Immortal Consequences

Masika investigates Louise without Irene. She rides wind magic over the barriers of Litterman House and lands on a balcony outside Louise’s room. She spots Emilio spying on a sleeping Louise below. Emilio shares notes on Louise’s odd behavior and a plan to break into the restricted Housemasters’ Library for a book on shadow magic with an iron key he stole from Housemaster Wesley. They agree he will retrieve the book before the Ball.

Before she leaves, Masika urges Emilio to confess his feelings for Olivier. They part with a plan for Emilio to get the book so they can compare what they learn.

An hour before the Ball, Emilio decides to ask Olivier to be his date and picks a violet for him. He collides with Olivier, who says he plans to attend with Scarlett Byrne. Disappointed, Emilio crushes the flower, but Olivier clarifies the date is for appearances only and agrees to help with Emilio’s library mission. They slip into the Housemasters’ section using the stolen key.

Emilio uses a Seeing Orb to summon the book on shadow magic. When Housemasters Russo and Birdie arrive, Emilio and Olivier hide and overhear them discuss someone’s secret connection. They wait for the housemasters to leave and escape with the forbidden book.

Back at Litterman House, anxiety from the close call lingers. Emilio heads to his room to read, and Olivier goes to his own for a jacket, where August is waiting. August demands Olivier promise not to tell Wren he placed a piece of his soul inside her. Olivier argues that keeping this secret is wrong, but August points to Olivier’s own secret—his memory loss. The reminder rattles Olivier and he agrees to stay silent. August leaves, and Olivier is left with the weight of both secrets as the Ball begins.

Restless, Wren detours to Asphodel Hall to check on the eliminated nominees. She disables a ward and conjures an illusion to distract the Ascended guards. Inside the infirmary, she finds injured students but not the nominees. She meets Maya visiting her unconscious friend, Keira.

When Wren asks Maya about the eliminated students, Maya shows no memory of them, and a fog briefly clouds her eyes. Wren realizes someone has altered Maya’s memory. When pressed, Maya panics and runs away. Wren leaves, concluding that the nominees and the school’s memory of them have been removed.

August enters the Decennial Ball. After a tense exchange with Irene, he speaks with Masika, who worries Irene might join the Demien Order. When Wren arrives, August hears her in his mind and realizes his soul-spell has created a telepathic link. They dance, and August is excited by their physical closeness.

They talk telepathically. Wren tells him the eliminated nominees are missing and that someone erased students’ memories of them. Understanding him better now that she has a telepathic link, she pushes him to drop his emotional barriers with others. Defensive, he ends the dance and warns her to trust no one before leaving the ballroom.

Emilio stays on the edges of the Ball while Olivier drinks too much and snaps at his date, Scarlett. When Josie and Carter reminisce about their eliminated friends, Olivier lashes out at them too. Masika pulls Emilio and Olivier aside to discuss the shadow magic book, but Olivier leaves to refill his glass. When Emilio suggest he should slow his drinking, Olivier snaps and then looks regretful and apologizes.

Olivier walks away and Masika stays with Emilio, reassuring him that Olivier “adores” him and Olivier’s behavior is about something other than Emilio. They agree to regroup with the others to share what the book reveals.

Shaken by the telepathic link and August’s exit, Wren feels the crowd press in. Masika finds her and leads her to a quiet corridor. Wren explains that the eliminated nominees are gone and others’ memories of them have been wiped. Masika suggests they gather the other nominees in the campus garden to share information. She heads off to retrieve them. Wren follows an instinct toward the Memorium, believing she will find August there. She hears his voice in her mind as she steps inside.

Guilt drives Olivier back to Emilio, who confronts him and demands the truth. Olivier admits he is losing his memories and that failing the Decennial means his soul will be sent to the Ether. Emilio is shaken by the secret but reaches out to him and tells him he matters. Olivier leans in to kiss him.

Masika arrives with Irene, Josie, and Carter, and calls them urgently into the garden. Olivier and Emilio follow.

Wren August in the Memorium. He is looking at letters and says he is grieving for someone he once lost to the Demien Order. When Wren offers to listen to him about his pain, he pushes her away. Headmaster Silas appears and reveals the Decennial is a ritual sacrifice. Every cycle, he uses psyche magic to erase the 11 eliminated nominees from memory, then sacrifices their souls to the Ether to maintain its balance.

Silas turns on Wren, taunting her with knowledge of her past and her role in her sister Maeve’s death. August moves to defend her, but Silas teleports them to the garden, where the other nominees wait. Silas announces he will now reveal the truth to them all.