Reina approaches Nico with a theory inspired by a conversation she overheard between Callum and Parisa about the nature of animations—entities that possess a "naturalistic spirit" approximating life without true sentience. Reina proposes that life itself might be a manipulable element, similar to gravity, and that Nico, as a physicist, might be able to shape or even create it. She offers to serve as his power source, channeling her naturalistic magic into him.

When Nico attempts the experiment, something extraordinary happens: a brief spark of life that both of them sense, though neither can fully explain it. Nico acknowledges the result but says that to do anything meaningful with it, he would need Libby Rhodes's complementary power—his own abilities and Reina's channeling alone aren't sufficient. Reina accepts this and declares they will have to find Libby, surprising Nico by volunteering to help. She presses him to trust their group and share information about his friend Gideon Drake, whose ability to travel through dream realms Nico has kept secret. After some resistance, Nico seems to open up, and Reina argues that the group's collective talents are wasted if they don't align their interests and work together.

Reina then seeks a private audience with Atlas Blakely to ask several questions. Atlas confirms that initiation is a binding ritual that will still function despite Libby not having been killed by the group, thanks to two millennia of reinforcing sacrifices. When Reina asks about Libby's disappearance, Atlas insists he doesn't know what happened and would retrieve her if he could. He declines to share his theories about other possibilities.

Reina also asks about Gideon Drake, and Atlas reveals that Gideon was a finalist for the Society but not in the final ten, due to concerns about his lack of control over his dream-traveling abilities. Atlas mentions that Gideon's mother is a dangerous criminal and spy, and that Gideon's life might not have survived without Nico's friendship. The conversation turns philosophical as Atlas reflects that the remarkable suffer while the unremarkable are merely passed over, and that few medeians wouldn't choose to be unremarkable and happy if they could.

Finally, Reina asks about the traveler who was rejected in her favor. Atlas cryptically corrects her: "He was not rejected," then dismisses her from his office. Reina notices that Atlas's office contains no living plants—only books and dead wood—which strikes her as significant given her naturalistic abilities.