Shallan studies expedition accounts of the Parshendi and notes Gavilar’s unusual fascination with their society, music, and fine weapons. She questions Jasnah about Urithiru and the Voidbringers, sensing a discrepancy in Gavilar’s interests. Jasnah offers few answers, reinforcing that Shallan’s fresh perspective is valuable.

Seeking sources on Voidbringers, Shallan wanders the Palanaeum and meets Kabsal, who escorts her for Tifandor’s biography. He relates the Vorin narrative—Voidbringers as real ancient foes, the Heralds and Knights Radiant opposing them—and claims Jasnah intends to disprove their existence and undermine Vorinism. The conversation exposes his frustration with the ardentia’s weakness and his feelings for Shallan, while she reveals she plans to leave the next morning.

Back at Jasnah’s alcove, Shallan sketches Kabsal and then a portrait of them together. While working, she again depicts strange, symbol-headed figures only visible in her drawings. Panic rising, she flees and repeatedly captures more of the creatures in quick sketches, convinced they stalk her.

In her room, the figures close in. A disembodied question—“What are you?”—precedes a sudden transition to a place of black sky, a distant white sun, and a sea of glass beads. Grasping one bead, she hears a warm voice offer change; moments later she snaps back to her room as her goblet liquefies into blood: she has Soulcast without putting on the Soulcaster.

Hearing Jasnah approach and seeing blood pooling toward the door, Shallan hides her sketches and hastily cuts her own arm to create a plausible wound. Jasnah enters to find Shallan bleeding and calls for help, while Shallan clutches her safepouch, terrified her secret will be revealed.