Chapter 6: Baz

At dawn after the storm, Baz, Kai, and others scour the coast for washed-up gear. Kai slips into a narrow grotto, unsettling Baz with echoes of Dovermere, and they quickly withdraw. Jae intercepts them, signaling it is time to train Baz for Aldryn’s Quadricentennial.

That evening, the group discusses the Quadri: a revived, academically focused competition with public and scout attention. Jae argues that showcasing Baz’s precise Timespinner control—even while Collapsed—could sway opinion toward Eclipse-born. Anise fears backlash, but Theodore expresses faith in Baz. Jae then reveals plans to meet Freyia Lündt, the infamous Reanimator, hoping to help her control lethal magic; the prospect horrifies the others.

Days of training follow, pushing Baz and Kai to the limits of their Collapsed powers. Between sessions, Baz rediscovers drawing, yet anxiety and a deeper guilt fester. On the final evening, the weight of his family’s fractures overwhelms him: he blames himself for Theodore’s imprisonment, Anise’s suffering, and Romie’s disappearance.

Theodore finds Baz and reassures him that the past is not Baz’s fault, affirming his sacrifice was to let Baz thrive and fight for others. The emotional release renews Baz’s resolve to face the Quadri and their broader cause.

Seeking Kai to apologize for earlier tension, Baz discovers Kai in his room with Baz’s sketchbook open to drawings of Emory. Feeling violated and exposed, Baz shuts down when Kai asks what Emory meant to him. The unspoken answer and hurt create fresh distance between them on the eve of departure.