Mische sits alone in her cell, stunned after Asar confirms that Nyaxia’s mission is to resurrect Alarus, the dead god of death. Asar has left her with Luce and told her to rest before they depart, but Mische is overwhelmed by the recent capture, revelations, and uncertainty ahead.

For the first time since hearing Atroxus at the party, Mische is alone with her faith. She studies the new infected burn from giving Asar her flame and the scarred phoenix tattoo she once received in Atroxus’s honor. Remembering decades of unanswered prayers after becoming a vampire, Mische hesitates, then performs the familiar prayer ritual.

Atroxus appears in the liminal space between sleep and waking. Mische falls to her knees, overcome by joy, relief, shame, and a buried anger that Atroxus was absent when Mische needed him. Atroxus calls Mische a’mara, acknowledges the marks of Mische’s faith, and says there is little time because Atroxus cannot safely enter Nyaxia’s territory.

Atroxus explains that Atroxus learned the truth through Mische: Nyaxia is attempting to bring Alarus back. Atroxus calls the resurrection an abomination and reveals that major deities cannot truly kill one another. When Atroxus and other gods betrayed and dismembered Alarus, they destroyed Alarus’s body but could not extinguish Alarus’s soul forever.

Atroxus says necromancy could restore Alarus if the right tools are gathered. Atroxus believes Nyaxia’s old grief and recent provocations have pushed Nyaxia toward a dangerous attempt to regain power. Atroxus shows Mische visions of divine war, slaughter, and devastation, making clear that any form of Alarus’s return could threaten the world.

Mische concludes that Atroxus wants Mische to sabotage Asar’s mission, but Atroxus says the opposite. Because Alarus must be made alive before Alarus can truly die, Atroxus commands Mische to ensure the resurrection succeeds—then reveals that Mische will be the one expected to kill Alarus permanently.