With no rites to perform, Crowther keeps Helena busy because her work with Mandl has increased his influence in the Council. Helena refuses to use vivimancy for torture but develops animancy-based interrogations, pushing into prisoners' minds until they suffer fevers. After Crowther tells Helena that two subjects have died, Helena becomes more careful and discovers that shorter, repeated sessions make the process safer and more effective.

Helena applies that discovery to Titus Bayard's condition and tells Shiseo that she may be able to heal him by gradually building his tolerance to her resonance. Crowther shows only callous interest, saying Titus's death would save food. At the same time, Helena is strained by Kaine's sudden diplomatic mission to Hevgoss, which took him away without a proper goodbye.

Helena checks on Lila, whose pregnancy remains healthy, though Lila continues pretending to have bog cough and refuses to leave quarantine for Novis. Helena is exhausted and emotionally raw, and Lila notices, but Helena deflects and returns to work. Helena then meets Rhea and Titus to propose a cautious series of procedures based on controlled brain fevers, but Luc interrupts with Sebastian and forbids it because he still blames Helena for Soren's death.

After Rhea withdraws consent and leaves devastated, Sebastian briefly reassures Helena that trying was good. Helena seeks Luc and finds him on the Alchemy Tower balcony smoking opium, apparently as an established habit. Helena confronts him about Soren, Titus, and the war's moral compromises, but Luc clings to his belief that goodness must triumph without compromise and refuses to let Helena treat Titus.

After more than two weeks, Helena's ring burns and she rushes to meet Kaine, who has returned from Hevgoss with Amaris. Kaine explains that the mission secured a formal alliance in exchange for proprietary alchemical research and that he must now entertain the new Hevgotian ambassador. When Helena reveals she bargained with Crowther for authority over Kaine's orders, Kaine reacts angrily, fearing her deeper involvement in the war rather than feeling protected.

The argument exposes both Helena's and Kaine's terror: Kaine cannot bear the danger to Helena, while Helena refuses to remain passive after seeing what the Undying do to captives and wounded survivors. Helena tries to leave, but Kaine asks her to come with him for one night. Exhausted, Helena breaks down in his rooms, admits she feared he would never return, and Kaine stays until she sleeps; later they reconnect intimately, reaffirming their bond despite the war's pressure.