Evar watches Livira’s grief harden into resolve as Volente leads them into Chamber 47, tracking the book Arpix carries. Smoke pours from the east, advancing unevenly, and they lift Malar to fly above the shelves to avoid the books’ intrusive pull. The fire’s noise is distant, but a new sound—metallic clunks—approaches.

A jet‑black assistant bursts from the smoke, then collapses, its darkness draining as a shadow Escape flees back into the cloud. A second black assistant, sword in hand, repeats the pattern. Livira recognizes the first as the assistant from Chamber Seven, corrupted by Escapes. Evar reasons that multiple Escapes are needed to control such bodies and recalls Yute’s lesson: Irad made the library and assistants; Jaspeth opposes it, sending Escapes to undermine a structure that is vulnerable yet eternal.

Pushing into Chamber 68, they sprint to overtake Volente, who continually matches their speed until he vanishes ahead. Following the voices, Livira and Evar break into the chamber’s center and find Arpix with Meelan, Jella, Salamonda, Master Jost, Mika, Regg, and other staff. Livira is overwhelmed but restrains herself, while everyone fawns over Volente. Evar scouts upward and sees smoke massing at all four entrances, trapping the group.

With time running out, Malar suggests possession so a ghost might speak through the living. Livira moves to try with Arpix, then stops, fearing it could harm him or twist time like her altered book. Evar reassures her that their friends already know her devotion. Livira masterfully turns despair into resolve, asks Malar if he is ready to bleed, and leads him, choosing to fight rather than risk Arpix.