Recaps

Mantis and Iggs followed a firefly through hidden passages beneath the Great Library and discovered that the fireflies used costly rune magic to fight. Their guide, Ilaid Pierce, brought them to the fireflies' Forbidden Library and introduced herself as its future director.

• A firefly led Mantis and Iggs through concealed doors in the Great Library, then triggered a mechanism that dropped them into a deep shaft.
• Mantis and Iggs fell toward the bottom, where a Soulfire-powered levitation rune slowed their descent and let them land safely.
• Iggs examined the expensive rune array as Mantis realized the fireflies had developed a way to fight using reusable, rune-inscribed papers.
• The firefly used a levitation seal to descend, then revealed how she had stored the rune paper inside her book.
• The guide identified herself as Ilaid Pierce, daughter of Aemon Pierce, and welcomed Mantis and Iggs to the fireflies' Forbidden Library.

Mantis and Iggs learned about Weavers from Ilaid and agreed to exchange their knowledge for access to her books. Meanwhile, Mortas returned from a brutal hunt, and a hidden Weaver clan settled near the Sacrificial Grounds under Chieftain Is, who forbade a Weaver from helping the mantises.

• Ilaid described the Weavers and their Spirit Thread, prompting Mantis to seek them out and offer Ilaid everything she knew in exchange for access to the books.
• Mantis began studying the books with Iggs, insisting they work through them before morning.
• Mortas returned to Mantis Village after a successful but exhausting hunt and reflected on his past, his daughter, and his hopes for the clan.
• A Weaver secretly returned to the hidden nest near the Sacrificial Grounds after narrowly avoiding the mantises.
• Chieftain Is scolded the Weaver for contacting outsiders and refused to let her help the mantises.