In the chapter, the character Everen frees himself from ropes and explores the shop he is in.
Everen uses a small looking glass to scry, i.e., to see into another world or location, and communicate with his sister Cassia.
Through the mirror, Cassia explains that he and a human are half-bonded, their magics intertwined, a rare connection. The only way to break it is to fully bond with the human.
Cassia suggests a risky plan to leverage the bond and gain the human’s magic. Everen has to make the human trust him, then eventually kill the human.
Everen and the human, named Arcady, interact awkwardly, clearly not thrilled with their tethered situation.
Arcady supplies Everen with necessities, including medicine and clothes, demonstrating a survival instinct.
Together, they go to a restaurant named Emme’s. Outside the restaurant, they engage in a tense conversation, as Everen poorly attempts to lie but ultimately reveals he is a prince from another land.
Arcady is not convinced or comforted by Everen's story, and believes that he is hiding something. However, Arcady seems sympathetic towards Everen’s homesickness.
Arcady proposes researching about magical bonds at the university library or Citadel archive, but admits that infiltration into these places is difficult.
Everen suspects Arcady to be a criminal due to her living conditions and reticence. Arcady admits to being a thief, and challenges Everen to a game of theft using a copper coin.