Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Dijkstra and Philippa launch a coup at Aretuza, detaining mages they accuse of working with Nilfgaard. Geralt refuses to surrender Ciri to their plans and escapes the confrontation. Yennefer fights Lydia while searching for the princess, surviving with Triss's help. Tissaia rejects the accusations against Vilgefortz and breaks the restraints holding the prisoners. Her decision gives him the opening he needs. He reveals his betrayal and admits attackers through a portal, turning the attempted purge into a battle across the school.
Geralt kills Rience and briefly rejoins Yennefer and Ciri away from the fighting. Yennefer then returns to help Tissaia defend Aretuza, where mages and elves are already dying. Tissaia releases Alzur's Thunder in a desperate effort to stop the assault. Cahir meets Ciri, offers his apology and places his life in her hands. When pursuing elves arrive, he stays behind to delay them, giving Geralt and the princess time to continue toward an escape from the island.
Vilgefortz blocks that escape. Geralt sends Ciri away and fights him alone, but the mage breaks his sword and leaves him gravely injured on the shore. Ciri runs into Tor Lara rather than accept Vilgefortz's offer to train her. She connects with the power inside the tower, which explodes around him. The survivors leave Aretuza in ruins, and the family is separated again.