Shaken by Relucia’s threats, Vis tears his cloak to shed the imbued tug and follows her through the festival crowds. He watches Relucia meet a scarred, swift-moving operative in an upstairs room, where he overhears plans to trade a ship for a Cataclysm weapon and use it as an “anchoring point,” keep certain people from returning, and ensure only “our man” can be questioned. Three severed heads on the table reveal the pair’s ruthlessness, and the operative demonstrates unnervingly rapid movement before requesting maps, prompting Vis to withdraw.

Alone again, Vis wanders and notices two men tailing him. He flees into alleys, fights to break free, but is overpowered and beaten. As they examine him with a lantern, Praeceptor Scitus and Aequa intervene and order the attackers to stand down.

Scitus and Aequa reveal the ambush was a ruse to provoke Vis into using Will, based on Aequa’s belief that he has been cheating. Scitus apologizes for how violent the setup became; Aequa admits error and that she had staked her ranking on the accusation. The group returns to the Column in strained silence.

Back at the Academy, Vis looks for Callidus but instead learns from Drusus that Callidus just left. On a moonlit walk, Vis spots Callidus with Belli, seemingly in an intense conversation. He chooses not to intrude and returns to sleep.

Over the following weeks, the fallout becomes clear: Scitus begins calling on Vis in class and rigorously probing his knowledge, while Aequa withdraws and avoids him. Vis trains the maze repeatedly with Callidus and continues evening study with Eidhin. As the trimester break arrives, Vis boards a Transvect with the Thirds to Suus, apprehensive about Relucia’s demands and the looming summit he must secretly spy upon.