A Shadow in the Ember

Cressa taunts Sera, Aios, and Bele before attacking. Her eather strikes Aios, who is knocked unconscious. Bele orders Sera to stay with Aios. Cressa and Bele exchange blows, only for Bele to be stabbed in the chest with a shadowstone dagger. Sera searches the room for whoever threw it. When she tries to help Bele, Bele tells her to escape, and Cressa snaps the injured goddess’s neck. With both of her allies downed, Sera is surrounded by Cressa and Madis, who appeared from the landing above, and knocked unconscious as well.

When Sera comes to, Madis and Cressa discuss waiting for a third god, Taric, who finally arrives. He tries to use mind control on Sera, but she resists. Cressa wants to take her and leave, but Taric wants to confirm she’s the one they were sent to capture—and wants to know what the “viktors” were hiding. He bites Sera and attempts to invade her thoughts. Suddenly, the room shakes. Ash enters, appearing in his true, winged form. He commands everyone in the room to kneel.

Confronted by Ash, Cressa claims they had no choice. He lifts her into the air and shatters her into dust. Madis is engulfed in silver fire by Nektas and reduced to nothing. Taric tries to attack Ash with an eather sword, but is easily disarmed. However, he taunts Ash, claiming he cannot stop Kolis from claiming Sera. Ash tortures Taric by causing his eyes to melt and tearing his hand through his chest.

Ash goes to a terrified Sera and reassures her that he won’t hurt her. He then hands her a shadowstone dagger as a gesture of support. Bele is revealed to have died from her injuries, and Ash refuses Sera’s offer to help, stating an ember of life is insufficient to resurrect a god. However, Aios pleads for Sera to try. Ash relents, and Sera makes her attempt. Lightning flashes across the sky, and Bele is revived. While most of the residents are relieved, Ector is afraid. Ash explains Sera Ascended (immortalized) Bele rather than merely reviving her.

In Ash’s office, the characters discuss recent events, particularly Sera’s Ascension of Bele. They don’t know what she is, as she is neither Primal nor a normal god. Ector confirms her act was like a Primal Ascending. The characters discuss potential consequences, including the unintentional challenge to the Primal Hanan’s authority. Ash sends Ector out to get a towel and water for Sera. Once the god leaves, Ash tells Sera that he heard what she said about the Fates, and decided to request their presence. He also says Kolis will know the gods he sent are dead, and the Primals will be shaken by Bele’s Ascension, which means the Shadowlands might be sieged again. When Sera asks about the “viktors” whom Taric mentioned, she’s told they are mortals born to guard an individual with a purpose. The victims of Cress and Madis might have been viktors. Sera wonders if Sir Holland is one as well.

Later, Sera and Ash’s sleep is interrupted by the draken Reaver, in god form. He was sent by Nektas with the Fates’ summons. Before leaving for the throne room, Ash and Sera share a passionate kiss, but he says it changes nothing about their relationship. On the way to the throne room, they encounter a goddess named Penellaphe (later revealed to be an Arae), who informs them that one of the Fates is waiting Inside. As they enter, Sera is in disbelief at the sight of Sir Holland.

Sir Holland reveals he isn’t a viktor, but one of the Fates. Sera is shocked but relieved that Tavius hadn’t done anything to her mentor. Ash, however, is angry and suspicious because Sir Holland, a Fate, deliberately trained Sera to kill him. Sir Holland counters that he technically never intervened, but giving her tea came close. He became involved because he considered Eythos a friend. Thus, he explains Eythos’s plan: An ember of life passed on to Ash, but his father took it back to keep him safe. He then placed the ember in the Mierel bloodline. This shared power is the reason for the connection between the families. Eythos also may have made the ancient deal because of the Arae Penellaphe’s vision of the future; however, its meaning is unclear and may change. Sir Holland also warns that Sera’s many paths all end in early death. Her current path, which began with her Culling after accidentally tasting Ash’s blood, requires the blood of a god who loves her to save her. However, this is framed as impossible since Ash is incapable of love.

Sir Holland’s final revelation is that Sera is the latest reincarnation of Sotoria, the only person who could weaken Kolis. However, her ember of life is essential for maintaining life in both the mortal and divine realms. If she dies, so will everyone and everything else. Ash reveals Sera is the true Primal of Life.