Oraya wakes in Raihn’s arms in the cave, and both of them are awkwardly aware of what happened when she let him feed from her the night before. To avoid discussing the intimacy directly, Oraya turns their attention to the trial and identifies the landscape as the deadlands from Nyaxia’s story about trying to rescue Alarus. She and Raihn conclude that the challenge must have an endpoint they need to reach.

At the cave mouth, they study the terrain and the worsening poisonous smoke. Raihn spots a distant golden object that may be the gate, but it is miles away across a crater-like wasteland. Oraya notices that the smoke rises in regular waves every ninety seconds, which suggests they might be able to move between surges, though their first idea of simply hiding from it is obviously inadequate.

Raihn then remembers that the man he killed was Shadowborn and may have been carrying useful gear. Because he can move faster and withstand the smoke better, Oraya sends Raihn alone to search the corpse while she waits and counts the seconds anxiously. Her fear when he is delayed makes her realize how terrible it is to be unable to protect someone she cares about, echoing Nyaxia’s desperation in the deadlands.

Raihn returns just as Oraya is about to go after him. He has recovered an avathrian silk cloak from the Shadowborn corpse, a rare fabric that can filter dangerous air and resist damage. The discovery gives them a workable way forward, even if it is uncertain and risky.

Together they build a plan: Raihn will wear the cloak, carry Oraya, and fly or run them along the rocky rim in timed bursts between smoke waves; when the next surge comes, they will shelter under the cloak. Because Raihn will be occupied with movement, Oraya takes responsibility for defending them if they encounter monsters or other contestants. With no better option and the danger closing in, Raihn lifts Oraya into his arms and they launch into the mist toward the gate.