Szeth reflects on his rebirth: Nale, Herald of Justice, revived his body with a fabrial after Szeth’s death, but the healing was imperfect, leaving a glowing afterimage and lingering whispers. At a Skybreaker stronghold above the Purelake, he stands apart from other younger hopefuls, carrying a black, talking sword that urges him to be drawn. Szeth intends to join the order, learn their ways, and someday bring justice to Shinovar, though he doubts whether he dares to judge others.

Ki, a golden-haired Skybreaker, addresses the hopefuls. They speak the First Ideal; Szeth whispers it, hoping it will restore his Stormlight use, but he still cannot draw Light. Ki declares their past crimes pardoned by local paperwork and outlines the path forward: find a master, become a squire, and face tests whose final measure belongs to the highspren.

Szeth questions the Ideals, and the masters explain them: the Ideal of Justice (Second), the Ideal of Dedication (Third, requiring a highspren bond and granting Division), the Ideal of Crusade (Fourth, completing a personal quest), and the rare Ideal of Law (Fifth). Szeth silently fixes on cleansing Shinovar as his eventual crusade. The masters caution that most do not advance beyond the Third Ideal.

As Skybreakers Lash the hopefuls skyward to the testing grounds, Szeth learns Nale is absent, having once considered accelerating him but now leaving him to the standard path. Carried aloft, Szeth experiences flight not his own while the sword chatters about the lake and being drawn. Szeth submits to the ordered process, beginning his first formal test among the Skybreakers.