Beenay regretfully presents his findings to Athor. Athor says he wishes Beenay had come to him earlier, reassuring him that his findings do not actually refute the Theory of Universal Gravitation. Instead, he proposes searching for an unknown factor that is influencing the results Beenay has found. Beenay laughs upon realizing Athor and Theremon have arrived at the same hypothesis.

Athor reminds him of Thargola’s Sword, a principle of medieval philosophy (analogous to the real-life principle known as Occam’s Razor) that suggests eliminating needlessly complex hypotheses, and the simplest explanation is often the best. To suggest that Universal Gravitation is wrong is the more complex theory, and so by Thargola’s Sword, they are left with the hypothesis of the unknown factor.

Theremon goes to the Apostles of Flame headquarters, a golden tower in the city’s affluent quarter, to meet with Mondior 71. Theremon is led by a black-robed monk into a secret chamber, where he meets the group’s public relations officer, Folimun 66. Theremon insists on meeting Mondior in person, but Folimun assures him that Mondior is busy preparing for the imminent apocalypse.

Theremon decides to ask Folimun some questions about the nature of the apocalypse.