoping for warmth that wasn't there. "I'll brew some hot tea for you, okay? Just… open your eyes."
She tried lifting her, desperate to feel any sign of life, but Tessa's body was heavy, too heavy for her. "Don't do this to me," Lyra whispered, shaking her gently. "Please, not you."
Kross stood there, frozen, watching her fall apart. What should he do?
"Lyra," he said quietly, fighting his own voice. "Leave her. She's gone."
She stared at him, eyes wide, tears streaming endlessly down her cheeks. "No… she was just talking to me," she whispered, clutching Tessa's arm like it could bring her back. "She promised she'd stay with me."
Her sobs broke the silence, raw and painful, echoing into the cold air—until even Kross felt his throat tighten.
