In their rented room in Dor, Paedyn tries to keep her distance after Kai emerges from the washroom shirtless and assumes they will share the bed. Paedyn insists the bed is hers and resists sleeping beside him, but the chain between them leaves little choice. When the cold leaves Paedyn shivering, Kai moves behind her and pulls her against him, saying they should "pretend" not to hate each other because the arrangement is useful for them both. Paedyn accepts the warmth, though Kai's description of their bond as usefulness alone quietly hurts her.

In the morning, Paedyn wakes tangled in Kai's arms and immediately pulls away, reminding herself that his comfort was only part of the pretense. When she asks if they are returning to the desert, Kai explains that they will instead cut through Dor and cross the Sanctuary of Souls, a dangerous rocky region full of bandits. His confidence comes from the brutal experience his father forced on him there, which unsettles Paedyn and reinforces how harsh his upbringing was.

As Kai gathers clothing to discard, Paedyn stops him from throwing away her olive-green vest. She reveals that Adena made it for her and that she promised to keep wearing it. Kai admits he witnessed Adena's death during the final Trial and heard Paedyn scream, linking them again through shared trauma and grief. Paedyn puts the vest back on, determined to honor her promise.

Before they can say more, an innkeeper pounds on the door, forcing them to flee through the window. Paedyn hurriedly wraps her scarf to hide her silver hair while Kai follows her out just as the door bursts open. They race through Dor's streets, dragging the chain, dodging merchants, and laughing despite the danger as the furious innkeeper and others pursue them.

To evade the search, Kai pulls Paedyn into an alley and quickly turns them into a convincing distraction. He unties her skirt, hides her features beneath a hat, removes her scarf, and presses her against the wall while kissing along her neck and scar so that passing pursuers see only an absorbed couple. The ruse works, but the intimacy unsettles Paedyn when Kai nears the scar over her heart. She pushes him away, they regain control, and Kai casually shortens the chain before asking if she is ready. Paedyn matches his composure, links her arm through his, and continues on with him.