One of the central themes in the novel is that healing is not just physical but also emotional and psychological. The narrative first depicts Chaol’s healing journey in the Torre Cesme as a purely physical quest. However, Chaol’s wounds go much deeper than he’d like to admit. The echo of dark magic in Chaol’s body feeds on his inner wounds, worsening his physical wounds. These inner wounds are rooted in the guilt, shame, and trauma he has carried throughout the series. As a healer, Yrene knows better than most that Chaol’s manner of injury is a long and complex process: “Spines were nearly as difficult as brains. Connected to them quite closely. With that sort of healing, it wasn’t a matter of letting her magic wash over them—that wasn’t how it worked” (46). Yrene helps Chaol understand that true healing requires confronting emotional scars as much as physical ones. What she doesn’t originally anticipate, however, is that their sessions will force her to confront her internal scars too.

Vulnerability is also an important part of the healing process. Chaol has always been a proud, strong, and independent character. Thus, he struggles with feelings of inadequacy and shame over his injury.