In the past fifty years, the individuals who once relied solely on the Barrens have started recruiting others to misuse magic, leading to an imbalance.
Captain Lera Dorrell’s quote implies that mankind often compromises their souls for power.
Major Devera reads out a roll of casualties, now including active combatants and not just cadets, reflecting the growing losses in the battle along the Stonewater River.
The protagonist is anxious about a friend named Mira and feels powerless away from the front lines.
The chapter illustrates the high death toll among soldiers, with the protagonist worried about the safety of loved ones.
The protagonist has a moment of relief when they do not hear Mira's name on the death roll, indicating she is still alive.
The protagonist shows frustration with an opponent named Cat, who is spiteful and holds a personal grudge.
Some characters like Sloane and Ridoc express emotions openly, while the protagonist wrestles with the desire to be both strong and humane.
Professor Trissa introduces the group to runes, explaining they are geometrical patterns woven into items to conduct specific magic.
Trissa demonstrates by tempering a rune with her power and placing it on a wooden board to create a heating effect, surprising the group.
Runes were once controlled by the Tyrrish and banned due to their potential to equalize magical power between riders and non-riders.
The protagonist realizes runes are similar to a logosyllabic language and connects it to prior knowledge of Old Lucerish and Morrainian.
The group is tasked with learning how to separate a thread of their power and weave a simple unlocking rune before sunset.
The chapter ends with trial and error as the group attempts to weave runes, with Cat successfully accomplishing the task without incident.