A panicked young Descended named Elric arrives at the healers’ center asking for Auralie Bellator, but Diem explains that Auralie is unavailable. Elric reports that a stone roof has collapsed at the palace and injured three children. Maura initially wants Diem to stay behind because the palace is dangerous territory for mortals, but Diem insists on helping because children are hurt.

Diem, Maura, Lana, and Elric hurry toward the palace. On the way, Elric confesses that the accident happened while he was showing off his magic to the children. Diem comforts Elric by telling a story about accidentally endangering Teller as a child, using it to reassure Elric that families can forgive terrible mistakes when no harm was intended.

Elric leads the healers through a secret, vine-covered passage into the palace grounds after making them promise confidentiality. Diem is stunned by both Elric’s effortless strength and the palace’s beauty, which contradicts Diem’s expectations of an intimidating Descended fortress. Inside, the palace’s splendor and hovering lights overwhelm Diem before the group reaches the damaged sunroom where the injured children wait.

Maura goes to the most critical child, Lana checks another, and Diem treats the oldest injured girl. The girl is Princess Lilian, called Lily, who has a broken arm and head wound. A protective dark-haired Descended man challenges Diem’s every move, but Diem stays focused, gives Lily silverworm for pain, and learns that Lily knows Teller from the Descended academy.

While treating Lily, Diem recognizes the man holding her: he is the scarred Descended she saw arguing with Auralie on the day Auralie disappeared. Diem believes he may know what happened to Auralie, perhaps even having killed her, and struggles to contain a surge of anger and an inner command to fight. Diem sets Lily’s arm despite the man’s interference, but after Diem finishes bandaging Lily, the princess suddenly turns pale, collapses into the man’s arms, and goes still.