Alone and unarmed in the arena, Gabriel faced a charging wretched as sanctus burned through him, the sevenstar tattoo in his palm blazing. Feeling divine power, he dodged the monster, seized its silver chain, and discovered strength equal to the creature’s. Wrapping the chain around his fist, Gabriel beat the wretched’s head to pulp, overwhelmed by the bloodhymn and memories of Amélie.

As the wretched fell, a pack of mongrels rushed Gabriel. Unsure why they attacked, he tried to hold them off with the chain. Greyhand shouted for him to command the beasts with his mind, but Gabriel could not. The dogs dragged him down and savaged his limbs and shoulders until Greyhand gestured and recalled them to their places, revealing their obedience to him.

Seraph Talon and Sister Aoife reentered the circle while Gabriel bled. Talon dismissed Gabriel’s complaints, noting that palebloods heal quickly, and explained the trial’s purpose: to provoke hidden gifts under duress. Talon mocked Gabriel and goaded him to project anger onto him so he could strike back under the rule of “blood for blood,” but Gabriel’s attempt at emotional compulsion failed.

Surveying the wreckage of the wretched and Gabriel’s wounds, Talon concluded Gabriel showed no affinity for beasts (ruling out Chastain), no unusual resilience to injury (ruling out Voss), and no talent for emotional manipulation (ruling out Ilon). Though strong under sanctus like any paleblood, Gabriel lacked hallmarks of the Dyvok line as well. Talon declared him a “frailblood,” the child of a vampire too weak to pass on bloodline gifts.

Gabriel appealed to Greyhand and Abbot Khalid, shaken by the verdict. Sister Aoife offered quiet comfort, urging him to keep faith and serve God. Talon delivered a final, stinging judgment—“Disappointing”—and walked away, leaving Gabriel standing in pain and humiliation before the Order’s elders.