Ruhn and Lidia push through the foul, mist-choked Cave of Princes using a small kernel of starlight to ward off ghouls. Following scents left hours earlier, Ruhn realizes the Autumn King is in the caves and heading deeper after Bryce, traveling alongside Morven, the Murder Twins, and others. Desperate to catch up, Ruhn forces himself onward despite exhaustion and thirst.

During a brief pause, Lidia apologizes for flinching the night before and admits she hates that Pollux’s lingering memories can still affect her. Ruhn reassures Lidia that he will never pressure her and that intimacy will happen only on her terms, but Lidia makes clear she wants Ruhn in reality, not only in dreamspace. Their flirtation escalates into a heated moment until an ancient hiss from nearby rocks reminds them they are being watched, and they resume running.

In Hel’s Temple of Chaos, Bryce questions Aidas about Theia, Silene, and the truth behind the Starsword and Truth-Teller. Aidas explains that Theia used the Harp to divide all her magic into thirds—one third to Silene, one to Helena, and a remaining portion kept by Theia—leaving Theia too weakened to survive Pelias. The Starsword and dagger were Made at the same time and keyed to Theia’s power, which is why they call to each other and to descendants with enough starlight to activate them.

Bryce reveals she claimed power left waiting in the Prison, realizing it was Theia’s starlight Silene had hidden; Aidas concludes Bryce likely carries Helena’s inherited third and has now taken Silene’s third, making Bryce’s light “fuller” and capable of starfire. Aidas and Apollion stress that starfire is not the same as the Asteri’s corruptive power—its destruction depends on the bearer’s choices.

Pressed by Hunt, Aidas explains the final third did not remain in Theia’s corpse or the Starsword: Helena removed it to prevent the Asteri from resurrecting Theia to access her full power. Using Avallen’s ley lines and its status as a thin place strengthened by black salt, Helena hid that power somewhere on the island and seeded the prophecy about reuniting sword and knife because the united blades—activated by Theia’s whole power—are necessary to end the Asteri. Aidas cannot say where the missing third is, but confirms Bryce must find it, reunite the blades, and then use Bryce’s reborn Horn to fully open the Northern Rift.