Violet and her squad—Rhiannon, Sawyer, Ridoc, and briefly Imogen—head to the Archives to visit Jesinia and review research materials. Along the way, they tease each other about relationships: Sawyer's growing feelings for Jesinia, Rhiannon's casual arrangement with Tara, Ridoc's freewheeling romantic life, and Violet and Xaden's constant bickering. The group also briefly discusses the prospect of Violet and Xaden marrying for legacy purposes, with Rhi noting that General Melgren might push for it to produce a child with battle foresight.

At the Archives, Jesinia arrives carrying six leather-bound tomes for Violet's research on the irids and the southern isle of Deverelli. The squad learns that Jesinia has been formally expelled from the scribe adept program as punishment for her loyalty to Aretia, though she frames her reassignment under Professor Grady—focused solely on helping Violet's research—as a hidden blessing, giving her access to royal tomes. Jesinia reports that General Cadao's journal references an outside isle kingdom supporting the second Krovlan uprising, but the relevant pages have been ripped out. She and Violet conclude that Violet's late father, a scribe, may have possessed the missing research, but his unpublished work is locked away in a location that would require Dain Aetos to betray his father to access.

Three days later at Battle Brief, Devera unveils a massive updated war map showing alarming venin advances along the wardline, particularly near Samara and through Braevick. Violet notes that Xaden has been gone over ten days and worries about his soul. Devera distributes a printed anthology of venin texts to every cadet and announces three new classes: a venin history course taught by Professor Kiandra, rotating rune intensives in Aretia, and a hands-on signet-against-signet combat class. She also reveals—confirmed by three sources—that high-level venin (Sage and Maven ranks) can wield signets, news that shocks most cadets. Devera further announces that challenges will now include wielding but that death is no longer an acceptable outcome, as every cadet is needed.

The chapter's climactic moment comes when Devera introduces the Eastern Wing's most powerful rider, loaned to teach signet combat. Xaden appears in the doorway, and Violet's initial relief that he's found a way to stay within the wards turns to horror as she realizes the implications: under Basgiath's Code of Conduct, Article Eight, Section One, a professor cannot be in a romantic relationship with a cadet. Violet tells Xaden through their mental bond that she believes their relationship just ended.