At the Skybreaker fortress by the Purelake, Szeth and fellow squires undertake a test: aerial combat using colored powder pouches tied atop poles, with hits penalizing scores. Szeth delights in controlled Lashings, even as he wrestles with guilt and his talkative sword’s comments about evil and Vasher. He maneuvers expertly, hovering, diving, and snatching pouches midair while newer squires struggle.

A veteran pack targets Szeth. To counter, he snaps off a pole to bat pouches aside and uses a grabbed squire as a moving shield, exploiting momentum and the difficulty of Lashing Stormlight-infused bodies. As sunset nears, Szeth’s Stormlight runs out mid‑flight; he plummets into the shallow lake and is peppered with more hits.

Two highspren appear, impressed. During adjudication, Szeth claims victory via a loophole: his white uniform was washed clean by the Purelake, leaving the fewest marks. Master Warren accepts the reasoning but warns that loopholes are risky; Ki notes Szeth’s superiority, and Warren predicts he will soon attract a spren.

Resolved to swear the Third Ideal immediately, Szeth is interrupted by Nale, who returns and forbids it. Nale orders masters to gather gemstone reserves and mobile packs, leaving most squires behind for leaking Stormlight, and announces an urgent departure to teach them greater truths, saying, "It is time for you to learn the two greatest secrets that I know."