Chapter 87: Vincent's Confession and the Blood of Alarus
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In a dark, misty room, Oraya encounters what appears to be a vision of her father Vincent. She initially insists he is not real, but the version of him speaks with painful familiarity, claiming the magic in this place holds pieces of his true self. Oraya unleashes her years of anger, accusing Vincent of lying to her, kidnapping her, and killing her mother. Vincent vigorously denies murdering her mother and, after a tense exchange, offers to show her the memories he sacrificed to the magic. Hesitant yet driven by a need for truth, Oraya places her hand on the obelisk and is pulled into Vincent’s memory of the night he attacked Salinae.
Inside the memory, Oraya experiences Vincent’s cold satisfaction as he burns the city. He admits he came to kill the child his mother had with a human—the child he believed was his greatest weakness. Yet when he finds her—a small, defiant girl with silver eyes like his—he is overcome with a love so sudden and devastating that he cannot kill her. He recalls his own father’s brutality and resolves to raise her instead, vowing to protect her from a world that would turn her against him.
The memory fades, and Oraya finds herself kneeling, tears streaming down her face. Vincent’s apparition admits, “I tried, Oraya. I tried.” She spits back that his efforts were not enough, yet she acknowledges the truth of his love and his failure. The obelisk then opens to reveal a cavity holding a floating vial of Alarus’s blood—a shimmering, multi-colored liquid. Vincent tells her she can drink it or apply it to her blades; her blood will serve as the catalyst. Oraya takes the vial, feeling a searing pain as she pulls it free. Vincent’s form begins to dissolve, and despite everything, she tells him she loves him. She does not wait for a reply; she turns and leaves without looking back.
Key Events
- Oraya encounters a realistic vision of Vincent in the mist-filled room.
- She confronts him about his lies, especially her mother’s death and his manipulation.
- Vincent offers to show her the memories he sacrificed to the magic.
- Oraya experiences Vincent’s memory of the Salinae fire: he intended to kill the child but instead felt overwhelming love.
- Vincent’s memory reveals his internal conflict, his fear of becoming like his own father, and his decision to raise Oraya.
- Back in the present, Oraya and Vincent share a raw moment where he admits his failure.
- The obelisk opens, revealing the vial of Alarus’s blood.
- Vincent explains how to use the blood and warns of its power.
- Oraya retrieves the vial, enduring a painful shock.
- She tells Vincent she loves him and leaves as his image fades.
Character Development
- Oraya: This chapter forces her to hold two conflicting truths—Vincent’s love and his betrayal—without resolution. Her decision to say “I love you” despite her fury shows her growth toward accepting complexity rather than clinging to simple hatred or blind devotion.
- Vincent: The vision reveals a side of Vincent he never showed in life: vulnerability, self-doubt, and a genuine attempt to break the cycle of Nightborn kings who destroy their heirs. His admission “I tried” acknowledges the weight of his failures.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Parental love and betrayal: Vincent’s love for Oraya is presented as both his salvation and his greatest weakness. He wanted to protect her from the world but did so by imprisoning her in lies.
- Memory and truth: The magic that stores Vincent’s memories becomes the vehicle for the truth Oraya has been seeking. The memory is not an objective fact but a subjective, emotional account.
- The blood of Alarus: The vial represents ultimate power, but also the cost of obtaining it—both the sacrifice Vincent and Oraya’s mother made to distill it, and the pain Oraya feels when claiming it.
- Fire and destruction: The burning of Salinae links Vincent’s past sins to the origin of Oraya’s life, framing her very existence as born from violence.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter is the emotional climax of Oraya’s relationship with her father. It finally provides the backstory of how Vincent found her—a moment he saw as both a threat and a miracle. More importantly, it gives Oraya the means to access divine power: the blood of Alarus. The chapter cements the idea that Oraya must carry both her father’s legacy and his failures into the final confrontation. It also clarifies that Vincent’s love was real, however twisted, which deepens Oraya’s motivation to honor or reject that love in her own choices.
Study Questions and Answers
1. What memory does Vincent show Oraya?
Vincent shows her his memory of the night he attacked Salinae. He flew over the burning city, intending to kill the child he believed was his weakness, but when he found young Oraya defiantly biting his finger, he felt an overwhelming love and decided to raise her instead.
2. How does Oraya obtain the blood of Alarus?
After the memory fades, the obelisk opens to reveal a small vial floating in a cavity filled with shifting crimson light. Vincent instructs her to take it; she reaches in, endures a painful shock, and pulls the vial free.
3. What does Oraya say to Vincent before leaving, and why is it significant?
She says, “Te amo” (I love you). The statement is significant because it comes after she has laid out all her grievances against him. It shows that she can recognize her love for him even while acknowledging his faults, marking her emotional maturity and the lasting bond between them despite everything.