A Shadow in the Ember

Sera has a somber morning in her room. She reflects on past mistakes, but is interrupted by Aios. She says Gemma is awake, and that she originally ran away because she saw a god from Kolis’s Court and feared she would be recognized. Despite Ash’s order for Sera to stay in her room, Aios insists she speak with Gemma. The Chosen says she has no memory of Sera saving her life, but Aios thinks she’s lying. She wants Sera to reveal the truth to see if it will coax Gemma into revealing what she knows.

Sera goes with Aios and Bele to Gemma’s room. Gemma reveals she does remember what happened. She also reveals Kolis once spoke of a mysterious power he was searching for, his “graeca” (567)—which means “life.” She thinks Sera is the source of this power. Gemma also reveals Kolis experimented on the Chosen who disappeared and changed them into creatures called Revenants, but he needs “graeca” to finish the project. Sera apologizes for reviving Gemma, but she insists she didn’t want to die.

Sera, Aios, and Bele discuss the news. None of them have heard of Revenants and have no way of knowing why Sera possesses