The chapter opens with a flashback to the previous chapter, in which Dr. Bledsoe tells the audience that he and the others are in the middle of a duel with two of the city's most powerful wizards. He tells them that he is a blacksmith and that he does not know how to use magic, but he does know that he can protect himself if he is in a fight with one of the other wizards. The chapter ends with Dr. Norton's description of the duel as a "miracle" . He says that Norton is stronger than the other two men, and that they should be able to protect themselves from getting hurt. Norton says that he has no idea how strong the other men are, but that they are so impulsive that they do not know what they are doing. He also says that the two men are impulsive because they have no experience with magic. Norton is moved to tears by the thought that Norton could have survived the duel if he had not been so impulsive. He adds that he thinks it is important to gain as much as possible from the duel. He asks Norton if they are following them, but Norton says they are going to "do something important" and that it would be dangerous for them to follow them. Norton replies that they can follow them and take whatever they want, but they will not protect him when there is an attack. He then says that his guild is his home now, and he has more important companions. He is worried about the sound of the water flow in the forest. He has been inoculating himself with Medusa's magical serum, but it has failed on him. He explains that the organization he works for is trying to