Before the students arrive, Professor Onyx surprises a masked intruder stealing books from the Biblioplex. The attack confirms that rumors of the Oriq are more than campus gossip, yet the deans treat the danger as a distraction beside ordinary university business. Liliana keeps her identity hidden and begins watching for people capable of helping when the threat returns.
On Kylem, Rowan grows impatient while Will tries to pack an impossible library. Their shared planeswalking bond pulls both through the Blind Eternities when Rowan leaves first. Kasmina meets them on Arcavios, leads them past the great torches and reveals a university larger than the kingdoms they know. At the gates, she hands responsibility back to them.
A student duel immediately gives each twin what they expect to find. Rowan sees exhilarating freedom; Will sees reckless disorder until an ink spell ruins one of his books. They answer together with lightning and ice, but the two spells shear apart instead of interlocking. Rowan celebrates the victory while Will notices the warning: their connection is changing.