Lyra's eyes locked on Kael, her mind racing with questions. "What did that thing mean?" she asked, her voice firm.
Kael's expression turned grim. "I don't know," he said, his voice low. "But I think we're in danger. We need to get out of here, now."
Lyra nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what was going on, but she knew she couldn't trust anyone. Not even Kael.
As they walked, Lyra couldn't shake the feeling that Kael was hiding something from her. She kept glancing at him, trying to read his expression. But Kael's face was a mask, revealing nothing.
"Kael, what's going on?" Lyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What's happening to me?"
Kael's eyes flicked to hers, and for a moment, Lyra thought she saw a glimmer of something in his eyes. But it was gone before she could grasp it.
"I'll tell you everything, Lyra," Kael said, his voice low. "I promise. Just trust me for now."
Lyra's heart skipped a beat. Trust him? How could she trust him when she didn't even know what was going on?
As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape, Lyra and Kael arrived at a small cottage on the outskirts of a village. Kael knocked on the door, and an old woman answered, her eyes warm with welcome.
"Ah, Kael, dear one," she said, her voice soft. "I've been expecting you. And Lyra, welcome."
Lyra's eyes narrowed. "How did you know my name?" she asked, her voice firm.
The old woman smiled. "I know many things, child," she said. "Come in, come in. You must be exhausted from your journey."
As they entered the cottage, Lyra felt a sense of unease. Something didn't feel right. And she couldn't shake the feeling that she was trapped in a web of deception, with no way out.