After three exhausting days of training, Paedyn feels how unprepared her body is compared with the other Purging Trials contestants. In the training yard, she studies the rings, weapons, and competitors, noting that everyone is holding back their powers until the public interviews the next day. Paedyn understands that winning the crowd matters because the kingdom’s votes can raise a contestant’s score, so the coming interviews become another threat hanging over her.

While trying to focus, Paedyn notices Kai and Kitt sparring together and briefly reflects on Ilya’s crest and the landmarks around the city. She then throws knives at a target and falls into a rhythm that reminds her of training with her father, who used to test both her aim and her awareness. That memory is interrupted when Kai throws a knife over her head as a reflex test, and Paedyn angrily confronts him. Their argument quickly turns into their usual taunting exchange, charged with rivalry and attraction.

Before Kai can finish whispering to her, Blair throws a knife that strikes the target but slices Paedyn’s ear on the way. Blair openly frames it as marking her target before the Trials, making Paedyn feel the full danger of standing among powerful Elites as an Ordinary. Kai reacts with visible anger, positions himself partly in front of Paedyn, and stops Paedyn from smearing more blood into her hair.

Kai then unexpectedly takes care of the injury in his own awkward way. He tucks Paedyn’s hair back, orders her to turn around, and when she refuses, steps behind her and braids her hair to keep it away from the blood. Their conversation stays teasing, but Kai’s behavior is noticeably gentler than before. After warning Paedyn to get the wound healed before the interviews so Blair’s mark will not scar, Kai wishes her luck and walks away, leaving Paedyn shaken because he never explains why he helped her.