PHAESTUS is in turmoil in the aftermath of a bloody symposium. KYROS AND TALUS flee for their lives, pursued by the soldiers of the ruthless King Erythrus.
Meanwhile, MEROPE and her siblings must navigate a dangerous world to protect Talus, who has developed scaly blue enamel on his arm after being poisoned by spoiled wine. The siblings devise a plan to keep Talus safe from the king, but they need help to fully understand and control his new abilities.
Iapetus, one of the titans, banishes GODDESS IRIS to live among mortals after a heated argument about her interference in saving a human. However, she soon meets Talus and offers to help him control his drakon powers.
PYLYP, a shepherd, struggles with anxiety but manages to tend to his duties. He meets MATARCHIOS, who tells him about the wealthy merchant, COROBIOS. Later, Pylyp himself encounters Corobios, who offers him food, military attire, and even an ox to help with his journey. Pylyp and Praxilaus travel to Phaestus to work on repairs to the palace.
THERESA, a young woman struggling to navigate her family''s expectations and societal pressures, seeks solace and guidance from Andromache, who advises her to seek out a priest who visits the Temple of Rhea on the first day of each moon. When her brother, Apollodorus, threatens to harm her beloved CHIORE if she doesn''t comply with societal expectations, Theresa becomes angry and storms off. Later, when she finds Apollodorus cursed, Theresa prays to APOLLO for help, but the god warns her that the curse is not easily broken.
As tensions rise in the kingdom of Phaestus, ERYTHRUS and his advisers discuss their next move. They are interrupted by TITAN MENOETIUS, who accuses Erythrus of ordering the slaughter of innocents in his honour. After sealing an agreement, Menoetius leaves, and a devastating fire destroys the palace. Erythrus vows to rebuild quickly, but tensions escalate when the wealthy merchant Corobios offers his resources and is accused of perjury and slander against the king. Corobios is found guilty and sentenced to imprisonment, but demands to complete aristocratic rites of passage, adding to the already growing turmoil in the kingdom.