Chapter 2

Summary

• The chapter takes place in a desolate settlement called Livira, where the residents haven't encountered any strangers until now.
• The central character, a girl also named Livira, spots a stranger approaching the settlement, causing panic among the residents.
• The stranger turns out to be a creature anthropologically dubbed as a "sabber", and declares that the residents are his property now.
• Some men from the village make a stand against the sabber, but are easily overpowered, causing panic and chaos among the rest of the residents.
• Amidst the chaos, Livira loses consciousness after being hit in the head. When she wakes up, she, along with several other children, have been captured by the sabbers.
• The sabbers then lead the captured children eastwards. The whereabouts and fate of the adults left in the village or other children is unknown.
• As they march, Livira contemplates an escape and maintains a sense of defiance against the sabbers, even as the other children succumb to resignation or despair.
• They walk for hours, passing eerily desolate landscapes that include the skeletal structure of an ancient ship.
• The march continues towards barren hills until an arrow strikes a child, hinting at a new threat yet to be revealed.