Chapter Thirty-Nine

Lore sleeps on a pew and dreams not of Nyxara’s memories but of magic: shadow and light grappling until life snaps back at the last instant, recalling the docks and her brief command over the hinge between life and death. She wakes with searing pain as Nyxara forces Her voice through Apollius’s bond, urging, "You have to kill Him." The pain recedes, and Lore realizes Nyxara can now speak by day because Lore gave Her a first death, strengthening Her essence within Lore.

As dusk falls, Emperor Jax enters. Speaking fluent Auverrani, he explains Apollius has appeared to him for years and that Lore was always considered the most intractable vessel. He claims the Auverrani’s pride in housing Nyxara is misplaced—Her rise was meant only to empower Apollius—and admits he offered himself as vessel, but Apollius chose Bastian. Jax notes Lore’s attachment to Bastian has made Apollius care for both Lore and Nyxara, raising the stakes for control.

Pressed about the destroyed decoy warship, Jax denies involvement and insists Amelia, knowing herself Caeliar’s avatar, sank it via the sea, perhaps hoping to supplant Lore. He confirms Apollius hid his identity in Auverrani circles and that Bastian kept Kirytheans away from Gabe. Jax also states Bastian suspected Alie was his half sister, and Apollius later weaponized that truth to arrange her marriage to Jax, though Jax vows he would not harm Alie.

Apollius arrives, His movements sharp and unlike Bastian’s. Jax worries about the timing, but Apollius silences him. Lore spots a tremor in His fingers and the fight on His face—Bastian struggling to surface. Despite Nyxara’s demand to kill him, Lore cannot while Bastian remains inside. Centering Himself, Apollius addresses Lore as Nyxara and declares it is time to talk, signaling an imminent confrontation between god and goddess through their vessels.