Returning to the barracks after evening meal, Black Cell finds an extra bed placed beside Kaine Sutler’s, resolving Wren’s sleeping arrangement after the prior night’s conflict. Wren spends the night plotting escape but falls asleep without a plan.

The next morning’s class covers post–Last War geography. Instructor Dava reviews maps of places like New Virginia and South Ontario and explains that while radiation is gone, many regions were never rebuilt. Discussion centers on Carora, a triangular southern landmass that cut itself off from contact; attempts to establish outposts ceased after repeated losses of ships and aircraft. Intelligence flybys yield no results, and General Merrick Redden no longer prioritizes it.

At lunch, Roe approaches Wren with needling remarks about Anson’s interest in her and insults her, displaying arrogance and menace. Wren disengages and eats with Lyddie and Kaine while feeling Roe’s eyes on her.

In the afternoon shielding class, Wren silently links with her friend Tana, who warns that surveillance drones now watch Hamlett and advises Wren not to return there if she escapes. Tyler Struck begins the lesson by listing Aberrant categories—telepaths, projectors, mind readers, healers, empaths, precogs, and inciters—emphasizing the need to understand and defend against them.

Wren reflects on her secret incitement ability and the danger if it is discovered, recalling Uncle Jim’s insistence on secrecy and the fear inciters inspire. Students ask Struck about empaths’ and projectors’ limits; Struck explains empaths feel others’ emotions but cannot cause pain, and projectors share what they are seeing, though Aberrant capacities remain not fully understood.

Struck instructs that constant mental shielding is essential while awake, especially for those who may face silverbloods. She brands inciters as ruthless manipulators, which makes Wren physically uneasy. Ivy mentions an inciter at a recent execution; Struck’s gaze flicks to Wren before she states the executed person was a Command deserter who was Aberrant and moves the class on.

Struck leads visualization drills to build “doorless, airless steel vault” shields. Lyddie concentrates intensely; Kaine jokes until Struck silences him. With time still on the clock, Struck calls someone in via comms. Another woman arrives, and the recruits murmur when it is obvious she is Modified, heightening the class’s tension as the scene ends.