Euyn wakes late afternoon at the Boat Inn in Tile, panicking when he first doesn’t see Mikail. Relief turns into raw gratitude when Euyn finds Mikail nearby and realizes how close the samroc attack came to killing him—and how deeply Euyn still loves him, despite Mikail’s past betrayals.

Over food and laoli, Euyn reflects on his role in Yusan’s royal family: as the much younger, disregarded half brother to King Joon, mocked as excess and treated like a frivolous playboy. He remembers how that contempt shaped his apathy, and how Mikail became the one person who made him want to be more than the court’s joke.

Euyn recounts the immediate aftermath of the attack: keeping watch all night in the tunnels, recovering Mikail’s hamel at dawn, salvaging what gear he could, and hauling an injured Mikail to Tile. Euyn admits the first stop was an apothecary for more laoli to manage Mikail’s pain, and Mikail has since acquired even more while Euyn slept.

Once they eat, Mikail delivers the logistical problem: they are still at least two days from the border and must choose a crossing point. The only lightly patrolled option is through the Tangun Mountains, but the pass may contain samroc nests; worse, the fastest route takes about fifteen bells by donkey while there are only twelve bells of daylight, guaranteeing time exposed to night predators.

Mikail offers partial reassurance: they can stage from the city of Lark at the mountain’s foot, leaving at dawn and limiting danger to less than three bells. After entering Yusan, Mikail plans to head to Rahway to meet a girl with unusual skills who can aid their plot against King Joon. Euyn doubts the need for her, but Mikail insists Euyn should trust his scheming, then has Euyn change his dressing and apply salve before Mikail drugs himself to sleep—while their attraction remains tense and unresolved.