379

Nomad sits in the Scadrian facility, struggling with inaction and shame as crews monitor Canticle. He overhears confirmation that the Night Brigade is in orbit and fears exposure. On screens, he watches Beacon’s last gunships fall and the transports surrender. The Charred strip the sunhearts and abandon the people to the coming sunrise.

Haunted by his broken oaths, Nomad debates stealing an Investiture Cell but refuses, choosing to witness. A researcher engages him about sunheart experiments. Through deduction, Nomad realizes sunhearts can be recharged by priming them with heat, using Canticle’s sun–core “circuit” and resistance like a filament. The Scadrians admit they withhold this from locals and also corrupt cores into cinderhearts to make Charred.

When Nomad’s half-summoned armor betrays him, the researcher recognizes him as the Night Brigade’s quarry. After a Push slams him into a wall, he discards metal, summons Auxiliary as an enormous Shardblade, and forces his way to the elevator, vowing to leave. With minutes until sunrise for the lab—and longer for Beacon—he exits into a forest already withering.

Nomad runs toward the downed Beaconites but cannot fly. As the light advances, Auxiliary speaks with rare tenderness, asserting Nomad’s worth. Determined to save the people and share the recharging secret, Nomad protests when Auxiliary offers a final aid. Auxiliary burns away his own personality to empower Nomad briefly with Radiant strength, fulfilling his oaths. As the forest ignites, armor forms and Nomad’s eyes blaze.