Mische wakes in darkness and tries to call the sun, but nothing answers. A flame appears, and Mische finds herself in her old Citadel chambers wearing an offering dress, with Mische’s sister Saescha helping prepare Mische for Atroxus. The scene returns Mische to the day Mische was expected to offer herself to the god, and Mische remembers how Saescha’s sacrifice and guidance made Mische’s selection feel like a way to secure safety for them both.

A firefinch wearing a jeweled collar unsettles Mische, and the illusion begins to fray. Mische realizes Mische is in the Sanctum during the Descent and recognizes Saescha, who seems aware of Mische in return. Their reunion is emotional at first, but Saescha’s embrace becomes crushing, and Mische understands the terrible truth: Saescha has not passed on and has become a wraith.

Saescha’s grief and resentment erupt as the Citadel memory burns around them. Saescha accuses Mische of ruining everything, abandoning her, and becoming corrupted after all Saescha did to protect and raise Mische. Mische refuses to harm Saescha because Saescha is not a souleater but Mische’s sister, and Mische hopes Asar can help Saescha pass on as Eomin did.

Mische stumbles into a hall where Asar is fighting Malach’s wraith. When Asar prepares to strike Saescha, Mische throws herself in front of Saescha to stop him. Mische then notices carved glyphs and realizes Asar is trying to seal a circular gate around whatever lies within. Asar extends magic to Mische, and Mische helps complete the glyph sequence while wraiths crawl from every surface and Saescha pursues Mische.

Mische reaches the final glyph as Saescha grabs Mische, and Mische presses a bloody hand to the mark. The gate opens just long enough for Asar to haul Mische inside with Luce, then Asar slams the door shut on Saescha’s plea not to be left behind. Inside the quiet chamber, Luce is badly weakened, and Asar discovers the truth of the room: the central marble box, carved in the language of the gods, is broken open and empty.