The Vision of Battle limps its way toward Caroban, the sky island housing the College Esoterica. Elise visits the ambassador on board, and asks permission to investigate the matter of whether there may be mages in the College Esoterica conspiring with the Royal Mages of Babel to create the Dream Realm of the Seven Sisters. The ambassador is dubious about how Elise could – or should – handle such a matter, but nonetheless allows her to investigate to see if she can find these mages pointed out by their Korv prisoner.