Shallan sketches and recalls her brief visit to Shadesmar, then startles as a sharp-lined pattern seems to emboss and move across her page. A rare santhid surfaces beside the ship, inspiring Shallan to request a closer look, though Captain Tozbek refuses on safety grounds.

Jasnah arrives and, after reviewing Shallan’s sketches, explains that Shadesmar is the Cognitive Realm: a place surrounding them, where spren—living ideas—originate and even build cities. She notes an ancient human betrayal of spren, and when Shallan reports seeing the pattern on a wave, Jasnah concludes spren are watching her and that the old ways are returning. They must hasten to the Shattered Plains to seek Urithiru’s secrets.

Turning to Shallan’s family, Jasnah shares a plan: Navani will likely repair the broken Soulcaster so it can be returned to its owners, buying time with the Ghostbloods. To secure House Davar’s future, Jasnah has also initiated a betrothal between Shallan and Adolin Kholin. Shallan, relieved rather than offended, agrees. Jasnah then teaches that power is largely an illusion of perception and departs to plan Shallan’s training.

Emboldened, Shallan challenges Tozbek’s refusal, asserting authority until he stops the ship. Rigged with ropes and a viewing mask, she lowers herself into the frigid water and observes the santhid’s true form—folded blue-grey body beneath a vast shell, massive eye, oar-like fins, trailing tendrils, and arrowlike spren. She commits the sight to Memory for later sketching.