Vis pushes through fear to travel west at night toward the crimson dome. He swims a cold, fast river into Solivagus’s western quarter, keeping his satchel mostly dry. On the far bank he discovers his cloak is stained with dried blood, likely from the Sextii camp, a disturbing sign that deepens his unease as he recalls Borius’s violent reaction to the stolen tracking plate.

Continuing through an unnaturally silent forest, Vis rests briefly and checks the Sextii plate again; it remains inert despite placing stones on it. Hearing movement, he arms himself with a hunting knife and is confronted by a large alupi. The wolf slams him down but does not kill him. Noticing a distinctive scar, Vis suspects it is Diago, the cub he saved months earlier, now grown. The alupi circles and withdraws, leaving Vis shaken but determined to proceed.

Vis soon reaches the crimson dome; the alupi is waiting at its base. Confirming the matching scar, he cautiously addresses the creature while assessing his options. He decides to enter the Labyrinth and closes it behind him. He speaks the command, “Scintres Exunus,” and the red-glass pyramid parts to reveal the stairs. When he tries edging sideways, the alupi threatens, so he sets down his satchel to avoid encumbrance and commits to a direct approach.

As Vis walks toward the entrance, the alupi’s growl subsides to a whine, allowing him to pass. He murmurs an apology, steps into the darkness, and repeats the command to shut the doorway, preferring the risk of the unlit maze to being mauled from behind. As the last sliver of moonlight disappears, the alupi is no longer visible, and Vis is alone inside, ready to run the Labyrinth.