Diem returns home overwhelmed by everything that has changed: her healing career is over, the Guardians now see her as an enemy, Teller’s hopes for Sophos are built on a lie, Andrei is being sent back to war, Auralie is still missing, and Luther’s kiss and knowledge of Diem’s magic unsettle her. The family cottage, once Diem’s refuge, feels hostile before Diem even enters.

Andrei confronts Diem with a handwritten letter from Luther explaining that Diem recovered at the palace after saving two guards from a burning building. Andrei reveals that, despite years of service to King Ulther as a mortal intermediary, Andrei was never granted the palace access Diem has received, making Luther’s attention alarming. When the letter also exposes Diem’s work as palace healer and her treatment of Princess Lilian, Andrei realizes Teller’s connection to Lily and summons Teller into the confrontation.

Andrei forbids Teller from any friendship with the Princess of Lumnos, but Diem defends Teller and turns the argument back on Andrei by revealing that Andrei has accepted a military recall. Teller is devastated that Andrei would leave while Auralie remains missing. Andrei explains that war has been declared after bombings across several realms and argues that suppressing the rebels may prevent harsher retaliation against mortals.

Andrei tries to reassure Teller and Diem that Andrei will be kept from danger and asks Diem to care for Teller by returning to work at the healers’ center. Diem admits that she quit and refuses to go back, insisting that healing was expected of her rather than chosen. Andrei responds by ordering Diem to marry Henri for financial security, which deepens Diem’s rage and sense that Andrei is trying to control her life.

As Diem’s internal voice urges her to fight, the argument spirals. Diem rejects Andrei’s authority, says Andrei is not her father, then challenges Andrei over Auralie’s disappearance, accusing Andrei of knowing more than he admits and even suggesting Andrei may be the reason Auralie is gone. Andrei explodes, overturns the table, and orders Diem out of the house; Diem leaves in fury.