The Songbird and the Heart of Stone

Mische wakes up on a familiar white beach and sees the Citadel in the distance—home. Confused and disoriented from her journey through the Descent, she notices a figure resembling Eomin standing on a path leading into the forest. The figure of Eomin approaches and grabs her, but Mische soon discovers that it’s not truly Eomin, but a creature mimicking his form. She manages to break free, running toward Asar, who is still unconscious further up the beach. She takes his sword and kills the creature. Afterward, Mische, Asar, and Luce regroup and continue their journey toward the distant Citadel.

Mische and Asar grow increasingly exhausted as they continue their journey toward the Citadel. After reaching a gateway, Asar leads them into Morthryn; this deep in the Descent, it’s a shell of what it is near the surface, all crumbling walls and deteriorating furniture. When Mische can barely hold onto consciousness, Asar insists she needs to drink and offers her blood from his vein. Initially, Mische refuses: Though she needs blood to survive, she never consumes blood from a live source, whether human or vampire, as it would sever her last connection to her humanity. However, Asar insists that she will die without it.