This part focuses on Duncan’s childhood and early growth, revealing how his heightened sensitivity and second sight quietly shape his inner life. The Highland landscape and Hilton Hall mirror his solitude, while uncanny sounds and visions blur the boundary between reality and premonition. Stories of his old nurse, somnambulism, awakening, and confession show his growing awareness of his gift and the fear it brings. The section closes as love, jealousy, and power begin to intersect, outlining the first clear shadows of fate.
