Barnaby and Celia, apprentices at the Dye Works, discover that the steam vat is not heating the ceremonial ribbons due to an active siphon pulling warmth away from their level. The cold is extremely localized, contrasting sharply with the intense heat sources rumored to exist in the lower tunnels near the molasses lines. Using a specialized optical scope, they confirm that focused, organized shadows are actively drawing heat from the infrastructure pipes. Recognizing the urgency to save the colors for the Spruce, they decide to bypass standard reporting. Barnaby suggests using highly temperature-resistant material, recalling the resilience of the weather vane brass, to attempt to disrupt the focused thermal siphon below, leading them toward the dangerous lower infrastructure access points.