That night, under a sky quilted with stars, the children retired to their quarters. The day’s trials still echoed in every bruise and every quiet tear. I, Kai, found myself unable to sleep—a restless mind replaying every moment of the Maze of Echoes. Images of shifting shadows, whispered taunts, and fleeting triumphs haunted my thoughts. In those sleepless hours, questions surfaced: Am I meant only to evade danger, or am I destined for something more?
In the communal hall, hushed voices drifted like fragments of lost dreams. Ellis murmured to a friend, “I nearly lost myself in that maze… I can still hear those voices.” His tone was one of both terror and awe. Even the bravest children felt the weight of the day.
Meanwhile, Chris sat alone, re-reading his jottings. He was not one for feel
