If I Fail Again

Lyra stepped forward, her voice firm but not unkind. “This isn’t about punishment, Orb. It’s about understanding what it means to guide, not just follow. Mina looks to you because she trusts you, and that trust is powerful. It can make her stronger—or it can put her in harm’s way.”

The orb pulsed faintly. “And what happens if I fail again?”

Lyra knelt, bringing herself closer to its level. “Then you try again. We all do. Humans fail constantly, but that’s how we grow. The same is true for you. The difference is, your failure can cost more than just yourself. That’s why you need to learn.”

Skyline’s threads shifted again, this time weaving a pattern of balance—a single tree standing tall, its roots intertwined with the earth, its branches reaching for the sky. “You and Mina are like this tree,” Skyline said. “Connected, growing together. But if one side grows too fast, the balance will break. Tend to that balance, and you’ll both grow stronger.”