The school physician, Ulnius, welcomes Vis to the Academy. Ulnius feels he owes Vis a debt because his sister survived the naumachia. Veridius arrives to walk Vis to his dorm. Veridius knows that Ulciscor has sent him there with a plan but insists that Ulciscor is wrong and he himself is innocent. He says he is sympathetic to Vis’s loyalties. At the Class Seven dorm, the lowest-level class, Veridius introduces Vis to Callidus, a boy hiding in the dorms studying while everyone else is at dinner. Veridius orders Callidus to go eat and take Vis with him. Callidus reluctantly does so.

In the dining hall, a student named Eidhin threatens Callidus and Vis intervenes, punching Eidhin. Students approach, including Emissa and Indol. They explain that Vis has just punched a Sixth student, which could mean his expulsion. Emissa and Indol, who are in Class Three, try to defend Vis to Praeceptor (teacher) Nequias, explaining that Eidhin started the conflict. Nequias takes Vis away.

While other teachers confer, Fifth Praeceptor Taedia warns that Eidhin could insist on Vis’s expulsion. Vis needs to swallow his pride to avoid this. Nequias, Veridius, and Eidhin arrive. Vis apologizes, using a Catenan form called the Three-Fold Apology.