An urgent report tells the Great Elder that nonstop rain threatens provinces, and courtiers ask if Noxen is safe. A nine-tailed divinity says she sacrificed eight tails in 500 years to stabilize Noxen and now must give the last to gather her tails and ascend, leaving leaders anxious about disasters to come. At court, a noblewoman readies a blood-dyed golden robe and philter to win His Majesty, but the emperor will greet another woman and cancels her party. Enraged, she vows to seize the rival's head. The episode ends with the divinity's final prayer beginning and the noble's threat unresolved.
Great Elder prepares to sever her tail at the High Altar, warning that losing her power will bind her body and soul to the country and that any injury could trigger disaster. She vows to go in plain robes and orders the streets cleared for her prayer procession. The next morning the main avenue is sealed by royal decree, and commoners accuse Consort Jynna of using the king to claim the route. When a guard blocks her, Consort Jynna slaps him. Anger erupts and bystanders shout to seize the vixen, leaving the sacred procession’s safety suddenly at stake.
At a palace ceremony a woman who owes the Great Elder for saving her life begs him to bless Noxen—saying the prayer will end a 500-year vow. Her request triggers chaos: attendants move to seize her and a rival accuses her of overstepping, claiming she persuaded His Majesty to cancel a noble's birthday. Threats escalate and the rival strikes; the Great Elder tries to continue but visibly falters—his last blessing has nearly drained his power. The ceremony collapses as guards close in and the crucial blessing remains unfinished, leaving Noxen's fate uncertain.
Midday blessing ceremony turns chaotic when sudden thunder breaks out just as the Great Elder insists Noxen’s fate depends on her reaching the High Altar. Townspeople brand her a vixen, ruin her robe and incite guards to beat her—some cry “kill her,” and violence escalates. Officials warn of Year 450, when offending the Elder brought deadly floods, so they scramble to prevent any mishap. Now the Elder is late. Lucia is ordered to find her and silence insults as the ritual hour nears, leaving Noxen’s safety hanging on the Elder’s arrival.
Sudden storm and crackling lightning threaten Noxen, and a figure claims only by reaching the High Altar and shedding blood can the crisis be stopped. The supposed Great Elder insists he’s the city's savior, but guards notice fox ears on the claimant. The woman—her powers weakened—uses her essence to show a true form and pleads to be released. Accused of impersonating the immortal Elder, officials condemn her as a vixen and order a branding in the Emperor’s name. As the guards move forward, someone shouts "Stop!" and calls "Lucia?" —her fate hangs unresolved.
Guards drag an injured Great Elder from a royal chamber while Consort Jynna torments her and threatens to scorch her with a hot iron. Lucia, Jynna’s sister, arrives and tries to stop the beating, prompting court members to accuse Jynna of bullying the innocent and endangering their family. A court emissary reveals he has come under the Empress Dowager’s order to fetch the Great Elder, validating her identity. Jynna answers by boasting of her chancellor father and favored status and vows she could kill the woman with impunity. Lucia is singled out as the episode ends, facing immediate consequence.
In the royal court, witnesses insist a woman is the Great Elder and an omen—'the sky is splitting'—begins to manifest. Jynna is pressed to act: ministers warn the capital and people outside may already be suffering and demand the woman be taken to the High Altar for prayer. A speaker offers one last chance of mercy if she is escorted to the ritual. Opponents call her a bewitched vixen and point to her ears as proof, and one man declares, "Today, I will kill her on behalf of Their Majesties," leaving her fate unresolved.
Lucia confronts Jynna, accusing her of blinding herself, using sorcery, and trying to win His Majesty's favor. The argument escalates into physical threats—Lucia warns she will burn Jynna with a hot iron—until shouts and attempts to stop the violence. An earthquake suddenly shakes the compound, halting the assault. Those present fear the long-dormant tremor signals danger to the Great Elder. The fight is left unresolved as Mother orders Liam to take the guards to check on the Great Elder. Liam rushes out, leaving both Jynna's fate and the Great Elder's condition uncertain.
An earthquake interrupts a palace confrontation after the Astral Office reports tremors. Jynna is dragged by guards and accused of stealing the Emperor’s affection; her sister Lucia pleads as nobles insult and strip her, threatening public humiliation and death. The sky splits, shifting focus to a sacred blessing token that His Majesty supposedly gifted. A Great Elder warns that any damage will plunge Noxen into ruin, but a faction dares to touch and mock the warning: "shall we see if this ruin... will happen?" The episode ends with the token at risk and voices shouting, "No! Don't!"
At the palace, courtiers report the founding emperor's royal seal has cracked and the Gods' tablet is smoking—signs the Great Elder is in danger. The ruling family panics as thunder gathers ominously over the court. Neil and Mother learn the storm won't stop; Mother demands Jynna, who is still en route, be brought immediately. Officials accuse the 'unruly' Jynna of offending the Great Elder and order her arrest, investigation, and execution. Guards mobilize to seize her just as lightning readies to strike, leaving Jynna's fate and the palace's survival unresolved.