The episode begins with Tanda rushing back home with Balsa carried on his back. He is less than pleased that she’s managed to get herself so badly injured. (His primary complaint seems to be that she has gotten herself hurt before he’s even had a chance to talk to her again. It’s a funny, and strangely heartwarming comment. It’s clear that he cares for Balsa a great deal.)
The scene shifts to a pond deep in the mountains. A shamanic type is getting ready to have a chat with a water spirit. This is Torogai, the “magic weaver” the Second Empress consulted with. She makes contact with the water spirit, but the spirit is less than helpful. Torogai is not pleased and becomes even less pleased when she’s attacked by assassins (the same kind of operatives that had been sent after Balsa in the previous episodes).
Torogai is able to defeat the two assassins by using magic and subterfuge. She leaves them with a letter intended for the master star reader. Then the scene shifts to the Emperor, the master star reader, Shuga and one of the operatives from the previous episode. The Emperor accepts Shuga as one of his newest secret operatives and there is some discussion about how the “Hunters” failed in their mission to retrieve the prince. The Emperor does not apparently want to believe that Balsa is just that good at evading his operatives and decides that the water demon that may or may not be possessing the prince is responsible for their escape.
The master star-reader readily agrees to this theory. He also states that he believes that Balsa couldn’t have gotten very far, so it would be best to send the rest of the Hunters after her. The Emperor however, decides on a different tactic. He tells them that after Chagum’s funeral takes place (they had Chagum declared “dead” shorty after the fire) they should organize a manhunt using ordinary troops who’ve been told they’re searching for the arsonists who burned the palace of the Second Empress.
The scene shifts to Chagum’s older brother Sagum. Sagum is a thoughtful though sickly young man, and he is saddened by the death of his brother. He’s watching the preparations for the funeral, mentioning that Chagum’s body had not been found. He questions the reports of Chagum’s death. Sagum’s tutor states that even if the body has not been found, Chagum is still dead. This upsets Sagum for a variety of reasons, most of them centered around political maneuverings he doesn’t really like or want to have anything to do with.
After this scene, we return to the master star reader who has received Torogai’s letter. The contents of the letter basically states, “please do not do anything stupid, hasty or both. You do not have all of the information, which I am trying to find.” The master star reader does not have very much confidence in a system of magic he does not understand, but decides to more or less accept the advice he is offered. (He is still of course, going to go through with the emperor’s plan of arranging a manhunt.)
Shuga presents the very radical idea that the star readers should work with the magic weavers. The master star reader of course thinks this is a ridiculous idea. He does however tell Shuga he will be permitted to do some research in the archives.
Nest, we see Tanda, who is tending to Balsa’s injuries. He is still worried and extremely unhappy about whatever trouble Balsa has gotten herself into this time around. Balsa however is still unconscious and not able to explain what in the world is going on.
Instead, Tanda gets filled in by Toya and Saya after they turn up at his home.
When Balsa wakes up she’s disoriented and confused. Tanda fills her in on how long she’s been out, and some information is exchanged. Balsa is hoping that Tanda will be able to find a way to remove whatever spirit has possessed Chagum, Tanda isn’t certain, but decides to examine Chagum anyway. His examination of the second prince results in a bright light and Tanda is knocked back. Tanda states that whatever is inside the prince it’s from “Nayug” (which is the “spirit world.”) It’s decided that they should wait for Tanda’s teacher Torogai to show up and ask for her opinion.
Balsa doesn’t want to be burden, and wants to find a way to leave as quickly as possible. Tanda thinks she’s insane and is annoyed by her attempts to “protect” him. He states that he’s going to take care of her, and protect her from her enemies. (It is a very sweet scene.)
While Tanda is grinding up herbs into medicine, he reveals some of his back story. He’s known Balsa since they were both children, and because she was always getting into fights as child, ended up being the one who always patched her up. He does not approve of Balsa’s quest to save eight lives because as a warrior, in order save lives, she has to kill other people. (Balsa herself realizes this, which is why she tries very hard not to kill.) Toya reveals that he and Saya’s lives were saved by Balsa when she rescued Saya from slavers.
While they’re talking, Tanda changes Balsa’s bandages (taking note of every scar he’s ever patched up, much to Balsa’s exasperation) Chagum suddenly says that something’s wrong with his stomach. It turns out that the “something wrong” is that he’s hungry. This causes a great deal of exasperated amusement that turns to bemusement at the kid’s expense. (He has apparently never experienced being hungry, which is not surprising considering he’s a prince.)
They make dinner, and Chagum approves of the food, which he declares to be better than anything he had at the palace. As everyone eats, Torogai wanders into the house, muttering “egg, an egg, an egg,” with a dazed and perplexed sort of look on her face. Completely lost in thought she absentmindedly serves herself dinner and begins to eat, still muttering “an egg.” After eating a few bites, her gaze wanders into Chagum’s direction and she suddenly points her chopsticks at Chagum and shouts “the egg!”
Then we go to the ending credits