Vis recalls a lesson from his childhood tutor Iniguez, who argued that strength cannot be reduced to formulas because any fight depends on countless shifting advantages, including spirit and circumstance. Vis applies that idea to his own situation at the Circus Sciacca: if he can perform well enough, he can make the Senate believe his missing arm is not a decisive weakness.

During the boulder-throwing test, Vis secretly reaches beyond self-imbuing and pushes on the boulder’s own Will after releasing it. The extra force lets him throw it forty-eight feet, an elite result that shocks Tullius without exposing what Vis has done. Vis is relieved when the manipulation goes unnoticed, and Indol’s casual, friendly praise reassures Vis that others are treating him as normal rather than as damaged or pitiable.

The rest of the self-imbuing assessment is physically punishing. Vis breaks wood and stone, jumps, and runs nine laps at full speed while constantly using Will to compensate for his missing arm, maintain balance, and suppress pain. His scores stay among the best of the day, and Tullius’s growing respect shows that Vis has preserved his standing despite his injury.

While recovering, Vis speaks privately with Aequa, who praises his performance and confirms that she has also done well. Watching the proceedings, Vis concludes that the joint assessments by Senate and Religion are not just administrative but a deliberate show of unity and a warning to Military, suggesting a serious political rupture after recent events.

Aequa then finally explains what happened at the Iudicium. She says an Anguis team spotted and pursued her while she was carrying Callidus’s tracker, and after a desperate escape she realized she had lost it and returned to the Academy. Vis feels grief, but also relief that Aequa did not abandon Callidus out of cowardice; he believes her, forgives her completely, and the two reconcile with an awkward, affectionate hug before Tullius calls Vis back to continue.