The Apparition appears to Ward once again, almost congratulating Ward on the successful mission. He does mock Ward for giving up a potential lead to find a way to cross the shards. The Apparition suggests writing to Hayward to get the information he wants, but Ward refuses. Dorean, meanwhile, is hovering anxiously over Merely. Merely transitions from unconscious to a sleep-like state. She eventually comes to consciousness in the early morning. Merely observes that Hayward doesn't care about them, which leaves her uncertain about what to do. She does know she wants to kill him, though, which Dorean agrees with. The two bond while Dorean shows her how she does her weapon and armor maintenance.

The next morning, people are woken by boisterous commotion on top of the ship. Curious, the party gathers with the others to find a four-armed goliath in tribal tattoos talking to Talthis Vim. A smaller-by-comparison woman with a normal-sized crow is with him. The man announces that he is looking for a warrior. Mira volunteers for inspection, and is identified immediately as being a student of Edger. He attacks her, grabbing her and yeeting both of them to a place outside of town at rapid speed. The party, alarmed by the sudden kidnapping of their party member, borrow the skybike and head off in much slower pursuit. Mira is deposited violently on the ground, laving the two standing in a crater. The two engage in combat, though Mira is quickly outpaced. As Ashran delivers the final blow, Mira's black box emerges from her pocket, encasing her in a protective suit of armor. He is disappointed by Mira's fighting abilities. He explains that he was also a student of Edger, and that Edger and his students are weak. He had already broken several other of Edger's students, but Mira was not currently strong enough to satisfy him. He says that he will leave for now, allowing Mira to grow in strength, before returning to destroy her. He departs, leaving Mira in her armor in the middle of a field.

While checking on her, the Roc lands, having confused Vera for some sort of prey. They talk, determining that the Speaker is the only person who speaks to the Roc, the speaker sometimes has the Roc eat people, and that there is a guy in red who smells like he is rotting has been speaking to Chosen Farren. After departing, the group discusses what happened with Mira and Ashran, then head back to the airship.

Errands are run then, mostly shopping. Ward encounters Gramble while looking for a lute. He is selling a lute that Ward recognizes as having belonged to his father. Though he does not want it, Ward reluctantly asks how much it is. Gramble says that it is Ward's already, so Ward takes it. When asked, Gramble explains that a thief had barely escaped after looting the palace before dying of his injuries, and thus his inventory of loot was obtained by Gramble. Because ownership did not pass properly, it still belongs to Ward.

While the others are doing their errands, Vera uses her repaired lunar mirror. She falls into a shallow pool, darkness and water extending in all directions. In the distance is a small rocky island with a tower standing crooked on it. She approaches and enters the tower, finding inside a merchant. A cloaked and hooded figure with a pale white mask and a multitude of thin, spindly arms. Spiraling up the tower is a long, centipede-like entity lurks behind it. The entity introduces itself as Noh, merchant of things known. Determining that this was not the merchant of secrets that she is looking for, but as she has collected the first mirror, the others are likely to follow. She ultimately purchases unimbued lunar silver for in case she needs to repair future mirrors, exchanging her ability to cast the spell Augury for it.

Their shopping concluded, Ward, Vera, and Luna let Cecily know about what they learned from the Roc. Ward points out that the Roc's loyalty is not so strong as to not be turned against the Speaker. Cecily says that may be handy shortly, as it seems the Fourth Act is being investigated in connection to the robbery. Ward and the group have been summoned, meaning a trial will be happening. The options are either trial by the incredibly biased counsel or trial by Roc, who they might be able to convince to turn against the Speaker in some capacity. They could also flee, which would look suspicious and basically be proof of guilt. Another option is to use the Fourth Act's information on Chosen Farren, though that would make things poltiically difficult. Othe rmethods of dealing with the problem, though ultimately they seem to be leaning toward attempting to convince the Roc to not eat them or even turn on the Speaker. She also lets them know that Sodizarq will be working with the Fourth Act going forward, though not on the airship.

Dorean also talks to Cecily, asking permission for Merely to stay on the airship. Cecily agrees, as Dorean desires to stay with the Fourth Act, and Merely desires to stay with Dorean. Cecily suggests they go to the library, where Merely is delighted by the number of books on bugs she can read.

Ward goes over the notes he took from the Lab. The serum had been moved to another location by AF a couple weeks prior. The god was part of Project Omacron—learning about divinities in other shards and comparing them to local divinities. The followers were from the shard the god was from, not from Kitheroc. Most of the rest of the research being conducted on other specimens from the shards was also moved off site. Project Xi is mentioned in a heavily redacted document, but there is nothing particularly helpful that can be gleaned from it. There is a document about Sithra, inncluding information that Dr. Barlow was transitioned from doctor to specimen when SIthra's affect on him was discovered. The crystal is a celestial information matrix, which Ward recognizes from university. Ward can attempt to create a facsimile of the device needed to extract the information on it, but at risk of destroying the data. He debates sending it to Professor Victor Zarius the crystal to use the device located at Mudwall University. He is overcome with curiosity, however, and attempts to do it himself. He is successful, finding the redacted document is located here, unredacted. The missing people from Kitheroc were in the tubes, experimented on and turned into monsters, the processes of that augmentation listed in the crystal. He also learns a set of teleportation runes labeled as "Disposal Site/Cold Storage."

Ward then goes to the Red Prince to talk to Edwin, thanking him for his offer of help and to let him know things were okay. Edwin says there was an explosion and destruction, but nobody was hurt. He says that a large bug creature emerged from the explosion—more of an implosion—but they were able to take care of it before it escaped. Ward then asks Edwin if he'd like to go out for drinks. He agrees, the date set for the next day and the location to be determined by whether they can find a good bar to go to.

Vera visits Kaiviren, attempting to befriend him and decrease his loyalty to the Speaker. She seems to be successful, as the Roc agrees to allow her to continue to visit on subsequent nights.

That evening, a post tortle arrives with a letter for Dorean from Cici. The envelope is remarkably fancy. Inside is a card, also fancy with gold embelishments, inviting Dorean to her wedding.

Introduced

• Ashran
• Kaleen
• Kaiviren
• Noh
• Cici Stitch (via letter)
• Eri Pyxis (mentioned in a letter)

Returning

• The Apparition
• Merely
• Cecily Cardew
• Gramble
• Edwin - the Red Prince

Mentioned

• Dr. James Oratio Hayward
• Edger
• Fulkin
• Sodizarq, Thespian Eye
• Hobbes
• Vinter
• Hannah
• Sithra
• Dr. Dallin Barlow

• Black Box - Armor (Mira)
• His father's lute (Ward from Gramble)
• Lunar Silver (Vera from Noh for her ability to prep Augury)