Chapter Twenty-Seven

Over the next week, Lore and Gabe settle into a routine of studying in the Church library. They search old manuscripts, translated Compendiums, and notes from after the Godsfall for references to Spiritum and related elemental magic. Although they find examples of minor gods’ leaked powers producing strange effects, nothing matches the Mortem-killed villages or explains Bastian’s connection to Mortem.

Malcolm finally asks why Lore and Gabe do not simply ask Anton what he has discovered. Lore presses for details, and Malcolm explains that Anton requested everything about the practical use of Spiritum, supposedly to address the Mortem problem, though Malcolm now doubts helping is Anton’s real purpose. Malcolm and Lore theorize that Spiritum, like Mortem, might only be usable if its divine source has died or changed state, and that pulling Spiritum from living things would likely kill them.

Malcolm then reveals a crucial translation issue in the Book of Holy Law. The passage in which Apollius bequeaths Spiritum to His chosen was originally translated in some languages as singular, implying only one Arceneaux might be able to channel Spiritum, but later translations changed it to plural during Gerard Arceneaux’s reign. Malcolm says Anton reached the same conclusion, making Anton’s research more suspicious.

Malcolm admits that he distrusts Anton and August, especially because Anton trapped Gabe in the Citadel and has also been researching Mortem manipulation and necromantic rituals. Malcolm decides to show Lore and Gabe a recently acquired book on transubstantiation that August specifically wanted Anton to find. Before Malcolm can retrieve it, Bastian appears with the book, saying he found it in August’s study.

Bastian openly tells Malcolm that Lore and Gabe now work for Bastian because August and Anton seem to be framing Bastian as a Kirythean spy responsible for the village deaths. Malcolm explains that transubstantiation means one thing standing in for another, or the spiritual changing the physical, though it is not considered credible science. Since Anton wanted the book alongside Spiritum research, they infer a connection.

Lore summarizes their findings: one Arceneaux may be able to control Spiritum, and Anton is researching how physical change might occur through transubstantiation. Bastian concludes that August may be trying to make himself the one Arceneaux who can wield Spiritum. Bastian then reveals the reason: August is dying.