Bryce, Azriel, and Nesta step through the star-marked door into a deeper, ancient darkness, only for the metal door to slam shut behind them and extinguish Bryce’s star. Azriel conjures faelight to guide them to a vast circular chamber carved with symbols, and Nesta identifies the location with dread: the Prison.

In the Viper Queen’s fighting pit on Midgard, Ithan steels himself for what he assumes will be a brutal match against Ariadne’s fire. Flynn, Declan, and Tharion warn him that Ariadne will not hold back, and Tharion—tense and remorseful—admits Ithan’s loyalty matters to him. The Viper Queen arrives, mocks Ithan’s clothes, and delays the fight with a cruel reveal.

The Viper Queen announces Ariadne is no longer in her employ, having accepted a better offer an hour earlier. She needles Tharion by implying Ariadne agreed partly to avoid burning Ithan, then informs Ithan who will replace the dragon as his opponent: the Fendyr heir, shifting the stakes of the pit fight and blindsiding Ithan’s group.

Back in the Prison, Azriel and Nesta debate whether to retreat and fetch Rhys, but decide to see why Bryce’s star brought her here. Azriel keeps hold of Bryce’s hand as they approach the chamber; the Starsword and dagger’s pulling sensation fades, and Bryce senses powerful wards. Seeing an eight-pointed star in the chamber’s center, Nesta explains the Harp once sat on it, held in place by wards.

Bryce tricks Azriel into releasing her hand and darts across the ward line—discovering Azriel and Nesta cannot follow. Alone inside, Bryce studies the floor and realizes it depicts Midgard’s constellations and planets: a carved map of her cosmos with “Midgard” marked near the central star. From Nesta, Bryce confirms the Harp is a Made object that can move its player between places and even stop time; Bryce wonders if a “Horn” might also be Made. Concluding the tunnels’ carvings are a story and an invitation “to find the truth,” Bryce steps onto the eight-pointed star where the Harp had been left.