Vis returns to Solivagus by Transvect with Aequa, Eidhin, and Livia, and the approach revives his unease about the island and what happened there. The group travels in strained silence, broken only by awkward conversation between Livia and Eidhin. Vis notices Livia's resentment and remains wary of her because she is Callidus's sister, even though he is also determined not to let her come to harm.

At the Academy platform, Veridius greets them with practiced warmth and acts like a concerned former mentor. As he leads them uphill, he says the island has been thoroughly searched for Anguis and that Governance has sided with Religion in keeping the Academy on Solivagus rather than moving it to Caten. Vis remains suspicious of Veridius's friendliness, and that suspicion deepens when Veridius gives all four visitors stone tracking cuffs, explaining that breaking them or leaving the grounds will trigger an alarm and a full search.

After Veridius leaves them alone, the group quickly turns to escape plans. Because Livia cannot be trusted with what they intend to do, Vis and Aequa decide that Eidhin should keep her occupied; both Vis and Aequa teasingly point out that Livia is clearly interested in him. Though irritated and embarrassed, Eidhin agrees and leads Livia away, giving Vis and Aequa the chance to head for the wall beyond the stables.

At the wall, Aequa fears that removing the cuffs will alert Veridius, but Vis reveals a new use of Adoption. By briefly taking control of the Will in the stone cuffs, he opens and removes them without breaking the imbuing or warning their maker, then hides the bands and helps Aequa get free as well. Aequa uses her black-eyed power to leap over the wall, and Vis follows by manipulating the Harmonic metal beneath his tunic and self-imbuing to make the jump.

Once outside the Academy grounds, Vis explains Adoption to Aequa in more detail, omitting only the parts tied to his more dangerous secrets. Aequa is stunned, understands why he kept it hidden, and agrees that Governance would try to exploit such an ability if it became known. Their conversation then turns more personal as they admit that both still suffer nightmares from the Naumachia and the Iudicium, and that the terrifying influence they faced there changed how they experience fear. That quieter moment ends when Vis senses the same strange presence he noticed earlier; something rushes toward them through the brush, and the attacker proves to be a massive alupi with a scar along its back. Recognizing it at once, Vis realizes the beast is Diago.