The fifth installment of the Reality Fracture story begins from the perspective of The Theorist, just before the first arrival of Chandra, Garruk, Ajani, and Vraska.
After bursting into his sanctum, each planeswalker is immediately sent to sleep with a wave of The Theorist’s hand. Only Vraska is left untouched, but despite his best efforts to win her over to his side, she remains unwavering in the face of her former love. Realizing this approach wasn’t working, The Theorist wipes the party’s memories and sends them away while he prepares for their next attempt.
As he awaits their return, The Theorist ponders over how to best sway Vraska, clearly paying no mind to what the other three think. Once more, the foursome burst into the sanctum, and this time, The Theorist freezes all of them in place. Unfreezing Vraska’s face, he attempts again to convince her, only to find her reaction even more negative. Shifting tactics, The Theorist approaches and places a hand on the gorgon’s cheek, allowing her to witness everything from his “death” and reforming to severing part of his soul to create Tam. After ending the vision, he then wipes their memories yet again, but leaves Vraska with memory of the single phrase “I made a person, but this part of me does not remember why. She must be protected.“
Attempt number three, The Theorist allows the party to enter but his dark thoughts take over when he realizes he doesn’t need them to agree with him willingly. With a flash of his eyes, Vraska and Garruk are put under his control, and turn to combat Chandra and Ajani.
“He only has a moment to examine the feeling. He wanted this, so why does he feel conflicted? He excised all the parts that would have objected, so where does this cold and creeping dread originate? A hypothesis—he is human; he cannot help feeling guilt at forcing his friends to fight. Data—how he flinches every time Chandra blasts Ajani with flame, how a man as mighty as Garruk doesn’t have the strength to fight off the command, how the Theorist’s chest curls with heartache to see Vraska do something she would never choose …”
Witnessing his friends fighting and injuring each other, a part of The Theorist is struck with horror – a feeling he struggles to understand. Releasing the mind control, Vraska and Garruk freeze, taking a moment to process what had happened. With her path no longer blocked, Chandra rushes The Theorist, but in an instant, he enters her mind and fills it with paralyzing illusions. Garruk is next to attack, but The Theorist knows he is unaffected by illusion magic, and instead disables the nerves in the hunter’s limbs. From across the room, Ajani attempts to call out to his comrades, hoping his words will reach Chandra, but discovers that his voice has been altered, replaced by a language he doesn’t understand.
With all three planeswalkers utterly defeated, The Theorist turns to Vraska and sends her to sleep. He then wipes each of their memories a third time, but leaves Vraska with memory of another phrase — “I cannot be defeated by you.”
Picking back up where Episode 4 left off, the party sits battered and bruised in Professor Opal’s office, having just learned that the source of their wounds came from three battles against their former ally. Hearing this, the party is stunned, but knows they can’t give up. It’s then that Vraska recalls the phrase she was left with, and tells the group that their strategy won’t work, and they need to figure out another way to stop him.
A moment later, Vraska notices someone pass by in the hallway outside, and moves to intercept them. Quickly approaching, Vraska notes that this person’s features are a perfect blend of her and Jace. Vraska attempts to introduce herself, but naturally, Tam already knows who she is. After a brief exchange, Vraska realizes that Tam too wants to stop The Theorist, so she fills her in on what they had gone through so far.
After tossing up a barrier to shield any prying eyes or ears, Tam tells Vraska that in order to stop The Theorist, they would need to first rescue Oracle Jadzi, who was being held captive below the tower.
“I’m going to talk to the Theorist, then I’m going to get the original Liliana for backup. You focus on rescuing Jadzi. I think she’s been moved from her cell. But you know him. Use that to find her.” Tam peers around her into Professor Opal’s office. “Did he hurt your friends?”
Noticing the sad state of Vraska’s companions, Tam moves into the room and uses her powers to undo the damage caused by The Theorist before quickly hurrying onward to complete her own mission. Now back in fighting shape and equipped with a new tactic, the party rallies to search for Jadzi.
Read Reality Fracture | Episode 5: I Don’t Need to Convince You in full from Wizards of the Coast.
