Location: Nova Base – Medical Bay
Lyra winced as Zayn's scanner hovered just above her throat. The glow from her Nova Shard had dimmed, flickering in sync with the sharp pain that spiked every time she tried to speak.
Zayn (reading the scan): "It's worse than I thought. The toxin is synthetic—it's coating your vocal cords and attacking the tissue when strained."
Lyra looked up, silent but desperate. Then, slowly, she tried to sing a single note.
The sound came out broken—half-formed and filled with agony.
She gasped, dropping to her knees as her throat burned white-hot.
Zayn (alarmed): "Stop. Lyra, stop! You could permanently damage your voice—maybe even lose it completely if you keep pushing!"
The room went quiet. The others exchanged uneasy glances.
Kael: "Then she shouldn't sing. Not until we fix this."Rayna: "Can we?"
Lyra took a slow breath and croaked:
Lyra (barely audible): "The competition... it's in three days."
Zayn hesitated. His hands clenched around the tablet.
Zayn: "You might not have three days. But I'll try. I'll work nonstop if I have to. I promise I'll find a solution."
She gave him a weak smile. Her fingers reached up to the pendant of her Nova Shard—still glowing faintly, almost like it was struggling with her.
Later That Night – Zayn's Lab
Screens surrounded Zayn, all running simulations. He poured over molecular breakdowns of the toxin, his eyes red from no sleep.
Zayn (to himself): "I've seen something like this before… whoever made this knew what they were doing."
He blinked at a corrupted strand on the display—an oddly familiar pattern.
Zayn: "This wasn't made by Seren."
He pulled up a second image: Void residue.
His jaw clenched.
Zayn: "This came from Synkris."
A Note of Hope:
Location: Nova Base – Lab, Night Before the Competition
The base was quiet—except for the frantic tapping of keys, the whir of machines, and Zayn muttering under his breath as he scanned chemical structures and Nova energy signatures.
Zayn (exhausted): "Every version breaks down… too toxic, too unstable… unless—"
He stopped. His eyes narrowed at a familiar molecular pattern.
Zayn: "Nova resonance… if I merge a purified shard pulse with the antidote, I could counteract the decay. It'd be temporary… but just maybe…"
He turned to the glowing cylinder containing Lyra's energy sample.
Zayn (quietly): "This will either save your voice—or burn it out forever."
Morning – Nova Base Medical Bay
Lyra sat up as Zayn entered, holding a small vial of shimmering liquid. His hands trembled slightly.
Zayn: "It's not perfect. It's unstable. It might hold for a few hours—just enough for you to sing once."
Rayna: "And the risk?"Zayn: "If she pushes too far... the damage could be permanent."
The room was silent. Then Lyra stood, her voice barely a whisper:
Lyra: "This stage means something. Not just for me—but for the girl I used to be. I'm not letting fear decide for her."
Jett (softly): "Then we've got your back. Just like always."
Zayn handed her the vial. Lyra looked at it… then drank.
A golden pulse flared in her throat, and for the first time in days, she breathed without pain.
Kael: "How do you feel?"
Lyra smiled faintly—and sang a single clear note. It echoed like sunlight.
Lyra: "Like I've got one last chance."
To Be Continued…