Chapter 13

Three Hesperian airships descend on Arlong, stunning the crowd. As the foreign delegation disembarks—soldiers, Gray Company clergy-scientists, and Lady Yin Saikhara—the Hesperians abruptly target Rin on Saikhara’s alarm, firing warning shots and subduing her.

Nezha contains Rin in a room, explaining the Hesperians want to study her in exchange for military aid and that Vaisra needs their arquebuses and airpower. Rin panics and attempts escape but is held while negotiations proceed.

In the great hall, General Josephus Tarcquet declares Hesperia is investigating Nikara “readiness” and chiefly seeks the Speerly. Saikhara erupts, revealing a personal desperation, and exits. Faced with coercion, Vaisra asks Rin to cooperate. Remembering her sealed powers and the stakes against Daji, Rin reluctantly agrees to limited weekly sessions.

Sister Petra escorts Rin to a prepared lab, offers laudanum, and conducts measurements while expounding Makerist doctrine and “Chaos,” framing shamanism as a threat to order she intends to cure. The hour ends without overt harm, but the experience evokes Rin’s memories of Mugenese experimentation.

Back at the barracks, the laudanum fades; Rin vomits and breaks down, feeling violated yet convinced she must endure this as atonement and for the war’s necessity. She composes herself and tells the others nothing.