SOROR LUDOS – DAY 2
The second day began—yet not in the best of ways.
Ecko awoke to the sound of screams. At first, he thought it was just a dream, but when the echo of the cry lingered in his ears, he realized it was real. He rushed outside.
In the village square, he saw Enid crawling weakly across the dirt. Her abdomen bore deep claw marks, her hair was tangled and wild, and from the hips down she was paralyzed. Ecko shouted instinctively, his voice cracking in fear. The only reason he could hear her faint gasps at all was because of his gift.
Carl was the first to emerge from his home. "What's happening?" he asked, before freezing at the sight of Enid writhing on the ground. His face betrayed his terror.
Moments later, Rovan and Simay appeared, startled by the commotion. The village fire in the square was smoldering, its glow fading into embers. Dawn was still a breath away, and there were forty-five minutes left before the day's tasks would begin. All of them rushed toward Enid, demanding to know what had happened.
But Enid, wracked with pain, could barely muster the strength to breathe, let alone speak.
Then Carl turned to the others, his voice urgent:
"By 9:30, everyone must be inside their homes. Once you're in, you cannot step out again until 10:00. You have fifteen minutes."
He knelt by Enid. "We need to stabilize her now—or she won't make it."
Rovan furrowed his brow, thinking aloud. "I told you before—I've learned a little about making medicines from plants." His voice quickened, tense.
"I need chamomile. And dandelion. Quickly."
"I have chamomile!" Ecko blurted. "I gathered it yesterday during my task—it's in a basket inside my house."
Without hesitation, he sprinted back, retrieved the basket, and returned. But by then, the ground beneath Enid was slick with blood. The woven basket itself became stained crimson as he set it beside her.
"How do we find dandelion in time?" Simay cried.
They had only eight minutes left.
Carl, who had been strangely silent, slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a single dandelion blossom. His own expression mirrored their shock. He hadn't expected to have it, yet somehow, he did.
Rovan wasted no time—he snatched both flowers, crushed them in his palm, and turned to Ecko.
"Open her mouth!"
Green light flickered faintly from his hand as the juice of the flowers dripped between Enid's lips.
"Forget your doubts—just help her!" Rovan barked at the others.
Enid's body convulsed, trembling violently.
Simay clutched her head and screamed, "What's happening to her?!"
Rovan's eyes widened in disbelief. "No… how?!"
And then, just as suddenly, the trembling ceased. The bleeding stopped.
Three minutes remained.
Rovan let out a deep, shuddering breath. "Go," he ordered. "Return to your homes. I'll carry Enid back to hers before I head inside."
One by one, they obeyed, vanishing into their houses as the last seconds ticked away.
The bell tolled 9:30. The doors closed.
Ecko lingered at his window, his thoughts clouded. He had always known that Rovan and Enid shared a closeness, a quiet understanding. Now he feared this bond might haunt Rovan in ways none of them yet grasped.
Half an hour crept by. The clock struck 10:00.
The doors opened.
And so, the true beginning of Day 2 had arrived._