After hurting Yrene with his words, Chaol acts without thinking and rises from his chair to stop her from leaving. He apologizes repeatedly, explaining that his cruelty was aimed at himself, not at Yrene, and praises her bravery, skill, and willingness to heal because it is right rather than glorious.

Yrene remains out of reach at first, repeating his insult back to him and forcing Chaol to keep moving toward her. Chaol realizes that Yrene is deliberately goading him into walking. What begins as a confrontation becomes almost a dance, with Yrene leading him step by step until her back reaches the wall.

Chaol reaches Yrene and wipes away her tears, overwhelmed by her strength and tenderness. When Yrene touches his chest instead of pushing him away, Chaol kisses her. Yrene returns the kiss passionately, knowing by then that Chaol had not truly meant what he said and that he would have crawled to her if he had needed to.

Yrene feels Chaol’s body trembling from the strain and stops the kiss to make him sit before he injures himself. Their attraction remains intense as she helps him back to the chair, and Chaol teases her about whether the next healing session should take place on the bed or the couch. Yrene tries to insist on professionalism, but the boundary between healer and patient has clearly shifted.

Kadja enters with the odd ingredients Yrene had requested, interrupting the moment. After Kadja leaves, Yrene asks what they do next. Chaol stretches his legs in wonder and says they do not look back because it helps nothing; they can only go on. Yrene returns to him, and as Chaol moves to the couch for treatment, both of them smile and continue the healing.