CHAPTER 84: ROHAN

Rohan completes the bargain with Zella, signing in purple ink and blood to abdicate the Devil’s Mercy. He keeps the metal quill, realizing Zella cannot free him and Toby, because Katalin wants them held. Toby begs for his daughters, but Zella says one does not need saving and departs.

Rohan and Toby solve the mirror-and-blade puzzle, but nothing triggers; the chambers have been disabled for men. Nora arrives, explaining she followed Jameson’s trail and that Alice likely orchestrated events. Nora declares Alice never expected her to be chosen, instead baiting a more tempting option for the Omega.

Rohan pieces together Zella’s wording and Savannah’s unreachable phone: Savannah was never in the Crucible. Toby confirms repeated failed calls. Nora reveals the third Candidate is her half sister, Freya—the Kyrie heir—making the Candidates Avery, Eve, and Freya. Zella’s promise to keep Savannah from losing was true only because Savannah was not competing.

Nora then reveals her objective: she has already used the confiscated explosives to set charges to collapse the cave during the anointing, killing the Ascendants, the Kyrie head and heir, and the Candidates at the epicenter. She argues the end justifies the means and that the Crucible must proceed to gather all targets.

Accepting that no one inside can be saved without tipping off the targets, Nora offers Rohan and Toby a narrow chance: when she can, she will open the doors, and they are to run left to escape. Rohan, unlike Toby, intends to seize any chance at survival.