Evar resolves to return to the Exchange but cannot allow Clovis to follow, fearing she will kill Livira. He weighs his siblings’ roles—Kerrol might reach Clovis, Starval might stop her—but decides they need a diversion strong enough to keep the pool from being closed. His fixation on Livira, forged through her book and brief meetings, drives him.

Starval proposes creating many Escapes to force the Assistant and Soldier to respond. Investigating Mayland’s last book, Starval takes it into the Mechanism, whose darkness curdles into nightmare. The plan works: Escapes pour out. The brothers sprint to the crop; the Assistant and Soldier move to block the threat, and Kerrol slips through the pool. Starval dives after him. When Clovis charges, Evar cries to the Soldier for help; the white guardian knocks Clovis sprawling, and Evar drops into the pool.

In the Forest Between, Evar finds Kerrol and Starval amid an uncanny stillness. He argues the place unites people and times, and the portal shimmers: Livira stumbles out, ash-smeared, followed by sabbers and two white-skinned beings. As Livira spots Evar, Kerrol approaches to parley, but an older male sabber floors him and sets a blade to his neck while others level guns at Evar. Starval melts into the trees to flank.

Clovis erupts from the pool and barrels for Livira. A firearm booms; the male sabber abandons Kerrol to intercept and is cut down. Clovis seizes Livira by the throat—until a resonant voice commands, “Stop. Put the girl down.” The male of the glowing white pair steps forward; Clovis obeys and releases Livira. Their radiance reveals their nature, and Evar recognizes the pair as assistants, halting a massacre—for the moment.