Years pass at the Citadel as Mische grows from a little girl toward womanhood. Atroxus continues visiting her, and Mische remains awed by his attention. Mische devotes herself eagerly to study and missionary work, taking joy in guiding hurting people toward the light because the light once saved Mische when she had nothing.

Mische and her sister travel on missions together, and Mische sees their purpose as becoming a torch for others. Mische loves magic and conversion work but struggles with lessons and dreads combat training. Mische is still too young for battles, rival sect conflicts, or vampire hunting, but Mische sees the toll such duties take on her sister, who returns exhausted, bloodied, and distant.

Before Mische’s best friend leaves on his own assignment, he visits Mische’s room. Their closeness turns charged, and Mische realizes both she and the young man are thinking about kissing. Before anything happens, Mische’s sister bursts in, sends the young man away, and sharply warns Mische that as Atroxus’s chosen one, Mische cannot dishonor or betray the god who claimed her.

Mische finally understands what being chosen means beyond devotion of the soul: Atroxus will one day expect Mische’s body as well. Mische feels naive and burdened, then compares herself to her sister, who seems more suited to the role yet receives less privilege and respect. Mische recognizes the unfairness of their different treatment, but suppresses the discomfort by reminding herself that Atroxus gave Mische home, magic, purpose, and love.

The next morning, Mische keeps her distance as her friend departs, deliberately avoiding temptation. On the way back to the Citadel, Mische finds a polished golden gate in the greenery, grips the warm bars, and, almost without meaning to, pushes against them, revealing a first quiet impulse toward the limits of her gilded life.