Premonition

With the Skyling vote delayed, Isla surveys war preparations: Wildlings train and brew elixirs, and Starlings craft energized armor. Seeking to size a defensive shield, Isla visits Star Isle for Maren’s promised list of top wielders, only to find Maren evasive and demanding anonymity for any energy contributors.

Pressed for the single best wielder, Maren swears Isla to secrecy and leads her to a cratered field where Cinder, a young Starling, effortlessly shapes lethal ribbons and living spark-creatures. Maren reveals Cinder manifested power as a toddler and once saved their people from a great fire, explaining her strict protection and concealment.

After a brief exchange that highlights Cinder’s innate mastery versus Isla’s still-developing command, Isla secures Maren’s consent for Cinder to contribute energy to the shield anonymously and in isolation. Cinder departs after a dazzling display, and Isla plans to rely on her for the shield and possibly metal transmutation if needed.

That night, Isla tells Oro about Cinder. Oro acknowledges rare non-ruler prodigies often meet tragic ends and warns that overprotection could become a prison, agreeing concealment is safest for now. Their strategic focus shifts when Isla collapses into a sharpened vision.

In the premonition, darkness and dreks ravage the field as Grim, untouched by the night he emits, advances on Isla. She is forced to drink the darkness; her organs fail one by one, and she experiences her own death. Waking in Oro’s arms, Isla states the vision’s end: Grim kills her.

Enraged, Oro vows they will kill Grim first, turning the prophecy into a strategic deadline and committing to a preemptive strike as Isla slips into another memory.