Elise looks into the history of the Sword of the First Ones, and, surprisingly, finds a novel of the same name, with a story eerily paralleling – but not quite – the recent events dealing with this odd artifact and the duels between the upperclassmen in an elite group. As she pries further, she uncovers several other unsettling facts that lead her to question Sabel's identity, and the roles of Seline von Shanar and Jiraud do Nell in this whole affair. At last, she sends some invitations – privately, secretly and separately – to Seline and Jiraud to meet her at Sanguine Hall – alone.