Elise, Envoy and Lochinvar explore a carnival in a magical, shared dream. They visit a freak show, where they see a tortured creature, having the lower coils of a Naga, and an upper body split into torsos – one that of a male Naga with one arm, and the other that of a female Eeee. They wish to help the "freak", but can't come up with a plan before they are ushered back out of the tent.

Next, they ponder their mission in this strange carnival, and at last Envoy opts to take up the "Challenge of the Mystic", a test of wits, to see if she can win a pass to "paradise", and continue further up the mountain of Inala.

Envoy takes part in a game with the mystic, with several tense exchanges, as each names a "form", then tries to come up with a new one to best the other's choice. At last, Envoy prevails, and is awarded a pass that will let her go to "Paradise".