Gideon wakes up and finds both her keyring and Harrow missing. With no directions or idea of what to do, Gideon wanders around Canaan House. In the dining room, Gideon meets the Fourth House’s team, Isaac Tettares and Jeannemary Chatur, and the Fifth’s cavalier, Magnus Quinn. Magnus and his wife Abigail, the Fifth’s necromancer, are the oldest of the eight teams present. The Fourth House are teenagers that the Fifth watches over like family. Magnus tries to befriend Gideon, despite the Ninth’s dodgy reputation, menacing all-black attire, and skull face paint.

Gideon continues exploring and finds the pool room and the attached training room. Currently, the pool is filthy and long abandoned, and the training room is full of disused swords. In the hallway leading to the two rooms, Gideon finds a strange door hidden behind a tapestry. This is the first Lyctor door that Gideon and Harrow will open in Chapter 19.

Gideon hides as the Third House comes down the stairs. She listens to their conversation, learning about the dynamic between the trio. Coronabeth Tridentarius is beautiful and charismatic, naturally drawing attention to herself. Ianthe Tridentarius is a pale shadow of her sister and easily overlooked. Their cavalier, Naberius Tern, tries to interrupt their sibling squabbles to take Corona’s side, but both sisters become agitated when he supports Corona in their arguments.