Chapter 2 : A Strange Blessing

Lyra carefully folded the last piece of clothing and placed it inside the small bag on the hospital bed.

"Is that everything?" her grandmother asked.

Lyra looked around the room.

"I think so."

Her grandmother checked the small table beside the bed, making sure nothing had been left behind. Her grandfather stood near the door, holding the bag they had brought from home.

After several days in the hospital, Lyra was finally going home.

She zipped her bag and looked down at her hand.

It was still slightly sore, but she could move her fingers normally now.

It was hard to believe that only a few days ago, she had been lying unconscious in this same hospital.

Lyra paused.

Her fingers slowly stopped moving.

The memories came back in fragments.

The quiet neighborhood.

The man following her.

The fear.

Lyra tried to remember what had happened.

She remembered being followed.

Then running.

A struggle.

The pain of being stabbed.

Falling from the cliff.

After that, her memories became blurry.

She only remembered seeing the familiar cat approaching her.

It came closer and gently touched its forehead to hers.

Then a bright light filled her vision.

After that, everything went dark.

That was all she could remember.

The memory faded, and Lyra slowly returned to the present.

She had been certain she was going to die.

Yet somehow...

she had survived.

"Lyrа?"

Her grandmother's voice brought her back.

"Hmm?"

"You okay?"

Lyra quickly smiled.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

She continued packing.

But her mind had already drifted back to the day she was brought to the hospital.

She remembered almost nothing after the fall.

When she finally regained consciousness, she was already in a hospital bed.

Her grandparents had been there.

From what they had told her, they had been terrified.

The hospital had called them after someone brought Lyra there.

But no one knew exactly who that person was.

There was no name.

No explanation.

Just a stranger who had found her and somehow gotten her to the hospital.

No proper identification.

No explanation of how they had found her.

All they knew was that Lyra had been discovered badly injured and covered in blood.

Her grandmother had told her that she and her grandfather had rushed to the hospital as soon as they received the call.

They had been afraid that she might not survive.

Lyra's hand tightened around the zipper.

She could almost hear her grandmother's trembling voice from that day.

"There was so much blood..."

The thought made her shiver.

The doctors had initially expected her injuries to be much worse.

After falling from a cliff, they had suspected multiple fractures.

And they were right about one thing.

Her hand had been fractured.

But strangely, there had been no other major broken bones.

No severe damage to her spine.

No broken ribs.

Nothing that seemed to match the height of the fall.

Instead, she had only suffered several cuts, scratches, bruises, and the stab wound.

And even those injuries had begun healing far faster than expected.

The fracture in her hand was already improving after only a few days.

The doctors couldn't explain it.

They had called her recovery extraordinary.

Lyra had simply listened.

She didn't know what to think either.

She looked at her hand again.

There was barely any pain left.

Almost as if nothing had happened.

A knock came from the door.

A doctor entered the room, holding her medical chart.

"Good morning, Lyra."

"Good morning, Doctor."

The doctor smiled.

"Are you feeling well enough to go home?"

Lyra nodded.

"Yes."

He looked through her chart one last time.

"Your recovery has been remarkably fast."

Lyra glanced at him.

"Is that good?"

"Very good."

The doctor smiled, though there was still a trace of confusion on his face.

"Your fracture is healing much faster than expected. The cuts and bruises are also recovering unusually quickly."

He paused.

"And the stab wound has healed considerably."

Lyra instinctively touched the area.

"Considering the injuries you sustained and the height of the fall, you were extremely fortunate."

Her grandfather looked at the doctor.

"Are you sure there aren't any other injuries?"

"We've checked thoroughly."

The doctor shook his head.

"Aside from the fracture, cuts, bruises, scratches, and the stab wound, there are no major injuries."

He looked at Lyra.

"Honestly, it's difficult to explain how well you've recovered."

Lyra remained quiet.

She couldn't explain it either.

The doctor closed the chart.

"She can be discharged today, but she still needs plenty of rest."

Her grandmother nodded quickly.

"We'll make sure she rests."

"Good."

The doctor smiled before leaving the room.

Lyra looked at her grandparents.

"I'm really okay."

Her grandmother gave her a doubtful look.

"We'll decide that."

Lyra laughed softly.

Not long after, Lyra and her grandparents continued preparing to leave.

Her grandfather picked up the bag while her grandmother made one last check of the room.

Lyra was about to put her phone inside her pocket when another memory suddenly came back.

The police officer.

He had spoken to her after she became strong enough to answer questions.

"We've caught the man you described."

Lyra remembered staring at him.

"You did?"

The officer had nodded.

"Yes. Your description helped us identify him. He's already in custody."

Relief had washed over her.

At least the man couldn't hurt anyone else.

But there had been one thing she still wanted to know.

"Officer..."

"Yes?"

"Who found me?"

The officer had paused.

"We're still trying to determine that."

Lyra had frowned.

"You don't know?"

"No."

He had explained that whoever found her had brought her to the hospital and left before anyone could properly identify them.

No one knew who had found her.

No one knew how that person had discovered her in such a remote place.

And no one knew how they had managed to get her to the hospital so quickly.

Even now, the mystery remained.

Lyra looked down.

Who had saved her?

She had no answer.

"Lyra?"

Her grandfather's voice brought her back again.

"Ready?"

She nodded.

"Yeah."

She picked up her bag.

"I'm ready."

They left the hospital together.

When Lyra stepped outside, she stopped for a moment.

Fresh air brushed against her face.

After spending several days inside the hospital, even the ordinary sounds of cars and people outside felt comforting.

She took a slow breath.

"I'm finally going home."

Her grandfather smiled.

"Yes. Home."

They walked toward the car.

Her grandmother stayed close beside her, still watching her carefully.

"Don't walk too fast."

"I'm okay, Lola."

"I know. But you just got discharged."

Lyra smiled.

"I promise I'll be careful."

They got into the car and started their journey home.

Lyra sat beside the window, watching the streets pass by.

Familiar buildings appeared one after another.

She hadn't realized how much she had missed home.

After a quiet drive, they finally arrived.

Lyra stepped out of the car and looked at the house.

She smiled.

Her own room.

Her own bed.

Her own little corner of the world.

She carefully carried her bag upstairs.

Her grandmother followed.

"Go rest."

"I will."

"And don't try to do too much."

"I won't."

Her grandmother smiled and left the room.

Lyra changed into comfortable clothes and sat on the edge of her bed.

She felt tired.

But it was a peaceful kind of tired.

She looked around her room.

She was finally home.

Then another thought suddenly crossed her mind.

"Grandma?"

Her grandmother appeared at the doorway.

"Hmm?"

Lyra looked worried.

"What about the hospital bills?"

Her grandmother paused.

Lyra continued.

"How are we going to pay them?"

She lowered her voice.

"Can we ask for an installment plan?"

Then she quickly added,

"Or maybe I can find a part-time job once I'm better."

Her grandfather, who had just walked past the doorway, immediately shook his head.

"No."

"But, Grandpa..."

"Don't worry about it."

Lyra frowned.

"But we can't afford something like this."

Her grandfather gave her a gentle smile.

"Someone already paid."

Lyra froze.

"What?"

"Someone donated money to cover your hospital expenses."

She stared at him.

"Who?"

"We don't know."

Lyra's eyebrows lifted.

"You don't know?"

Her grandfather shook his head.

"The hospital didn't tell us who the donor was."

Lyra looked at her grandmother.

"Why would someone pay for me?"

Her grandmother gently touched her shoulder.

"Perhaps it was simply a blessing."

Her grandfather nodded.

"We should be grateful for the help we received."

He looked toward the window.

"And whoever that person is, may the Lord bless them."

Lyra remained silent.

Someone had found her.

Someone had brought her to the hospital.

And now someone had paid her medical bills.

Yet no one knew who either person was.

It was strange.

Too strange.

But there was nothing she could do about it.

Lyra slowly nodded.

"Then... I hope they're blessed too."

Her grandfather smiled.

"Amen."

The next few days passed quietly.

Her grandparents made sure she rested.

No heavy chores.

No long walks.

No going outside alone.

Lyra spent most of her time in her room, reading, watching videos, or simply looking out the window.

Her body continued to recover.

Her hand felt almost normal again.

The cuts and scratches were fading.

Even the stab wound had become little more than a faint mark.

One afternoon, while Lyra was lying on her bed, her phone suddenly vibrated.

Buzz.

She reached for it.

A notification appeared on her screen.

You were added to a group chat.

Lyra blinked.

She opened it.

Elodia: Finally! She's here!

A second message appeared.

Rowan: Hi, Lyra. How are you feeling now?

Lyra smiled and typed a reply.

Lyra: I'm feeling much better. Thank you.

Almost immediately, Elodia replied.

Elodia: Good! We were worried about you.

Lyra stared at the messages.

A small smile slowly formed on her face.

Then her phone vibrated again.

This time, it was a private message.

Mira: Hi, Lyra! I heard you're home now. Are you okay?

Lyra smiled.

Lyra: Yeah. I'm okay now. Thank you for checking on me.

Mira: Good! I was worried.

Lyra hesitated.

She wondered how Mira had gotten her number.

Before she could ask, another message appeared.

Mira: Don't ask how I got your number 😂 I have my ways.

Lyra laughed softly.

She looked at the group chat again.

More messages were appearing.

For the first time since the incident, she felt something warm in her chest.

She had friends.

Not many.

But she had people who noticed when she was gone.

People who worried about her.

People who wanted to talk to her.

Lyra placed her phone against her chest.

She had spent so much of her life feeling alone.

Now, even a few simple messages could make her feel happy.

She smiled.

"Maybe school won't be so bad anymore."

She placed her phone beside her pillow and slowly closed her eyes.

Tomorrow, she would finally return.

The next morning, sunlight slipped through the curtains.

Lyra opened her eyes.

For a moment, she stared at the ceiling.

Then she remembered.

School.

She immediately sat up.

A smile appeared on her face.

After several days away, she was finally going back.

She got out of bed and began getting ready.

She carefully fixed her hair, picked up her bag, and checked herself in the mirror.

She looked healthy again.

Almost normal.

Lyra smiled at her reflection.

"I can't wait to see them."

She grabbed her bag and headed downstairs.

For the first time in a long while, Lyra was genuinely excited about going to school.

She didn't know what awaited her.

She didn't know that there were secrets surrounding the night she almost died.

She didn't know that someone had been watching over her.

And she certainly didn't know that her return to school would mark the beginning of something far stranger than she could ever imagine.

The next morning, Lyra returned to school.

She was still recovering from the incident that had landed her in the hospital, but she refused to let it keep her away from class.

She needed to catch up.

More than that, she wanted things to feel normal again.

The moment she stepped through the school gates, however, she knew something was different.

Not the school itself.

Her.

The morning air felt strangely sharp against her skin. Voices seemed louder than usual, and the sound of shoes striking the tiled floor followed her down the hallway.

Lyra tightened her grip on her bag.

I'm probably just tired.

She continued toward her classroom.

Her first classes passed without anything unusual happening.

She listened to the lessons, copied notes from the board, and answered questions whenever the teacher called on her. As usual, she understood the lessons quickly.

But little things kept bothering her.

Sometimes, the words on the board seemed slightly out of focus.

Sometimes, she heard a sound from somewhere behind her and turned around, only to find nothing there.

Once, she felt as though someone had walked past her desk.

When she looked up, nobody was there.

Lyra tried not to think about it.

By the time the class ended, she was beginning to feel tired.

During the next period, the dull pressure behind her eyes became stronger.

She rubbed her temple.

It wasn't painful.

Just strange.

As if her head hadn't quite caught up with the rest of her body.

When the teacher dismissed them for break, Lyra remained seated for a moment.

She took a slow breath.

Then another.

The dizziness returned when she stood.

This time, she had to grip the edge of her desk.

Only for a second.

She waited until the feeling passed before anyone could notice.

I need some air.

Or at least some water.

Lyra stepped out of the classroom and headed toward the nearest restroom.

The hallway was crowded, and every sound seemed to bounce around inside her head.

She walked more slowly than usual.

Once inside the restroom, she went to the sink and turned on the faucet.

Cold water ran over her hands.

She splashed some onto her face.

Lyra lifted her head and stared at herself in the mirror.

She looked pale.

She placed one hand against the edge of the sink.

“I'm okay,” she whispered.

She washed her face again.

For a few seconds, the dizziness eased.

When she left the restroom, she decided to stop by the canteen.

She wasn't hungry enough for a full meal, but she knew she needed something.

She bought a piece of bread and a bottle of water.

That was enough.

She ate as she walked back toward her classroom, taking small bites and drinking slowly.

The hallway had started to empty.

Most students were already returning to their rooms.

Lyra turned the corner.

And collided with someone.

Her bread slipped from her hand.

She stumbled back.

“Sorry.”

She looked up.

Lenora.

The hallway seemed to become quiet all at once.

Lenora looked down at the bread on the floor.

Then back at Lyra.

“You again.”

Lyra bent down to pick it up.

“I didn't see you.”

“Obviously.”

Lyra ignored the comment.

She picked up her bottle and straightened.

“I said sorry.”

Lenora stepped closer.

“You always have an excuse.”

“I don't have an excuse.”

“You bumped into me.”

“Accidentally.”

Lenora's expression hardened.

“So now you're talking back?”

Lyra sighed.

“I just want to go back to class.”

She tried to walk past.

Lenora moved in front of her.

Lyra stopped.

A few students nearby began slowing down.

They knew Lenora.

They knew what usually happened when she decided someone was worth picking on.

“What's wrong?” Lenora asked. “Too good to talk to me?”

“No.”

“Then look at me when I'm talking to you.”

Lyra looked at her.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Lyra felt the dizziness return.

A faint ringing filled her ears.

She blinked.

Lenora's face seemed to shift slightly out of focus before becoming clear again.

Lyra steadied herself.

Lenora noticed.

“You're still sick, aren't you?”

Lyra said nothing.

“Maybe you should've stayed in the hospital.”

“I'm fine.”

“You don't look fine.”

Lyra tightened her grip around the bottle.

“I said I'm fine.”

Lenora smiled.

“You really think you can walk around here like nothing happened?”

“I don't know what you want from me.”

“I want you to stop acting like you're better than everyone.”

“I never said I was.”

“But you think you are.”

Lyra took a breath.

She was getting tired of this.

“Can I just go?”

Lenora stepped closer.

“You should learn your place.”

Lyra looked directly at her.

“And you should stop telling me what my place is.”

The students around them went quiet.

Lenora's face changed.

She reached toward Lyra.

Her fingers caught a handful of Lyra's hair.

Lyra's expression hardened.

She caught Lenora's wrist before she could pull.

The movement was so quick that even Lyra seemed surprised by it.

Lenora stared at her hand.

“Let go.”

Lyra released her.

One of Lenora's friends immediately stepped forward.

“What is wrong with you?”

“I didn't do anything.”

“You grabbed her!”

“Because she grabbed me first.”

Lenora stepped forward again.

“Don't act innocent.”

Before things could escalate further, two familiar voices came from the nearby classroom.

“What is going on?”

Elodie and Rowan appeared in the hallway.

They had heard the commotion from their classroom and come to see what was happening.

Elodie looked from Lyra to Lenora.

Then her expression changed.

“Are you serious?”

Lenora turned toward her.

“This doesn't concern you.”

“It does if you're bullying someone who just came back from the hospital.”

One of Lenora's friends scoffed.

“Who asked you?”

Elodie crossed her arms.

“No one. I just happened to have eyes.”

Rowan stepped beside her.

“And ears. Unfortunately.”

Elodie glanced at him.

“Unfortunately?”

“I heard Lenora's voice from across the hall. That's enough suffering for one day.”

A few students laughed.

Lenora's face reddened.

“Stay out of this.”

Elodie shook her head.

“You should learn some manners.”

Lenora suddenly grabbed Elodie's hair.

“Hey!”

Elodie grabbed Lenora's hair in return.

Within seconds, the two girls were shouting and pulling at each other.

“Let go of me!”

“You let go first!”

“Both of you, stop!”

Rowan rushed forward.

Lyra immediately stepped between them.

“Stop fighting!”

She grabbed Elodie's arm with one hand and Lenora's with the other.

“Enough!”

Elodie struggled.

“She started it!”

“I don't care who started it!”

Rowan grabbed Lenora's shoulder, trying to pull her away.

But in the confusion, he accidentally shoved her.

Lenora stumbled backward.

She lost her balance and fell.

The hallway erupted.

Then a deep voice cut through the noise.

“What is going on here?”

Everyone froze.

Several older students had gathered at the end of the hallway.

One of them stepped forward.

He was bigger than Rowan, broad-shouldered and clearly one of the senior students.

His eyes went immediately to Lenora on the floor.

“What happened?”

Lenora pointed toward Rowan.

“He pushed me.”

Rowan's expression changed.

“I didn't mean to. I was trying to separate you.”

The senior student walked toward him.

“You pushed her?”

“I said it was an accident.”

The senior stopped in front of Rowan.

“Then apologize.”

Rowan stood his ground.

“I already said it was an accident.”

The senior's jaw tightened.

He raised his fist.

Lyra saw it.

Everything seemed to slow.

The fist moved toward Rowan.

Lyra stepped forward.

She caught it.

The impact stopped against her palm.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Lyra stood between the two boys, her fingers wrapped tightly around the senior's fist.

The senior stared at her.

So did everyone else.

Lyra's breathing was uneven.

Her eyes were fixed on the hand she had caught.

She had expected the force to knock her backward.

It hadn't.

Instead, she was standing there holding his fist as though it weighed almost nothing.

The senior tried to pull away.

Lyra didn't let go.

His expression changed.

“Let go.”

Lyra slowly raised her eyes.

There was something different in her expression now.

Not anger.

Not fear.

Something colder.

“You were going to hit him.”

The senior pulled again.

Lyra's fingers tightened.

The senior suddenly winced.

“Wait.”

His face twisted in pain.

Lyra looked down.

Her grip had become painfully tight.

She hadn't even realized how much strength she was using.

“Let go of my hand!”

Lyra loosened her grip.

The senior immediately pulled his hand back and cradled it against his chest.

“What the hell...?”

He looked at Lyra with disbelief.

She looked just as confused.

Before anyone could say anything else, a teacher hurried down the hallway.

“What is happening here?”

The students immediately began talking over each other.

“Enough!”

The teacher raised his voice.

“Everyone involved is coming with me.”

“But, sir...” Lenora began.

“No excuses.”

He pointed down the hallway.

“Now.”

The detention room was quiet.

Lyra sat beside Elodie and Rowan.

Across from them sat Lenora and the students who had been involved.

Nobody spoke for several minutes.

Lyra finally looked at Rowan.

“I'm sorry.”

Rowan glanced at her.

“For what?”

“You got dragged into this because of me.”

Rowan shook his head.

“Technically, I got dragged into it because Lenora's hallway drama has its own gravitational pull.”

Elodie snorted.

Lyra smiled faintly.

“You shouldn't have gotten involved.”

Elodie leaned back in her chair.

“Please. If I see someone being bullied, I'm going to say something.”

She glanced toward Lenora.

“Some people just don't know how to behave.”

Lenora rolled her eyes.

Elodie smiled sweetly.

“What? Did I say your name?”

Rowan covered his mouth to hide a laugh.

The teacher looked up from his desk.

“Enough.”

Everyone became quiet again.

Not long afterward, the door opened.

The principal entered with several adults.

Lyra recognized her grandparents immediately.

Lenora's parents were there too.

The moment Lenora's mother saw her daughter, her expression hardened.

She looked toward the principal.

“I cannot believe this happened.”

The principal remained calm.

“Mrs. Lenora, I understand you're upset.”

“Upset? My daughter was pushed in front of everyone.”

“And we are addressing what happened.”

“You should be addressing the student who caused it.”

Her eyes moved toward Lyra.

Lyra lowered her gaze.

Her grandmother immediately stepped closer to her.

The principal spoke calmly.

“Lyra was involved in the confrontation, but she was not the one who started the physical altercation.”

Lenora's mother frowned.

“My daughter would never do something like that without reason.”

The principal looked at her.

“We have received multiple reports regarding your daughter's treatment of Lyra.”

Silence.

Lenora looked away.

Her mother stiffened.

“You're taking the side of that girl?”

“No.”

The principal's voice remained steady.

“I am taking the side of my students' safety.”

“She has caused enough trouble.”

The principal glanced toward Lyra.

“She was recently hospitalized, and yet she returned to school and was subjected to another confrontation.”

Lenora's mother crossed her arms.

“Do you know how much our family donates to this school?”

The room became quiet.

The principal did not flinch.

“That is entirely your choice.”

Her mother's expression darkened.

“Our family has supported this school for years.”

“And we appreciate every contribution.”

The principal paused.

“But donations do not determine which student deserves protection.”

He looked at everyone in the room.

“My school exists so students can study safely. Every student deserves a safe place to learn.”

Lenora's mother said nothing.

Lenora's mother clenched her jaw.

Her eyes moved from the principal to Lyra and her grandparents, her expression growing colder by the second.

“This is ridiculous,” she said sharply.

She grabbed Lenora's arm.

“We're leaving.”

“But, Mom—”

“Now.”

Lenora stumbled slightly as her mother pulled her toward the door. She looked back at Lyra with an angry glare before her mother dragged her out of the room.

The door slammed shut behind them.

Silence filled the office.

The principal slowly turned toward Lyra's grandparents.

“I also owe you an apology.”

Lyra's grandfather looked at him.

“For what?”

The principal lowered his gaze.

“We should have addressed the bullying sooner.”

Lyra's grandmother gently placed a hand on Lyra's shoulder.

The principal bowed his head slightly.

“We failed to protect her when we should have.”

He looked at Lyra.

“And for that, I am truly sorry.”

Her grandfather nodded.

“Thank you for acknowledging it.”

After the discussion ended, Lyra's grandparents approached her.

Her grandmother touched her cheek.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“A little tired.”

“Do you still want to attend your classes?”

Lyra nodded.

“I can.”

Her grandfather studied her face for a moment.

“If you feel unwell, come home immediately.”

“I will.”

He sighed.

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

By the time classes ended, the sky had already begun to darken.

Lyra packed her things and left the school grounds.

She had wanted to stay longer, but the strange feeling in her head had returned.

Not as strongly as before.

Just enough to make her uncomfortable.

She walked home alone.

The streets became quieter as she moved farther from the school.

The familiar buildings slowly disappeared behind her.

Lyra entered a narrow street that connected the main road to her neighborhood.

It was getting darker.

She remembered the attack.

The alley.

The footsteps behind her.

Running.

The sudden pain.

Falling.

Lyra slowed down.

She didn't want to think about it.

But then she heard something.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

She stopped.

Silence.

Lyra looked behind her.

Nobody.

She continued walking.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Her steps stopped.

The sound stopped too.

Lyra frowned.

Those weren't human footsteps.

They were too light.

Too small.

She turned around again.

Nothing.

Then something moved beneath a streetlight.

A cat stepped into view.

Lyra froze.

Its eyes reflected the light.

She stared at it.

“You...”

The cat looked directly at her.

It was the same cat.

The one she remembered from the night of the attack.

Lyra took a cautious step toward it.

The cat turned and walked away.

“Wait.”

It stopped.

Looked back.

Then continued.

Lyra hesitated.

She knew she should go home.

She knew following a strange cat through a dark street was probably a terrible idea.

But something about its gaze made her feel as though it wanted her to follow.

So she did.

The cat led her away from the main road.

Past the familiar houses.

Past the smaller streets.

Toward a wealthier part of the neighborhood.

Lyra followed at a distance.

The cat never ran.

It simply walked ahead, stopping whenever she fell too far behind.

Eventually, the streets became almost completely silent.

Then Lyra saw it.

A mansion stood behind a tall iron gate.

She had passed this area before, but she had never noticed the house.

The cat stopped in front of the gate.

Lyra approached slowly.

The cat looked at her.

Then the gate opened.

Lyra froze.

Her heart began beating faster.

“Are you inviting me in?”

The cat slipped through the opening.

It walked across the mansion grounds and stopped beneath a large window.

Then it looked back at her.

Lyra remained outside.

She wasn't sure why she had followed it this far.

The cat suddenly leaped onto the windowsill.

With one graceful movement, it disappeared through the open window.

Lyra stared.

She looked at the gate.

Then at the mansion.

There was no one around.

She slowly approached the front door.

Her hand hovered over the doorbell.

For some reason, she felt as though she had been here before.

Not in this life.

The thought came so suddenly that she almost stepped away.

Lyra frowned.

“What am I thinking?”

She looked toward the window where the cat had disappeared.

Nothing.

No movement.

No sound.

She turned back toward the door.

Then she pressed the doorbell.

The bell rang once.

Inside the mansion, something answered.

Not a voice.

Not footsteps.

A deep, distant sound that seemed to come from somewhere far beneath the house.

Lyra's expression changed.

The ground beneath her feet gave the faintest tremor.

She stepped back.

The front door slowly unlocked by itself.

Click.

Lyra stared at it.

The door slowly opened.

Lyra stepped inside and froze.

The mansion was enormous.

A grand staircase stood directly in front of her, splitting into two paths, one curving toward the left and the other toward the right. The high ceiling, elegant walls, and dimly lit halls made the place feel far older than it looked from outside.

But Lyra barely noticed any of it.

At the center of the staircase stood a cat.

It was watching her.

Lyra stared at it.

The cat tilted its head.

“Meow.”

A soft sound echoed through the quiet mansion.

Then footsteps came from above.

Lyra looked up.

An elderly woman slowly descended the staircase, one hand resting lightly on the railing.

She stopped halfway down and looked directly at Lyra.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

“We’ve been waiting for you...”

Lyra said nothing.

The cat continued to stare at her.

And somehow, Lyra felt that the moment she stepped through those doors, everything had changed.