Alptraum has a disturbing dream, in which he receives a message from Sunala about a girl being held by the College Esoterica mages in Rephidim – a girl named Srinala, who appears to be the same one Alptraum saw earlier in his visions, who intervened on his behalf in Sylvania. When Alptraum awakens, he rushes to Nekara, who also had this dream. Alptraum indicates that he is determined to go to Rephidim to rescue this girl, and Nekara, divided over her obligations – to protect Alptraum and deliver him to Babel, but also obliged to obey Sunala's directive – agrees. Nekara expresses doubts that they will get an airship to get to Rephidim, but one does indeed appear in port: the Happy Maid, a sorry excuse for an airship, whose Jupani captain agrees to ferry them to Rephidim.