Manithan Vaanam

After a long night of tavern brawls, Bhavannan, Nila, and Shwari meet downstairs in A Blooming Drink and make their way to Sabari Koyil. Aadhi, who was already at the koyil, frantically asks a serving priestess for someone important. The priestess encourages her to eat; at this point, the other three arrive and, after noticing and speculating about Aadhi, ask for an authority figure. An elven priest goes to retrieve Kandan, the head priest of Sabari Koyil. Shwari advises Bhavannan to be considerate of who he tells of the Murugeshwara twins, as he mentioned it offhand to the elven priest they met upon entering. Kandan, on emerging, goes to Aadhi first, offering her sympathy and encouraging her. Kandan takes Aadhi's hand and walks her toward the other three; he then invites them to an interior chamber of the Koyil pending Aadhi's acceptance, which she gives.

The party and Kandan sit on the floor of his chamber. Bhavannan begins to unfold the story of their coming to Kaverinaadu, and, even as Zone of Truth is cast, continues to relate the fullness of their story. Aadhi mentions the appearance of mirughams, which Kandan at first struggles to believe. Bhavannan asks for Kandan's opinion on Alagan Murugeshwara; Kandan replies that, in his long life, he has developed a positive opinion of Alagan but has never personally met him. Hoping to cure Aadhi of her problems, Kandan leads them from the room into a vast subterranean cavern into which water streams from the ceiling. The streams pool into a glimmering pond in the center of the room, over which towers a statue of Ayyappan holding a sculpted Dharma Villu. Kandan suggests that Aadhi immerse herself in the pool—the Well of Dharma—to cleanse herself of "the blue lady", but admits that the result is uncertain and that the process may be excruciating and involve her being held down by her partymates.

The party mulls over whether to immerse Aadhi in the pool; Shwari and Nila express doubt about performing such a grotesque act, though Bhavannan agrees to go along with it should Aadhi wish to. In the end, Aadhi decides against it, and the party departs the Well past a resigned Kandan. The party chat as they exit, leaving behind the blessed waters for now.