As the term intensifies, Rin and the other first-years are overwhelmed by Sinegard’s workload. Combat, Medicine, History, Strategy, and Weapons all demand memorization and physical endurance, while Jun’s brutal calisthenics and swimming drills expose Rin’s lack of prior training. Strategy Master Irjah reinforces the Academy’s impossible standards by citing Altan Trengsin as the model student everyone should try to match.

During Combat, Master Jiang interrupts Jun’s class from a mimosa tree, behaving absurdly and singing an obscene song before Jun knocks him down and throws him out. Jun then teaches a staff sequence and, after the class fails it, uses a story about Sunzi executing disobedient concubines to terrify the students into performing the drill correctly. Nightly practice sessions with Kureel and Jeeha are chaotic but useful, teaching the students practical and vicious techniques.

After Nezha shows off his inherited family arts, Rin mocks him and accepts his challenge to a duel despite Kitay’s attempt to stop her. Rin wins by using the groin kick Kureel demonstrated, humiliating Nezha in front of the class. Nezha retaliates socially: classmates avoid Rin, mock her accent and background, and follow Nezha’s lead, while Kitay remains loyal and Niang privately suggests that Rin apologize.

Raban later wakes the first-years and brings them to an underground apprentice fighting ring where they watch Altan Trengsin, the Academy’s legendary fifth-year and the last Speerly. Altan defeats Kobin almost instantly, toys with and knocks out Kureel, then survives Tobi’s brutal Tiger Claws technique before choking Tobi into submission. Rin and the class become fascinated by Altan’s grace, endurance, and apparent detachment from pain.

The next day, Altan’s identity prompts debates about Speer, racism, addiction rumors, and whether Speerlies were shamans. In History, Master Yim dismisses shamanism and describes Speer as a primitive warrior colony destroyed in the Second Poppy War, though Kitay challenges the official explanation for why Mugen targeted the island. Rin feels the sting of prejudice toward Speerlies because it echoes the way classmates treat her own dark skin and southern origins.

Inspired by Altan, the first-years work harder in Combat, but Jun insists on fundamentals rather than flashy techniques. When Jun pairs Rin with Nezha for staff sparring, Nezha ignores the rules and brutally attacks Rin, proving his training is real and not merely performative. Rin tackles him in desperation, and Jun separates them, suspends Nezha for a week, then humiliates Rin before the class, calls her peasant trash, and bans her from the Combat facilities and weapons racks.