Content Warning: This section contains descriptions of domestic abuse and child abuse.

The narrative shifts back in time, detailing Misaki’s school days at Daybreak Academy. During the day, the young Misaki takes courses in theonite abilities and fighting techniques. At night, she is a member of a teenage vigilante group with her friends, Elleen Elden and Robin Thundyil. Elleen is Hadean (white and blonde) and a littigi, a sub-theonite with the ability to control light and illusions. Elleen builds an illusion to conceal Misaki, who uses her skills with stealth and knives to ambush their enemies.

They fight members of a gang called Pantera, who have taken over the North End slums of Livingston. Robin, a Carythian tajakulu, fights their real target, a group of murderers and human traffickers. Misaki and Elleen move to help Robin, who is losing. They capture one target, but the other two escape. Misaki tries to shoot one in the back with an ice spear, but Robin stops her, reminding her of their promise not to kill. The murderer gets away.

Robin and Misaki argue. Robin is an idealist. As a refugee and orphan with only his younger brother for family, he has survived a brutal upbringing with a deep core of compassion and pacifism intact.