During training in the ring, Emerie and Gwyn tease Nesta about sleeping with Cassian after noticing the charged looks between them. Nesta refuses to discuss Cassian or the secret errand from the previous day, but Gwyn correctly guesses it involved the Trove. Gwyn then shares a copied chapter about an old Valkyrie practice called Mind-Stilling, a method of quieting the mind through breath and bodily awareness, and Nesta immediately wants to learn it as a way to master her thoughts and emotions.

Cassian notices the three females whispering and comes over, amused that they have clearly been discussing him. The tension between Cassian and Nesta is sharpened by the memory of their night together, and Nesta pushes back by asking when their training will become useful and whether she is ready to handle a sword. Cassian takes the challenge seriously and orders Nesta to stand, deciding to test her instead of letting the moment remain flirtation.

From Cassian's perspective, he admits to himself that he has been trying to call their sex a mistake, yet standing near Nesta makes that resolve impossible to maintain. He leads Nesta to the weapon rack, gives her a wooden practice sword, and warns all the trainees to treat even training blades with respect because swords are instruments of death. As Gwyn and Emerie watch, Cassian instructs Nesta in grips, stance, and a sequence of blocks, slices, and thrusts, correcting her to use her whole body rather than only her arms.

As Nesta repeats the forms, the exercise becomes more than technique. Memories of Hybern, the Cauldron, the Ravens, the kelpie, Tomas, and every moment of humiliation and helplessness rise inside her, and she channels that fury through the blade. The movements begin to flow, and a single conviction takes shape in her mind: never again will she be weak, trapped, or at anyone's mercy.

When Cassian stops calling commands, he recognizes the fierce change in Nesta and silently understands what the sword has awakened in her. The other females also sense it. Without fear or hesitation, Gwyn and Emerie cross the ring to take up wooden swords as well, signaling a shared determination and a new step in their transformation.