Caspar reveals to Lina that he believes there is a treasure hidden in the city and that he has deduced where it is by analyzing different versions of ancient songs and stories. Neither Maddy nor Lina believe him. Lina feels a sense of dread about having to help Caspar, but she desperately wants to see the city. The next day, the group gets their first sight of the ruined city in the distance.

Doon is angry about the unfairness that he and the other Emberites are facing, but he is trying to maintain his composure. Doon is assigned to clean the fountain in the plaza, and when he sits down for a moment once he is done, his supervisor grabs him and calls him lazy. In resisting, Doon makes a mess and realizes that he looks like the violent, dirty outsider that the people of Sparks think he is. Later, Doon and Tick talk. Tick, this time with an itchy rash on his arm, tells Doon that they should take the food in the storehouse by force. Doon doesn’t fully agree, but he assents in the moment because Tick sounds so sure of himself.