Mische experiences a vision or memory of kneeling in a sunlit garden over a dead firefinch lying among roses. Saescha dismisses the bird as dirty and gone, but Mische begins to understand that its death is not final.

The garden shifts: Saescha disappears, the sun vanishes, and Mische reaches toward the bird. The firefinch ignites and rises into the night sky, revealing itself as a phoenix. Asar’s voice reminds Mische not to fear death, but to make death fear her.

Mische then awakens in a field of flowers, surrounded by dust, mist, and a strange multicolored sky. Mische is tempted to let herself fade into the earth, but resists, telling herself it is not yet time.

When Mische looks at Mische’s hand, the blood is gone and Mische’s skin has become faintly silver and translucent, showing that Mische has crossed into another state of existence. A blond man with moon-silver eyes approaches and helps Mische stand.

The man identifies the place as the underworld without needing to introduce himself. Mische recognizes Vincent, the dead King of the Nightborn, who tells Mische they have work to do, revealing that Mische’s death has led to a new purpose rather than an end.