Chapter LII

Summary

• The protagonist has dreams about returning home after a regime called the Hierarchy invades their home. The protagonist travels, living near the ocean because they can't sleep without the sounds of the waves, but this only brings painful reminders of their lost home.
• After three years, the protagonist is on a ship heading back to their homeland of Suus. The journey reawakens nostalgic memories and feelings of home, which generates mixed emotions of sadness and longing.
• Onboard the ship are Emissa, Indol, and Belli. Emissa and the protagonist are old friends, while Indol and Belli are important children of the hierarchy. Through conversations, they reveal pieces of the protagonist's past without knowing their real identity.
• Arriving in Suus, the protagonist is shocked at the transformation of their homeland. Old familiar landmarks are changed, replaced with new buildings matching the aesthetics of the invader's culture.
• The group is greeted by Sextus Auctia, the Dispensator of the Quiscil household. She leads them through town and up into the palace, where they are to stay.
• The protagonist observes that the palace has drastically changed, decorated in the colors of the invaders and showcasing their ideology. This provokes a strong emotional reaction, but the protagonist conceals their anger.
• The group is introduced to Magnus Dimidius, the head of the invading Hierarchy who has taken over the palace. The protagonist holds back their hatred but maintains their false identity as Vis Telimus Catenicus for survival.
• The protagonist later recognizes one of their father's old advisors, Fadrique, now serving the Dimidius. Seeing a familiar face working for the Hierarchy triggers a mix of anger and dismay in the protagonist, yet they maintain their cover.
• The protagonist eventually retreats to their provided quarters, where they secretly explore a hidden doorway linking to a network of tunnels within the palace — a potential escape route or mode of unseen navigation.
• The protagonist plans to fake an illness as an alibi to remain home during a major meeting in the palace in the coming days. The protagonist spends the next days bracing themselves for the emotional turmoil to come, walking the halls of their lost home now occupied by the Hierarchy.