On the bridge, Ruhn meets Day after bringing Ithan to stay at his house with Flynn and Declan. The quiet conversation becomes unexpectedly personal when Ruhn admits that Day’s fiery form reminds him of Lehabah, the friend he lost. Day asks about Ruhn’s dangerous delivery of intel, warns him that Mordoc, the Hind, and the Harpy are deadly, and reveals that she also works among monsters who wear down her sense of self.

As they keep talking, Ruhn and Day discover painful similarities. Ruhn says he relies on friends and his sister, while Day confesses she has never had a true friend and comes from an influential but cruel family. Their exchange deepens when Day suggests Ruhn could use his power and rank to secretly undermine the regime from within, but Ruhn admits he is not suited to the sort of deception his father excels at. Day insists people like them must eventually stop rulers like their fathers, revealing both her idealism and her commitment to the rebellion.

The conversation then turns back to strategy. Day presses Ruhn about the shipment on the Spine and emphasizes that the Asteri’s new mech-suit prototype is the true prize. When Ruhn suggests destroying the Spine entirely, Day explains that Ophion lacks the numbers, explosives, and secrecy for such a strike, especially after recent losses. After a brief irritation between them, they ease back into warmth, and Day admits Ruhn is the first person she has spoken to normally in a very long time before ending the meeting.

The narrative shifts to Ithan the next morning at Ruhn’s house. Small signs of friendship between Ruhn, Flynn, and Declan make Ithan ache for the easy bond he once had with Connor. After checking the ongoing search through gallery footage for Danika, Ithan goes to the river and reflects on Sabine’s threat, Connor’s fate, and the revelation that dead souls may be fed into the Dead Gate. Those fears push Ithan to think obsessively about whether Connor has already been destroyed.

While waiting for Tharion, Ithan also confronts feelings he has long buried about Bryce. He remembers falling for Bryce the first time they met, realizing moments later that she was the woman Connor loved, and then spending years hiding his own feelings while pretending to be only her friend. Although Ithan says that history is over and does not resent Bryce and Hunt, living near Bryce has reopened old pain and made him grateful Ruhn offered him another place to stay.

When Tharion arrives, Ithan asks to be taken toward the Bone Quarter so he can look for Connor, but Tharion refuses because the river beasts make the route too dangerous. Tharion then reveals he still needs to find Emile and proposes that they pursue both goals together. He insists Bryce will have to be told, then tells Ithan to get gold marks because their next lead lies with the mystics.