Gregory walks beside Bryce and notices the prince's injuries have healed impossibly fast. They discuss their situation, Bryce reveals his betrothed Abigail, and Gregory devises an escape plan.

Gregory reveals Bryce is a prince, earning his own freedom but not Bryce's. Days of marching east with the Otagin follow. They discover an abandoned hamlet where every door stands open and meals sit uneaten on tables - the inhabitants simply vanished.

Night attack on the caravan - Gregory tries to escape during the chaos but is captured by Otagin soldiers. He saves Prince Bryce from execution by revealing his identity to the Otagin leader Mahkinson

Gregory recovers from his wounds while being transported. The caravan passes through a dead stretch of the Northern Pass where trees are gray and split, and a patrol vanished without trace three winters ago. He overhears soldiers discussing the prince's unnatural resilience.

Gregory wakes tied to a wagon in the Northern Pass, learns from the captain that he accidentally approached Prince Bryce Hunner in disguise. The captain reveals Bryce has unnatural healing abilities. Gregory is told he will be executed as leverage to teach the reckless prince about danger.

Years of hunts across the Empire: Millbrook girl, Willem the farmer, compressed hunts (Annis, healer, fortune-teller), Tomas and blue fire connection. Suzanne infiltrates sealed vault. Elena moments. Petro's doubt deepens toward breaking point.

Beck refuses to cooperate with drone hack. Francis interrogates him and fails, then pauses in the corridor — a rare crack in his composure Helen witnesses. Victor reveals children will be at target, triggering his own suppressed trauma.

The altar is destroyed, Harrow and Doctor dissolve, Thomas escapes the collapsing manor through crumbling stairs and corridors while the between-state unravels, Violet says goodbye, Thomas walks toward freedom.

Thomas and Harrow descend to Black Altar. Three trials: Perception (false exit illusion), Sacrifice (emotional armor surrender), and Altar Temptation (false Sarah). Thomas resists all three, Harrow sacrifices himself, Thomas strikes the altar.