In the sealed safe room after the ballroom attack, Paedyn waits with the royal family, contestants, and injured guests while Healers move through the crowd. As one Healer closes the knife wound on her arm, Paedyn is reminded of her father and of the king’s role in his death. She approaches Kitt, who is pacing in frustration and struggling to control the fire that leaks from his hands, and coaxes him into speaking privately.

Kitt admits that he hates being protected while Kai fights in his place, revealing his insecurity about becoming king without being seen as brave. Paedyn encourages him, partly to keep up her cover and partly to draw out information. Kitt then explains that the attackers belong to the Resistance, a growing network of Ordinaries hidden throughout Ilya who are fighting the crown, and that some banished Fatal Elites may be helping them. He says the kingdom has kept their existence secret, believes Ordinaries threaten the future of the Elite race, and treats their deaths as necessary, which deepens Paedyn’s disgust even as she keeps her identity hidden.

When guards announce that the ballroom has been secured, the king addresses the room and declares that the Purging Trials will continue as planned. The decision shows his determination to project strength and deny the attackers a visible victory. As the room empties, Kitt tells Paedyn he will be pulled into meetings and expects her to survive the first Trial. Paedyn, now armed with Kitt’s revelations and the note she stole earlier, decides that if she survives, she will seek out the Resistance.

Instead of returning directly to her room, Paedyn slips away from the guards and reenters the damaged ballroom, where workers are already cleaning away blood and rubble. There she finds Kai alone, bloodied, and sitting on a slab of stone with a throwing knife lodged in his back. After confirming that Paedyn was healed, Kai has her pull out the knife, then uses his healing ability to close the wound himself. Their exchange remains flirtatious and combative, but Paedyn’s concern for him is unmistakable.

Kai confirms that the king will proceed with the Trials and says the court can no longer hide the Resistance after what happened. He reports the casualties: two Elites dead, multiple injured, four Ordinaries dead, and two prisoners, while some attackers escaped. Most importantly, Kai doubts the Resistance’s true goal was simply to assault a room full of Elites, suggesting a larger plan remains hidden. The chapter ends with Paedyn and Kai parting on familiar taunts, both aware that the next day’s Trial will unfold under the shadow of this new threat.