Leshwi kneels before Venli as radiant light floods the atrium. Overjoyed at the Radiants’ return, Leshwi asks after the honorspren Riah. Venli—through Timbre—says the old honorspren likely did not survive. As the Pursuer’s troops press the assault on helpless Radiants, Leshwi decides and orders her soldiers to halt; when they refuse, she attacks, turning singer against singer.

Deep in the tower, Navani communes with the weakened Sibling, who shows her a vision of humans and singers fighting side by side to defend the fallen—an “emulsifier,” a joined purpose. Navani spots Rlain among them. Nearby, Moash hacks at Raboniel’s arm, leaving it limp. Desperate, Navani begs the Sibling to bond her, but the Sibling refuses, saying Navani is not worthy.

Rlain reaches the atrium amid a civil war and helps organize triage with Dabbid, later joined by Hesina. He learns Lirin was taken and Kaladin gave chase. Rlain and Dabbid mourn Teft’s burned-out corpse, and Dabbid reports Lift is unconscious, her legs made dead by a Shardblade and not healing.

Seizing leadership, Rlain chastises both sides and proposes evacuation: defecting singers and humans will carry the unconscious Radiants to the Oathgates and flee to the Shattered Plains. Leshwi and five Heavenly Ones help carry the wounded while many others retreat to spread word. As they march, Rlain assumes Venli can open the Oathgate with a living Blade—only for her to admit she lied; she has no Blade yet, though Voidlight powers function. The coalition presses on into the storm, their escape uncertain.