Null sees her mum in the room and immediately locks herself away in a side chamber. Lotty follows and tells her to open the door, eventually convincing Null to let her inside.
Whilst they are both hiding, Silas and Cade work with old storage crates, shaping them into weapon boxes. They engrave each with the Aeonian symbols of hope and love.
Cade finds the work therapeutic, he find memories of his earlier time with the Ashen Company coming back to him and strengthening. Even further back he remembers working alongside other god-forged in the temple. The feeling is clear; a purpose to use what the world provides to help others.
Berrik takes time with his dried liver to seek divine guidance. He asks if he has the power needed to keep his friends safe in the coming battle. The answer is yes, the power is his, but a question returned to him is does he have the will?
Flynn asks Ezra if he knows who is in the tower. Ezra confirms that he and Berrik can both sense who is present at any time. Flynn presses, asking about Null’s family. Ezra keeps quiet until Flynn points to Evelyn and asks directly if she is Null’s mum. Flynn approaches her and introduces himself. Evelyn says he must know her daughter Ellie. Flynn asks if she has any other children and Evelyn explains that her other two have passed.
Hearing Flynn talk to Evelyn is enough to draw Null and Lotty out of their bickering. Nothing either of them can say will be worse than what Flynn might stumble into. Flynn pulls up chairs for them both then he and Lotty step back to leave mother and daughter to their reunion.
Evelyn cries when Null confirms she is her daughter. She weeps that she has not been able to keep her baby girl safe, that she feels like the worst mother in the world, two dead children and one who never knew safety. Null reassures her that it is not her fault. They hug, long and awkward at Evelyn’s request, and it becomes clear where Null’s trait for too-long hugs comes from.
Evelyn wants to know everything, wants to be part of her daughter’s life. Null gives her the short version, the torture-lite lore dump, and explains she is no longer Ellie but Null. Evelyn says she will love her in any shape, any name.
In the days that follow, Cade turns to Berrik for help. He falters before explaining, almost collapsing, and Berrik steadies him. Cade admits that his power source is failing and asks if Berrik can teach him to change shape permanently. Berrik has a scroll of true polymorph from Ezra's spell book and also a book on lichdom, though that path is far less palatable. In the end Berrik chooses learn the polymorph spell.