As Sam continues a protracted recovery, Sadie and her core team build Oneiric, an engine famed for volumetric lighting to realize Both Sides’ fog-bound world, Myre Landing. Proud of achieving what she couldn’t years earlier, Sadie briefly reconnects with Dov to compare techniques. When she shows Oneiric to Sam, his muted reaction frustrates her.

Sam’s sporadic attendance slows decisions, prompting Sadie and Marx to discuss workflow. Marx proposes splitting responsibilities: Sadie leads the more complex Myre Landing; Sam leads the simpler Mapletown. Sadie resents the unequal load but agrees because it benefits the project and accommodates Sam’s availability.

Late in development, Sam proposes that the protagonist be a girl with cancer to heighten contrast between real-world pain and fantasy omnipotence. They name her Alice Ma in Mapletown, with an alter ego, Rose the Mighty, in Myre Landing, now plagued by a mysterious sickness. Progress in one world advances the other, necessitating separate pipelines for efficiency.

Sam immerses himself in Mapletown, drawing on his hospital experiences to craft responsive seasons, bodily dissociation after surgery, and an unwinnable opening race that teaches acceptance of limits. Marx playtests, recognizes the design’s insight, and praises Sam’s work. He also notices Sam appears thin, tired, and withdrawn, leaving Marx concerned about Sam’s health.