Zarin and Rubin staked out Nissra's apartment while the rest of the group, along with Sendara's superior, Shepherd Bisha, returned to the workshops of Renatus Hall to begin the ritual. Sendara took the lead in an attempt to seal away the malevolent spirit—the spiritual gaoler of Niman—within the piece of metal Meriel had collected from the damaged levitator.
Bisha instructed Sendara to lead the ritual while the others assisted. Although there were a few minor hiccups, the ritual proceeded well, with Sendara's divine strength and talents ultimately ensuring its success. Once the gaoler was sealed within the piece of metal, Bisha used tongs to pick it up and placed it in a special box, which she then sealed.
Kith and her bodyguard Thesserram observed the ritual, with Kith waiting to perform her part in closing the rift. During the ritual, Kith sensed another song emanating from within the rift, prompting the group to investigate. Amos suggested that Bisha remain behind as their spiritual anchor, while Ren stayed outside the rift, holding a rope to act as their physical anchor. With Tor'in leading the way, the rest of the group entered the rift.
The party first arrived in what appeared to be a long hallway resembling the academic halls upstairs in Renatus Hall. Sendara sensed magic everywhere but detected one door emanating more magic than the others. The music Kith had sensed earlier was faint now, making it difficult for her to pinpoint its direction. The group opened the door radiating the strongest magic and entered a lecture hall. Indistinct shadows and shapes filled the seats, resembling students, while Professor Marcus Renatus stood at the far end of the hall. The slateboards were covered in diagrams, but as the group tried to focus on them, the diagrams became indecipherable.
Renatus stood staring blankly, seemingly unaware of their presence. As the group approached him, descending the slope of the room, the rest of the space began to fade away, leaving only a path of floating stones leading back to the door. Sendara linked her mind to Renatus with magic, experiencing a sense of mental vertigo. When she reached out and touched his shoulder, Renatus began to disappear, shrinking and falling away. In his place stood Niman, and the room around them vanished.
The group found themselves on the grassy shore of a lake. Niman seemed to recognize Sendara, and she looked around, realizing it was the place from her Arcstone-inspired vision. When she mentioned her family caravan, an Elven wagon appeared by the shore. Kith remarked that she could hear music coming from inside the wagon.
Niman explained that they were near the "between place." His spiritual release to the Afterworld lay ahead in the lake, but there was still something in between. He revealed that the place they stood in was connected to all of the gods, though it was not their domain. Niman and Sendara entered the lake together, walking down the shore. As they moved forward, the water transformed into a hallway of a library, its walls towering infinitely high. The hallway led them to a large chamber filled with shelves of books. In the center of the room was a deep, circular hole lined with even more books.
Within the chamber stood a disturbing creature—humanoid in shape but constantly shifting. Its limbs changed size and joints, and the number of its fingers fluctuated. Its rippling skin shifted textures, never settling.
The creature addressed them, asking if they were there to bargain as well. The group conversed with it and learned that a soul exchange had taken place; the gaoler had lured Niman's soul into this otherworldly library. While the group engaged with the creature, Sendara secretly convinced Niman to sneak away and make his way to the Afterworld. Niman succeeded, slipping away unnoticed. The creature allowed the group to leave, saying they would meet again someday.
The party exited the library and the rift, finding it sealed and gone. Kith, visibly shaken and exhausted by the day's events, retreated to recover.