The group’s journey to the next Sanctum stretches on as time becomes harder to measure away from the mortal world’s sun. Asar guides Mische, Chandra, Elias, and Luce through Morthryn’s twisting roots and occasional exposed stretches of the Descent, where cries echo across barren ground. The Descent begins affecting their bodies: fingernails blacken, exhaustion deepens, and Chandra, as the only human, grows especially weak while clinging to constant prayers.

While the others rest, Asar repeatedly brings Mische to failing arched gates like the one she previously helped repair. Mische helps restore their glyphs, discovering that Asar’s magic is disturbingly easy for Mische to extend, while calling on the sun’s power becomes increasingly difficult. This contrast frightens Mische because Mische still wants to remain loyal to Atroxus and limits Mische’s help to maintaining the veil, reasoning that the collapsing Descent would prevent the group from reaching Alarus’s resurrection.

Asar grows eager to test Mische’s abilities, but Mische refuses anything beyond gate repair. Asar begins probing Mische’s mind in secret, forcing Mische to defend Mische’s thoughts. When Mische angrily pushes Asar away, Asar reveals that the pressure was another test and says Mische is unusually skilled at mental defense, confirming Mische’s fear that Asar is trying to uncover Mische’s secrets.

Only one more breach occurs during the journey, and it is smaller than the first. Asar and Luce nearly contain the few wraiths without Mische, but Mische recognizes one of the dead as Eomin, who reaches for Mische alone before Luce drives Eomin back through the gate. The encounter leaves Mische shaken, and after repairing the gate, Mische stays with Asar rather than returning to the others and facing Chandra’s prayers beside the memory of Eomin’s rotting face.

In a dusty sitting room, Asar notices Mische’s distress and asks about the dead boy. Mische evades at first, but Asar explains that souls trapped in the Descent sometimes pass on, though most wander indefinitely, caught between life and death. Forced to acknowledge the person Mische has long avoided naming, Mische finally says the boy’s name is Eomin and turns away in tears.