Lyra woke up feeling strangely empty.

Not weak. Not sick. Just… quiet.

The room was bright with early morning light, pale and soft against the stone walls. She lay still for a few seconds, waiting for the heat to rise the way it had the night before. She waited for that tight, burning pressure in her chest. She waited for the restless feeling under her skin that had refused to let her sleep.

Nothing came.

Her body felt heavy instead, like something had pressed down on her from the inside and ...