Stunned by Silas’s revelations, Gideon wanders Canaan House rather than returning to the Ninth rooms. In the atrium, Teacher sits by the dry fountain and speaks uneasily about hating water, especially the filled pool downstairs. He then says they are all sorry and never intended “the poor child” to suffer, leaving Gideon unsure whether he means her or someone else.

Gideon drifts past the pool to the training room, where Coronabeth is practicing with a rapier and knife despite being a necromancer. Corona jokes about necromancers being weak, mentions that Naberius praised Gideon’s skill, and says she has always wanted to challenge Gideon.

Corona suddenly attacks, and Gideon reflexively draws. Corona proves surprisingly forceful and competent, pressing Gideon with skilled footwork and nervous, manic energy. Gideon notices that Corona’s excitement seems mixed with fear and that the confident princess appears damaged beneath the surface.

Naberius bursts in and orders Corona to stop. He is frightened rather than merely angry, grabs Corona, and tells her she cannot do this “not now,” promising not to tell “her.” Corona reacts with frustrated rage and bites him, while Naberius ignores Gideon completely. Feeling shut out from another private crisis, Gideon leaves.

Gideon returns to the Ninth quarters and enters Harrow’s room, finding it empty, dark, and disordered. In a mood of anger and exhaustion over Harrow’s secrets, Gideon searches Harrow’s wardrobe. Behind clothes, boots, and a cloak, Gideon finds a hidden polymer box and opens it, expecting personal objects but instead discovering the severed head of Protesilaus the Seventh.