Mische wakes in Morthryn warm and protected, curled against Asar with Luce at her back. Seeing Asar asleep and peaceful affects Mische deeply because the expression is new to Asar, and Mische imagines a life where Mische could see that peace every night.

When Asar wakes and greets Mische as Dawndrinker, Mische is forced to remember the blood exchange, Asar's bite, and Mische's own desire during it. Mische feels shame because the experience clashes with Mische's vows, Mische's service to a god, and the teachings of the Order about desire and sin.

Asar checks Mische's healing and confirms that both Mische and Asar are stronger after the exchange. Mische tries to treat the blood-sharing as purely practical for the mission, but Asar notices Mische's strain, and Luce's uneasy reaction helps push Mische to insist that they leave before wraiths find them.

Before departing, Mische and Asar search Morthryn and find usable clothes for Mische. Mische thanks the ruined prison as if it intentionally helped, calls Morthryn feminine, and Luce agrees, while Asar mildly doubts the idea but does not argue.

Outside Morthryn, the Sanctum's illusion returns: Mische sees Vostis, while Asar appears to see something else. The false sunlight, forest, and Citadel overwhelm Mische with memories, and Mische realizes the Citadel is only an imperfect illusion laid over the circle's terrain.

Asar concludes that the relic must be inside the central fortified castle, though Asar's evasive reaction suggests that Asar is not seeing the Shadowborn castle in the same way Mische imagines. As they walk toward the Citadel, Mische recognizes that Asar's blood made the journey possible, but the counterfeit sun and false version of home leave Mische disappointed and unsettled.