Ruin and Rising

The group splits into two again, with Alina and most of her original companions crossing the Fold in the airship to set up a camp in West Ravka, to which Alina will then lead her soldiers using her light. They will meet the Darkling in the middle of the Fold on the day he traverses it. The rest of the group rides on horseback to meet them on the near side of the Fold when they return. After she and her companions make the trip and then return to wait for the others, Alina sees Nikolai, still trapped in his shadow monster form. His gestures and mannerisms reassure her that there is still some humanity in him, despite his transformation, and that he recognizes her. She offers him his ring back, but he puts it onto her finger instead. He gestures for her to try and use her summoned light to drive away the shadows inside him that the Darkling used to transform him. At first, it seems to be working, but then the darkness returns. Alina promises to keep trying to heal him. They embrace, but Nikolai’s new instincts lead him to try and attack Alina.