Elise regains consciousness, and finds that she is recuperating in a bed in Sanguine Hall. She has won the duel against Jiraud, and the Sword of the First Ones is hers, for the time being. She also has the service of a collie underclassman, Sabel, who tends to her. Elise learns that she has been unconscious for a while, a side effect of the ministrations of a Life Mage … but that she's had a few visitors, including a little white Khatta by the name of Duchess Eve Kurai, who left a curious Sifran crystal bauble for the poodle. Elise tries to ask Sabel about herself, but as she does so, the poodle is overtaken by fatigue, and drifts off to sleep before she can press for any answers.