She can stay—if no one sees her struggle.

Nyrnn has spent years falling behind.

After a mysterious attack left her weak, exhausted, and prone to collapse, the Academy no longer sees her as a student—but as a risk. In a world where strength and ability define your place, she has neither.

Given one final chance to prove she belongs, Nyrnn must endure a week of classes, scrutiny, and expectations she may not be able to meet. With the help of her closest friend, she begins to adapt—learning how to hide her symptoms, to take up less space, to survive.

But as the pressure builds—and the effects of that attack begin to slip further beyond her control—Nyrnn is forced to confront a difficult truth:

Is she fighting for a future… or just learning how to disappear within it?

The Cost of Staying is a quiet, emotional prequel to The Curse of Starfall, set in a world shaped by hidden magic and fragile power, and exploring the moment Nyrnn chooses to fight for her place in it—no matter the cost.