Qifrey tells Coco and Tetia about the Romonon, an elitist people who created the Serpentback path so only the worthy could reach their city. In the end, their arrogance turned them against each other. Inside the cave, Richeh tries to cross the path by flying, thinking it’ll be easy, but gravity throws her off and she loses control.
Euini already understands how the Serpentback Cave works, so he’s ready to step in and rescue her. After bringing her back to safety, the group learns that each stone on the path is actually a casting seal. Agott uses water magic to check which ones are still active.
At the same time, Richeh reflects on her past. She remembers her old teacher constantly criticizing her spells and calling them worthless. Thinking about only using the “right” kind of magic frustrates her, so she decides to act. She uses her crystal ribbon magic to attract her myrphon and guide it, proving she can move forward by trusting her own style.
Crossing the gap
With that, the group continues forward without much trouble until they reach a gap in the path that they can’t cross the usual way. Richeh takes the lead again, suggesting they copy the casting seals and combine them with their own magic. She creates a flexible stone ribbon that wraps around her and her myrphon, carrying them safely across.
Agott follows by creating a path with multiple stones in sequence. She nearly falls just before reaching the other side, but manages to catch herself before gravity pulls her back to the start.
With that, the only one left is Euini. He doesn’t believe in himself enough to act and starts saying he’ll never pass the test. He had already prepared the spells he needed, but he didn’t expect a gap in the path. Now that he has to draw a new casting seal, he can’t bring himself to do it.
The Brimmed Cap attack
Euini explains that he gets nervous whenever people watch him draw, making it impossible for him to create proper casting seals. Just as he’s about to give up, Agott shouts at him and offers some advice. She tells him that if he can only draw when he’s alone, then he should use magic to make himself alone. Euini doesn’t understand at first and hides under his clothes, convinced everyone is laughing at him. But when he looks again, they’re all just watching, waiting to see what he’ll do.
He finally realizes that the only thing holding him back is himself. Determined to act, Euini studies the seals on his cloak and comes up with an idea. If he modifies them, he can hide in the dark while wearing it, giving him the space he needs to draw. The myrphon can’t see him now, and since it doesn’t recognize him as human, he can lure it in with a mimicking spell.
After that, Euini and the myrphon cross the gap without any trouble, and everything seems fine. But then things take a turn. The Brimmed Cap suddenly appears and kidnaps Alaira. Before disappearing, she warns the others not to believe anything they’re told.
