Academy gossip shifts to focus on Aaron and Lissa, who have rekindled their romance after Aaron broke up with Mia. Rose is disturbed that Lissa seems to be doing this for revenge rather than any legitimate interest in Aaron. Rose seeks out Ms. Carmack, who teaches “elemental basics,” and asks about St. Vladimir’s magical specialization. When pressed, Ms. Carmack tells Rose that St. Vladimir’s healing was religious in origin, rather than elemental. Ms. Carmack surmises that Rose is worried about Lissa and urges her to be patient. However, when Rose asks about Ms. Karp, Ms. Carmack grows uncomfortable, citing the mysterious teacher as one of the rare cases in which someone never specialized in a particular type of magic.

Rose urges Lissa to stop “Project Brainwash,” claiming that Lissa will be happier if she stops using compulsion. When Lissa counters that she is happy, Rose reveals her theory about Ms. Karp and St. Vladimir having the same powers. She emphasizes that both adults showed signs of self-harm. Lissa fears that she shares Ms. Karp’s mental health condition even as she paradoxically takes comfort in the idea that she is not alone in experiencing such strange powers.

Rose encourages Lissa to give up her quest for popularity, saying she needn’t try to fill the shoes of her late brother, Andre.