Chapter Summaries

The Banshees traveled to Gem Bay to search for ships and investigate the Pirate King's former territory. After inspecting the ruined palace, they found the Pirate King's enormous treasure vault and gathered at its entrance.

• Ash organized the Banshees into search groups, shared maps and rendezvous points, and reminded them to look for ships while staying alert for surviving Sea God Church followers.
• The Banshees crossed the clear sea to the Pirate King's Court and found the palace reduced to a crater.
• Ash explained that the Pirate King's treasure was likely hidden elsewhere on the island, since the palace had served as an administrative office.
• The Banshees searched the island's surviving buildings and warehouses but found only supplies.
• A Banshee located a massive treasure vault two kilometers northeast of the island, and the others hurried to join her.

Ash and the Banshees searched a pirate island and discovered that its warehouses held vast stores of Blackstone, which the Fishmen had mined for Gem Bay. They also found an unfinished ship in a shore-side shed and began arranging to tow it home.

• Ash concluded that the island's enormous guarded warehouse was likely for important supplies rather than treasure.
• The Banshees opened the warehouse and found it packed with Blackstone, a mineral they had mined as slaves for the Fishmen.
• The Banshees found four more warehouses full of Blackstone and suspected the pirates had long been entangled with the Fishmen.
• Ash identified logs in another warehouse as shipbuilding materials and realized a large shed by the shore was probably a shipyard.
• Ash found a nearly complete wooden ship in the shed and ordered several Banshees to tow it home.

At Southern Castel, Theus prepared to turn a recovered ship into Castel’s first vessel while learning that the Masha Archipelago held valuable Transcendence materials but no coal. The Pirate King’s treasure remained missing after the Banshees searched the islands, leaving Theus wondering where it had been hidden.

• Richard reported that the recovered ship was mostly intact and could be modified for ordinary sailing, and Theus ordered him to begin work with factory support.
• A Banshee reported that the Masha Archipelago had no remaining inhabitants, held food and strategic supplies, and appeared to have no coal deposits.
• Richard identified Moonlight Sand and Ever-Burning Soil in the warehouse ledger as precious Transcendence materials that could help more people advance.
• Richard explained that entering the Sea of Unconsciousness without the required materials led to death, recalling members of the Moth Chasing Flame who had died pursuing knowledge.
• The Banshee told Theus that the Pirate King’s treasure and most other valuables were still missing despite searches of the islands, and Theus considered whether the treasure lay beneath an island.

After Theus suggested searching underwater, Ash and the banshees discovered a hidden passage beneath the Pirate King's Court and found a trove of plundered treasure. In the final chest, Ash found a blue-haired girl.

• Theus suggested that the banshees search underwater, and Ash sent them to patrol Gem Bay.
• The banshees discovered an underground waterway beneath the Pirate King's Court, and Ash opened its entrance by turning a boulder to mud.
• Ash realized the flooded passage could have been entered by humans during the Storm Ocean's monthly great low tide, and the banshees swam through it.
• Ash and the banshees found a dry air pocket filled with boxes of gold coins, jewelry, antiques, and other plundered goods.
• Ash opened the last few chests and found a blue-haired girl inside one of them.

The Banshees brought back a mysterious blue-haired girl and supplies from Gem Bay, while Theus prepared Castel’s ships and repairs. With a paddlewheel steamer nearly ready, he returned to gather information before its voyage to Blood Port.

• The Banshees found a lifelike, motionless blue-haired girl hidden in a treasure chest in Gem Bay and brought her back to Theus.
• The Banshees gave Theus their spoils list, and he sent the recovered Blackstone to Moth Chasing Flame’s researchers.
• Theus chose to convert a recovered ship into a paddlewheel steamer because Castel lacked the expertise to install an underwater propeller.
• Theus noted that nearby powers were ignoring the ocean’s upheaval and ordered the airship kept ready while Castel repaired and rebuilt.
• As the ship prepared to sail for Blood Port, Theus returned to gather information and locate the Black Pearl.

Theus considered using Banshees to ease Castel’s administrative burden, then connected with his companions from a frozen shell and discovered that Gwen could sense his hidden presence. He was left scrambling to conceal himself from the group.

• Theus struggled with Castel’s overloaded administration and decided the Banshees could take on official roles after earning the islanders’ trust during the war.
• Theus awakened inside a frozen shell drifting on the ocean and connected several people through the threads.
• Gwen returned to the connection, greeted an unfamiliar presence, and said she had sensed someone new when it formed.
• Captain and French Fries questioned Gwen about the presence, while Scepter suggested it might be a newcomer or something else.
• Theus realized Gwen could sense him and considered adding another newcomer to the connection to mislead the others.

Theus accidentally connected with Zoe instead of a banshee, then planned to use her to learn about the outside world and relay news from Castel. Zoe mistook the connection for a new power and tried to impress the others as “Writer,” while Theus decided she would lead an expedition to Blood Port.

• Theus chose a dense bundle of threads and connected with Zoe, realizing she was not one of the banshees he had expected.
• Zoe lamented that her novels had lost their appeal and that her life had become dull and aimless.
• French Fries explained the connection to Zoe, who panicked before deciding to pose as a composed, powerful newcomer named Writer.
• Zoe claimed to have written a few works, and French Fries praised her while Captain and Scepter stayed silent.
• Theus realized the connection had diverted attention from his plans and decided Zoe would lead the expedition to Blood Port, where she could ask about the outside world and share Castel's situation.

After gaining access to a mysterious connection, Zoe learned that Theus planned to send her to Blood Port to investigate the missing airship and rescue Connor. Theus intended to use the connection to help her gather information, while he prepared artillery in case Blood Port refused to cooperate.

• Zoe woke from the connection, hit her forehead on a book, and realized she had gained a way to speak with remarkable people.
• Theus told Zoe that the airship sent to seek aid had gone missing near Blood Port and asked her to lead a delegation to investigate and rescue Connor.
• Zoe panicked at being put in charge, but Theus promised her a Faithguard Army squad, Banshee support, and a ship, then told her to gather information before their departure.
• After Theus left, Zoe realized she could ask the people in the connection about the Empire and grew hopeful that it would help her mission.
• Theus planned to pull Zoe into the connection the next morning and went to the Eastern Test Site to check on the artillery projects.

Theus visited the Eastern Test Site and learned that Richard’s attempts to build reliable artillery shells had failed, so Richard had created a massive cannon that launched lit explosive packs instead. Theus recognized it as a crude but proven weapon and was left considering the strange result of the failed artillery project.

• Theus traveled through Castel’s tunnel network and arrived at the Eastern Test Site.
• Theus learned that Richard had taken over the research after Chloe’s death and found him testing an enormous cannon.
• Richard explained that the shells either failed to detonate or exploded inside the barrel, and the researchers could not find a working explosive mixture.
• Richard revealed that he had designed the cannon to launch lit explosive packs after taking inspiration from the Banshees.
• Theus realized the massive weapon was an explosive-pack launcher, a crude kind of conscienceless cannon.

Theus and Richard discussed the limits of Moth Chasing Flame’s new cannon and Monica’s recovery, leading Theus to suspect that the Sea God’s soul fragment enabled her to summon Machine Souls. Richard then brought Theus to learn about the blue-haired girl and the nature of [shells], leaving Theus hoping the knowledge might help revive Chloe.

• Theus judged Moth Chasing Flame’s cannon too heavy for land battles and suggested it might be useful on ships or in fortifications.
• Richard told Theus that Monica’s soul was healing and that she could be awakened, though he recommended letting her rest.
• Richard explained that only Theus and Monica could communicate with Machine Souls, and Theus suspected Monica’s ability came from the Sea God’s soul fragment.
• Theus resolved to investigate Gem Bay after the ship-related issues were settled and asked Richard about the blue-haired girl.
• Richard led Theus across the testing ground and asked how much he knew about [shells], prompting Theus to request an explanation from the beginning.

Richard explained to Theus how empty vessels were obtained and why natural blank vessels could summon Outer Gods. He revealed that the blue-haired girl was a rare natural vessel, but it could not be used to revive Chloe because it had already been polluted.

• Richard led Theus to his laboratory and explained that empty vessels could be used to summon evil gods.
• Richard said that Moth Chasing Flame had obtained its vessels from the Candlelight Society and that natural blank vessels were projections of Outer Gods.
• Richard told Theus that a natural vessel was needed to save Chloe, then revealed that the blue-haired girl was one.
• Theus asked why Chloe could not use the girl as a vessel, and Richard dripped a clear liquid onto her brow.
• Black liquid streamed from the girl's eyes, and Richard explained that Pollution would erode Chloe as soon as she awakened in the vessel.

Theus realized that science might offer a way to let Chloe inhabit the polluted vessel by suppressing and burning its pollution with steam machinery. He proposed placing a steam engine inside her hollow Nymph body, leaving Richard stunned.

• Theus recalled that purifying Chloe's pollution had nearly emptied her body and destroyed her soul, so his usual ability could not safely help her.
• Theus told Richard to keep watching Monica and pursue weapons that combined Transcendence with technology, then reconsidered how science could address the vessel's pollution.
• Theus thought of the Clamorer, which suppressed pollution and burned it as fuel, and saw a possible way to protect Chloe's soul inside the vessel.
• Theus remembered Chloe suggesting that steam engines be built into the banshees' armor and imagined using machinery to burn pollution inside a body.
• Theus asked Richard whether a Nymph's hollow body could hold something, then proposed putting a steam engine inside Chloe; Richard froze in shock.

Theus proposed placing a Steam Engine inside a shell to help the human body withstand its burden, and Richard agreed to lead the research. Richard began recording the work, believing steel might let him save people he had once been unable to help.

• Theus explained that Clamorer could suppress Pollution and that a Steam Engine might power a shell without overwhelming a Transcendent.
• Richard wrestled with his misgivings, then asked Theus to let him lead the research.
• Theus assigned Richard the project and said Monica would assist with summoning Machine Souls once she woke.
• Theus reflected on the workers' pride in the machines they had built themselves.
• Richard opened a new notebook and went to the dissection table to begin his research.

Theus connected the group again, and Zoe asked for advice about traveling to Blood Port. Scepter warned that Tis was unsettled after the sea dried up and hinted that the Holy See had withdrawn because it was guarding against an omen from the sea.

• Theus gave Zoe the day off, then used Worker Theus's shell to connect the group.
• Zoe joined the conversation as Writer and admitted that she was going to Blood Port.
• French Fries advised Zoe not to go, saying Blood Port and all of Tis were dangerous.
• Scepter said the Empire and Tis were not truly going to war, but explained that the dried-up sea had shaken coastal Tis and cultists were causing trouble.
• Scepter revealed that the Secret Keeper Council had withdrawn Holy See forces after sensing an omen in the sea, leaving Captain to wonder what they were guarding against.

Theus used Zoe’s warning about cultists in Blood Port to strengthen her expedition’s protection without exposing her source. He then deduced where Ken and Jeremiah had docked and sent Ash to search for the Black Pearl in Rift City.

• Zoe warned Theus that the journey to Blood Port might be dangerous because cultists and hostile Transcendents could be there.
• Theus praised Zoe and arranged for two squads of Banshees and additional Transcendents to accompany her.
• Theus considered Beatrice’s trouble in Rhine and the possibility that the Holy See was targeting the Candlelight Society.
• Theus used Ken’s remarks and the worker’s threads to narrow the Black Pearl’s location to a northern port near Blood Port.
• Theus identified Rift City as the Black Pearl’s likely harbor and asked Ash to send a Banshee to search for it.

Theus prepared for Zoe’s trip to Blood Port while workers from Rhine asked to send someone home with news for their families. With the continent in turmoil and the route to Rhine blocked, Theus assigned Kyle to lead the Faithguard Army accompanying the expedition.

• Theus ordered Ash to take a team to meet Zoe near Blood Port and authorized them to intervene if she faced danger.
• A group of factory workers from Rhine came with Zoe to ask Theus to send someone home with a letter for their families.
• Theus explained that the Empress had been assassinated, Tis had broken away, and the conflict made travel to Rhine impossible.
• Theus reassured the workers that Rhine remained safe for now and appointed Kyle to lead the accompanying Faithguard Army.

At the launch of Castel’s first steam-powered ship, Theus announced plans for steel ships and revealed that Tis and the continent had fallen into chaos. He promised to search for the missing expedition team, publish daily updates, open shipping routes, and welcome settlers’ relatives to Castel.

• Theus addressed the crowd gathered for Castel’s first ship launch and described plans for enormous steel steamships from the new southern shipyard.
• The Skyveil Behemoth sounded its horn as Theus told the islanders that the Empress had been assassinated, the Holy See had seized power, and war and chaos had spread across the continent.
• Theus announced that an expedition team including Connor, Anderson, Frank, and Duke had gone missing near Blood Port, and that the departing team would search for them.
• Theus promised that Banshees would send regular reports and that newspapers would publish daily updates on the search.
• Theus vowed to open shipping routes to Tis and the Northern Territory and cover travel costs for the relatives of islanders and people who had worked for Castel and wanted to settle there.
• Kyle realized that Theus’s offer included him and reflected that Castel felt more like home than Rhine.

Theus used Castel’s wartime prestige to announce a newspaper and open trade routes, aiming to expand the island’s influence and prepare for possible tensions with the prince. After organizing shipbuilding and appointing Banshees to run the newspaper, he went to see Monica, whose recovery was complete and who was about to wake.

• Theus announced Castel’s newspaper and new trade routes, planning to guide public opinion and expand commerce while investigating the missing airship.
• Theus ordered engineers to plan cargo ships and armed cargo ships as Castel’s steel production and mining continued to grow.
• Theus established a newspaper office in the main cathedral and recruited Banshees, who were eager and skilled at writing articles.
• Richard told Theus that Monica had recovered, and Theus sensed through the Symbiotic Pact that she was no longer in danger.
• Theus went to the Banshees’ duty room, where every Banshee on the island had gathered around Monica’s bed.

Monica woke up safely, reunited with Theus, and enjoyed a Stargazy Pie cake that the Banshees admired for its name and appearance. Theus then learned through the Mind Link that Finier had returned to port with the Black Pearl after swimming for three days.

• Theus arrived to find the Banshees gathered around Monica, and Nini teased her until she woke up.
• Monica cried in Theus's arms, then explained that the Sea God's soul had not controlled her, though it had left her with scattered knowledge.
• Theus brought Monica a cake decorated with real fish heads, and Monica and the Banshees happily ate it after hearing it was called Stargazy Pie.
• Finier announced in the Mind Link that she had brought the Black Pearl back to port and asked why no one had come to meet her.
• Theus spotted the ship approaching and asked Finier whether everyone aboard was safe, while Finier asked about the cake picture.

The Black Pearl returned to Castel, reuniting Ken and the other sailors with their families. Jeremiah and Ken then saw how much Castel had changed, including its fortifications, steamships, armored Banshees, and the enormous tentacles surrounding the cathedral.

• The Black Pearl docked at Castel, and Ken reunited with Gaia and old Ivan while other sailors embraced their families.
• Jeremiah examined the paddle steamers and learned from Theus that their hulls had been brought from Gem Bay.
• Theus invited Jeremiah to his office to explain Castel's disappearance, and Jeremiah and Ken followed the Faithguard Army toward the cathedral.
• Ken and Jeremiah watched Lady Nini's heavily armored Banshee patrol pass and were stunned by the warriors' size and power.
• Jeremiah and Ken reached the expanded cathedral and saw the Pirate King's enormous tentacles stretching across Castel and into the sea.