They failed the people they swore to serve, but it's themselves who were most changed. The Sight itself won't let them pass the blame.

Almost no one is where they were supposed to be; the people standing at their shoulders aren't the allies they expected or planned for. It seems, though, that everyone has found the people they can trust and the mission they were meant to see through. Dyafer and the Vriomeh are ready to face down the villain on his border. Sparud is doing what he can to undermine the traitors from within. Mairid is fighting the right war, if not in the place the Lahar commanded.

Everyone has a task laid out for them. To fight in defense of someone. To stand for a belief, to build something instead of just knocking down broken institutions and killing villains. To be the mages they hoped to be, back when they were neophytes and still believed that heroes could wear vylles. To prove the traitor wrong that what was always most wrong with the world was them.

It's great to finally be able to take a stand, even if no one's hands are clean by then.