Waking up at dawn in Vencia, Aren reflects on the journey that brought him and Lara to the city. Although the trip carried immense risks, it forced Lara to see the truth about her father's oppressive rule over Maridrina, shattering the lies of her past and finally bridging the emotional gap between them. Sitting quietly in the tavern's common room, Aren contemplates his deep affinity for Maridrina and its vibrant people, wondering if the freedom of the city is why some Ithicanian advisors fear opening their borders. While observing the morning routine and his companions Jor and Gorrick, he enjoys a brief moment of peace before his solitude is abruptly shattered.
Serin, the master spy of Maridrina, approaches Aren's table and casually reveals his true identity, having recognized the king by a scar on his hand. As Gorrick subtly alerts the others to secure Lara and protect Marisol, Aren matches wits with the spy, trading sharp barbs about Lara and realizing his own tactical slip with a delayed steel shipment. Serin dismisses any notion that the king of Maridrina genuinely cares for his daughter's well-being, steering the conversation instead toward the lucrative alliance and the political tensions surrounding trade.
The meeting turns grim when Serin presents a silver cylinder bearing the royal seal, demanding that Ithicana cut off its lucrative trade with Valcotta. The request is a thinly veiled ultimatum masquerading as a plea for friendship, carrying a clear threat of retaliation if Aren refuses. After Serin departs, Aren quickly reads the enclosed message and catches Jor's eye, realizing the danger is immediate and that it is time for them to leave.