Rune waits anxiously in Gideon’s apartment for hours, fearing he did not survive after staying behind with the Blood Guard. She puts Meadow to sleep, arms herself with two loaded pistols, and prepares for danger. When Gideon finally returns, bloodstained but alive, he is not alone: he has brought Aurelia Kantor, who immediately goes to Meadow. Gideon says he surrendered, was taken to Laila, and then talked his way back out.

Needing Aurelia’s trust, Rune reveals that she is the Crimson Moth by cutting her palm, casting Torch, and manifesting a blood-red moth mark overhead. Rune explains that she needs Aurelia’s willing blood for a Majora summoning spell and offers a bargain: if Aurelia helps, Rune will get Aurelia and Meadow safely off the island. Because the offer gives her both a chance to protect Meadow and a path to escape, Aurelia agrees to leave at once.

Before Aurelia can go, Gideon stops her and demands the answers she promised in exchange for returning Meadow. Aurelia, having secretly taken Rune’s second pistol, turns the weapon on Gideon’s unarmed throat and prepares to kill him so he cannot follow them. Although Rune knows Aurelia’s logic is sound, Rune cannot let Gideon die and aims her own gun at Aurelia instead. Aurelia warns Rune that Gideon will betray her because he has no other choice: if he lets Rune escape, he will be executed. Rune orders Gideon away from the door and sends Aurelia downstairs with Meadow.

Left alone with Gideon, Rune confronts him about the conversation she overheard in the cargo hold with William. Gideon does not deny that he still plans to follow Rune, kill the Roseblood heir, and arrest Rune so he can bargain with Soren. He argues that Rune has no real plan if her alliance-breaking fails and accuses witches like her of doing nothing while monsters like Cressida abused others. Rune recognizes that Gideon’s duty, beliefs, and survival make him incapable of choosing her over the Republic. Accepting that their feelings do not change the danger between them, Rune resolves that they must part and warns Gideon not to follow.