Sophie and Fitz return to Everglen, where Della and Alden await. Della gives Sophie a big hug. Alden says the Council insists that she live with another family, but he has chosen them carefully. He and Della leave to monitor Sophie’s family’s relocation—it’s a secret, so Sophie won’t be tempted to try and visit them—and see to their financial security.

Fitz takes Sophie indoors, where she has an appointment with a physician. Sophie hates doctors and their needles; she must be dragged to the conservatory. The doctor, Elwin, wears weird spectacles; he examines her, snapping his fingers to create glowing orbs of light of different colors. He’s a Flasher, a controller of light, and the orbs and glasses help him study her at the cellular level.

Elwin decides that her body needs a “major detox” from years of absorbing the toxins of human life. He gives her several vials of sweet-tasting medicines, then prescribes two bottles per day, twice the usual dose, of an elixir that keeps elves young and healthy.

Fitz shows her to a luxurious bedroom. He apologizes for not realizing how hard it would be for Sophie to move from her human family to the elf world.