In Fillory, Margo and Eliot try to find out the truth about Seb and the genocide of the fairies.
Seb's chief advisor Bick Pickwick claims the fairies have been stealing gold, which is why they are being hunted, but Eliot later learns Bick framed the fairies and shares the information with Seb.
Out of gratitude for saving their species, the fairies then show Eliot, Margo, and Fen the truth about Seb.
They learn the Dark King is using gold to create the Takers.
Due to moving the moon, circumstances when casting are still screwy, and Julia, Penny, and Alice try to summon Fogg for help.
A Fogg does appear, but they later learn it is not their Fogg, but Fogg from Timeline 17, who blew up his Brakebills and killed almost everyone in an attempt to stop the Beast.
Fogg 17 reveals he wants to take this Brakebills to his world to help teach magic to his daughter. He is eventually stopped and put in the clean room where he can't cast.
Julia and Penny argue over her going to Fillory to save the world again, and they decide to break up.
Alice meets the new botany professor Hamish Bax and with his help gets a lead on how to readjust circumstances for casting.