Much later, after many failures, Miranda prepares to leave Imir. The community studying the planet has grown even as ships depart, because news of Imir and of other ancient engines or alien traces has spread. Miranda wants to explore new worlds and mysteries, but her distributed nature allows Miranda to leave in one body while another version remains involved in the Imir study.

Miranda will travel in a new Portiid ship budded from the Skipper, accompanied by Portia, Fabian, a Gothi, a Gethli, and a new companion: Liff. Paul, Jodry, and Bianca remain behind, drawn to the continuing study of the simulation’s inner life. Liff, now in an adult-grown body and carrying multiple histories from the simulation, has endured profound culture shock and has become ready to go beyond the world that made her.

Before departing, Miranda and Liff return to the Landfall simulation for one final task. Liff enters with moderator privileges, taking on the role of a witch, and intends to summon what she once sensed as a vast presence in the woods. The setting is Landfall in its prime, with the forest dark and alive, near the farmhouse that would have been Liff’s home.

Avrana Kern explains that the simulation may have produced something like a genius loci: not the alien engine itself, but an emergent self arising from Landfall’s complex interactions and feeding back into them. This possible entity may have shaped coincidences, drawn Miranda and Liff together, and helped Miranda escape the simulation. Miranda recognizes both the danger and importance of showing such a mind that there is a wider universe beyond itself.

Liff reaches toward the forest as if greeting something familiar, while Miranda waits uncertainly beside her. As Liff prepares to say goodbye before leaving, something vast moves in the darkness, eyes open among the trees, and the possible consciousness of Landfall approaches.