Dafyd Alkhor attends the Irvian Research Medrey’s end-of-year celebration at the Scholar’s Common, already uneasy without fully knowing why. On a balcony, he is cornered into conversation with Llaren Morse, a near-field astronomic visualization researcher from Dyan Academy. Dafyd deflects personal questions by listening and reflecting Morse’s thoughts back to him, until a commotion below reveals Tonner Freis basking in public acclaim.

Dafyd notices Tonner beside Else Annalise Yannin, Tonner’s second-in-command and lover—and the woman Dafyd has come hoping to see despite knowing it is a mistake. When Morse mutters, Enjoy it now, Dafyd reads contempt and possible threat behind the remark. Morse withdraws abruptly, leaving Dafyd unsettled and increasingly suspicious that something is moving against Tonner’s celebrated work.

Dafyd climbs into the higher-status salons to find his aunt, Dorinda Dory Alkhor, who controls funding influence and is speaking with a research colloquy member named Mur. After Mur departs, Dorinda chastises Dafyd for being self-effacing and warns him not to try flattering information out of her; she says she is better at manipulation than he is. Dafyd brings up meeting a Dyan Academy man who seems to dislike Tonner, and Dorinda ends the exchange without offering more, though she expresses guarded approval that Dafyd showed up.

Dafyd returns to the lower levels and finds Tonner holding court with a semicircle of scholars, theatrically explaining his project’s insight. Seeing Else watching Tonner with affectionate pride briefly makes Dafyd resent Tonner, but Dafyd approaches Else anyway. He asks if she has heard anything about another group taking over their research.

Else initially laughs off the idea, insisting their progress and acclaim make a takeover impossible, but Dafyd presses that one hundred percent certainty signals someone is making a play. Else’s demeanor shifts to concern; she puts a hand on Dafyd’s arm and asks what Dafyd has heard. Dafyd recognizes the moment as a hinge-point, driven by both suspicion and his need to hold Else’s attention.