On Friday, Violet's squad and Caroline Ashton's squad from First Wing descend into the Infantry Quadrant's outdoor amphitheater—a warded, magically warmed fighting pit Xaden calls "the pit"—for their first Signet Sparring session. Violet and Xaden have barely seen each other in days, and they communicate through his shadows and their mental bond during class. Violet mentions she's been spending her time reading about Deverelli, practicing strikes on the ridgeline with Tairn, and preparing to break into General Aetos's quarters once he leaves for Calldyr. She invites Xaden to join their group outing to Chantara, but he declines, noting that watching her from across a pub would be torture given the conduct rules keeping them apart.

Xaden begins the session by accepting a challenge from Loran Yashil, a cocky third-year metallurgist from First Wing who questions his qualifications. Xaden disarms Loran barehanded in seconds, then uses shadows to choke him into submission when Loran attacks again, demonstrating that Loran failed to use his signet against the metal weapons Xaden carries. Xaden then systematically defeats nearly every wielder in both squads: a fire wielder, Quinn and her projections, Rhiannon, Caroline, Neve's levitated daggers, Ridoc's ice, Sloane (who doesn't even try, making Violet wonder about a hidden second signet), and Cat and Maren, who are both swept off the mat without getting close.

After the demonstrations, Xaden explains the philosophy behind Signet Sparring. Unlike the secretive, competitive sparring culture at Basgiath, his goal as a teacher is to expose each cadet's signet weaknesses so they can learn to counter dark wielders with similar powers. He emphasizes that fliers and those with mindwork abilities like Cat are far from helpless, and that infantry cadets will join as observers starting next week. When Aaric asks if Xaden will teach them to defeat him, Xaden replies that only one person is capable of taking him down—clearly meaning Violet.

Side conversations reveal ongoing tensions and dynamics: Rhiannon admits she's failed to convince Sawyer to rejoin training, Trager pointedly tells Cat to move on from Xaden, and Ridoc jokes about being both in love with and terrified of Xaden. The chapter ends with Xaden calling Violet onto the mat. She unfastens her conduit, opens the door to Tairn's power, and tells Xaden not to let her hurt him.