After bathing in Esme’s illusion-made luxury, Mische returns downstairs wearing Esme’s gold nightgown and a robe to hide the spreading scars from Atroxus’s burns. Esme notices anyway and bluntly tells Mische the burns will not stop, turning Mische’s attempt at lightness into an uncomfortable confrontation with the cost of Mische’s devotion.

While Asar bathes, Esme tells Mische that Asar likes and trusts Mische more than Asar admits. Esme warns Mische not to sacrifice herself endlessly to the sun god, not only because Asar could not bear another loss, but because Mische deserves better than burning herself away. Mische promises that Mische’s past will not hurt Asar, though Mische knows that promise may be impossible.

When Asar returns, Esme demands music from him. Asar reluctantly plays the piano, revealing unexpected talent and using magic to deepen the music. Esme and Mische dance until Esme tires, and Mische sees Asar joyful and smiling in a way that makes the refuge feel briefly like home.

After Esme leaves them alone, Mische cannot sleep and asks Asar for one more song, then insists that Asar dance with her. Asar’s magic keeps playing the piano while Asar joins Mische. Their dance becomes intimate, and Asar admits that the song is something he created from notes that sounded like Mische.

The closeness leads Asar to acknowledge what Asar saw in Psyche: Mische was chosen as a bride of the sun when Mische was eight. Asar challenges Mische’s belief that love must mean sacrifice, then gently exposes and kisses Mische’s scarred arm to show that love should feel tender rather than punishing. Mische is moved and tempted, but asks Asar to stop; before either can recover, a deafening blast tears them apart and hurls Mische into a wall as smoke fills the house.