Chapter 1

Carmen has always been content in her village, fulfilling the daily tasks required of her and always returning before the dreaded night. But one day, before the Luminescent Trials, she starts to question the rules of the village, especially about staying up at dusk. She wonders why the village never expands, or why no one wants to leave to see what is beyond. Except her. She hopes the closely protected Trials would give her clarity of the way of the village. But it reveals a much more crucial secret than she thought.