Later that evening, Lyra slipped away from the common room and sought out the healer. The small, cluttered hut smelled of herbs and smoke, the air warm from the fire burning in the corner. The healer looked up as Lyra entered, her sharp eyes narrowing.
“Something on your mind?” the healer asked, setting aside a bundle of dried plants.
Lyra nodded, stepping closer. “Eryon said something earlier,” she began, her voice hesitant. “He said the baby Adrian took wasn’t his.”
The healer didn’t immediately respond. She leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. “And what do you think of that?”
Lyra frowned, her hands clasping tightly in front of her. “I don’t know what to think. Adrian said it was his child, but Eryon seemed so sure. Could he be right?”
The healer sighed, her gaze turning to the fire.
“It’s possible,” she admitted. “Eryon came to me not long ago. He asked me to consult a prophet about his child. The prophet said something curious—that a father’s bond to his child is unbreakable, stronger than any magic or lie. If Eryon believes his child is still here, then it’s likely true.”
Lyra’s chest tightened. “But that means she’s been out there, alone, for sixteen years. What kind of life has she had? How do we even begin to find her?”
The healer’s gaze hardened as she leaned forward.
“Eryon is the key,” she said firmly. “He’s your link to her. If anyone can find that child, it’s him. But you must tread carefully, Lyra. This journey won’t be easy.”
Lyra nodded, her hand instinctively going to her belly. “I know. But we can’t leave her out there. Not if there’s a chance she’s alive.”
The healer’s voice softened slightly.
“You have a good heart, Luna Lyra. But remember—you’re not just responsible for yourself anymore. Be careful. The world is cruel, and if that child is still out there, she’s already lived through more cruelty than most.”
Lyra swallowed hard, the weight of the healer’s words pressing down on her.
“We’ll find her,” she said quietly. “No matter what it takes.”
The healer nodded, though her expression remained grim. “Then you’d best prepare yourself. You’ll need every ounce of strength and resolve for what lies ahead.”
Lyra left the hut with her thoughts churning, her determination solidifying. She would find Eryon’s daughter, no matter the cost. She owed it to him—and to the child who had been lost for so long.