Lochinvar "awakens" from his dream to find that Dalton is mutated and dead – apparently by his own hand, with a gruesome wound self-inflicted during the process of transformation. Ariecha has been transformed as well, and tells Lochinvar that the shadow-creature betrayed them, and asks him to avenge them, as she breathes her last. Lochinvar flies down and finds the shadow-creature leaving, with Elavars as a prisoner. It says that it will let Lochinvar leave with his life, but that it is going to exact vengeance upon his people. Lochinvar, however, refuses to leave it at that, and attacks the creature in order to free Elavars. As the creature is dying, it begs for help, but Lochinvar retorts, asking why he should, given that he has shown mercy already, and that in the creature's betrayal, his best friend and his first love have died. The creature never answers, dying there on the spot … and then, in the place of Elavars … is Rephath, Babelite Goddess of Vengeance. She praises Lochinvar for having passed this "test", then dismisses him from the realm of dreams.

As Lochinvar wakes, memories flood over him. This is not how things actually turned out at all. In reality, he had saved the shadow-creature, and, though the villagers were certainly not pleased with the situation, the creature still lived up to its word, and restored those who had been deformed. Lochinvar had been praised as a hero by his parents, but reviled by some of his fellows for saving the creature, and he remained behind to help rebuild the village, now safe to occupy once more. The creature had not betrayed them, and Dalton, Ariecha and Elavars were still alive.

Relieved beyond words at this sudden realization, Lochinvar is moved to tears.