Shinobu overexerts himself healing a little girl, and collapses near death. While he recuperates, Hikaru witnesses Quaestor Rootham from the Sawyer Empire arrive in Saans. He wonders why the empire came, and why the locals decorated the streets with images of the dead. After arriving back at their cottage, Curate Abbot visit and questions Hikaru. He asks him to wake up Shinobu. The curate says a death breach is coming, and he hopes the thornkin might know something about it.