The Songbird and the Heart of Stone

Young Mische spends her days at the Citadel, where she is periodically visited by Atroxus. She dedicates herself to her studies and joins her sister and other acolytes on missions to convert souls to the light. While she finds joy in helping others, she dreads the possibility of being asked to hunt vampires.

Mische develops romantic feelings for her best friend, Eomin, but refrains from acting on them due to her vows to Atroxus. When Eomin leaves on a mission, Mische chooses not to say goodbye in person, fearing temptation. Instead, she watches him from afar, pressing her hands against the golden gates of the Citadel as he disappears from view.

As Asar, Mische, Luce, Elias, and Chandra travel for weeks toward the next Sanctum, Mische begins helping Asar repair the gates. She rationalizes her involvement by reasoning that if the Descent collapses, their mission would be impossible to complete.

One night, after fending off wraiths and securing another gate, Mische questions Asar about whether any wraiths specifically come for him. Asar avoids answering and instead shifts the focus to Eomin’s wraith, asking if Eomin was her lover. Mische evades the question but eventually reveals Eomin’s name to him.