By Octobris 1786, the war has slowed into a tense stalemate. The Resistance and its enemies hold nearly equal territory, and the West Island’s dense, vertical architecture makes retaking it without mass casualties nearly impossible. Kaine Ferron’s return has helped preserve the balance, but the Resistance still fears he could stop helping or betray them.

Helena continues training under Kaine, learning to project her resonance outward so she can sense attacks before they land. After she successfully blocks and counters one of his near-instant strikes, Kaine criticizes her standard-issue knife and tells her to get a bespoke weapon better suited to her resonance. Helena explains that she lacks the rank and that asking now would draw attention, but Kaine dismisses the excuse and implies that Luc Holdfast receives better equipment despite relying primarily on fire.

When Helena returns with the same knife, Kaine reacts furiously, seizes it, and demands to know why she disobeyed him. Helena explains that her request was denied because sudden priority would be suspicious. Kaine then asks for her resonance alloy and says he will handle the weapon himself, calling it repayment for Helena healing his back. When Helena tries to ask whether his scar tissue healed properly, Kaine rejects her concern, insists he does not need her, leaves an envelope for her, and storms out.

Afterward, Helena reflects that refusing Kaine was a deliberate test ordered by Ilva and Crowther to see what Kaine would do when denied. His reaction suggests progress: the array does not dictate specific actions but intensifies traits like devotion, ruthlessness, and unyielding determination, leaving Kaine’s object of fixation to his own discretion. At the rain garden, Helena thinks bitterly about the contrast between herself and Kaine: healer and killer, each defined by death in opposite ways.

Helena reports to Ilva that Kaine asked for her alloy and offered to make the weapon himself. Helena also raises the possibility that Kaine may kill her and asks how to prioritize contingencies, including preparing Elain as her medical replacement and asking Shiseo to test her alloy. When Ilva asks Helena’s strategy, Helena says Kaine wants her, that his willingness is tied to the Eternal Flame’s survival, and that this could keep him from abandoning them, though his obsession may also make him dangerous.

Ilva warns Helena not to become attached and reminds Helena that intelligence from Kaine helps keep Luc and Luc’s unit away from the worst fighting. Helena insists her loyalty remains with the Eternal Flame and that she will not risk Luc. As Helena leaves, she realizes that if she succeeds, Ilva will control Kaine through Helena the same way Ilva controls Helena through Luc, and Helena feels pity for Kaine despite Ilva saying he deserves it more.