Oraya returns to the apartment despite considering leaving, and finds Raihn gone while Mische calmly cleans up the broken glass from the window. Embarrassed by her own outburst, Oraya sits with Mische and asks why Mische stays with Raihn. Mische explains that Raihn is her best friend, loyal and trustworthy, and says that having someone who would do anything for you matters more than Oraya seems to realize. She also tells Oraya that Raihn's cruelty earlier was not truly about Oraya, but about old wounds he still carries.

When Mische asks whether Oraya has been hiding magic, Oraya avoids lying and admits only that the power is unpredictable. Instead of fearing it, Mische offers to help Oraya learn to control it, which unexpectedly comforts Oraya. Oraya confirms she is not leaving, since abandoning the alliance on the eve of the next trial would be foolish. Their talk then shifts to the coming Waning Moon trial, and they speculate that it may involve Nyaxia's descent toward the land of the dead.

As they discuss Nyaxia, Mische focuses on the goddess's fear and losses before she became powerful, while Oraya focuses on how strength would have outweighed that suffering. Mische suggests that even power may not erase unhappiness, which leaves Oraya thinking about sacrifice, weakness, and what someone might give up to stop being powerless. The conversation deepens Oraya's sense that Mische sees the world differently from other vampires she has known.

Later, unable to sleep, Oraya overhears Raihn returning late in terrible condition and obviously drunk. Hidden in the hallway, she listens as Mische scolds him for repeating destructive habits and for how he treated Oraya earlier. Raihn initially shrugs it off, but when Mische says Oraya's past is not to blame for his pain, he quietly admits that the incident was his fault. Oraya retreats after hearing this, having learned that Raihn regrets his behavior and that Mische's loyalty to him is rooted in real understanding.