Chapter Thirteen

Summary

• The protagonist and Tairn arrive at Basgiath and receive orders to head to the practice grounds, where they are awaited by Carr and Varrish.
• Concerned about potential punishment from Carr for not forcing Andarna to participate in maneuvers, the protagonist feels a sense of foreboding.
• At the practice grounds, Carr and Varrish order the protagonist to repeatedly call down lightning strikes as a warning punishment.
• Major Varrish and Professor Carr push the protagonist to her limits, ignoring the physical and mental strain it causes her, as they aim to discipline her for insubordination.
• Tairn protects and supports the protagonist, who suffers from fatigue, overheating, and guilt for potentially endangering Andarna and others.
• Despite Carr's concern about the protagonist's well-being and warnings about the consequences of her death, Varrish forces her to continue.
• Exhausted and in pain, the protagonist manages one final destructive strike before collapsing, clinging to her self-control to prevent more damage.
• Carr ends the training session, noting the protagonist's condition, and recommends immediate care for her burnout symptoms.
• Tairn swiftly takes the protagonist to a river for emergency cooling, assisted by friends who are concerned about her well-being.
• The protagonist's friends provide support and questions arise about who will face repercussions for Andarna's absence in the next flight formation.
• The narrative shifts to a discussion of Sloane's upcoming challenge match, highlighting the difference in training among the marked and concerns for Sloane's safety.
• The protagonist vows to intervene to prevent Sloane from getting harmed in the upcoming match, despite the normal expectations for a rider.
• In the gym, the protagonist narrowly avoids injuring a friend, Ridoc, due to her heightened sense of vigilance following the assault on her well-being.
• The chapter ends abruptly with the protagonist being kidnapped, as she is covered with a bag and loses consciousness with just a single breath.