Chapter Summaries

Chloe explained to Theus that Secret Lore could contaminate anyone who encountered it and that recording dangerous lore could distort otherwise safe historical records. Theus reconsidered the risks of knowledge in this world, while Chloe affirmed that Moth Chasing Flame would keep pressing onward despite the danger.

• Theus learned that Chloe's group had an Outer God with them, and Chloe warned him that discussing it could cause contamination.
• Chloe explained that Secret Lore could contaminate both speakers and listeners, and that Secret Keepers used it as a weapon.
• Chloe told Theus that writing down dangerous Secret Lore could deepen its contamination and spread it into safe historical records, distorting them.
• Chloe clarified that information about the Sea God Church was comparatively safe because it was recent, widely known, and still verifiable.
• Theus wondered whether future scientific knowledge might also carry dangers, then asked Chloe why Moth Chasing Flame kept going; she said that was why they chased the flame.

Jeremiah enjoyed his new posting in Castel and met with Theus, who asked him to obtain authorization letters for merchant ships. Theus gave him an options contract for nitroglycerin, and Jeremiah left pleased before encountering Alexei.

• Jeremiah learned that pirates had been arrested after drinking and fighting, but he declined to rescue them when the sheriff refused to release them.
• Jeremiah visited Theus and agreed to seek five authorization letters for merchant ships, two flying Castel's flag and three managed by trusted merchants.
• Theus gave Jeremiah an options contract granting the right to purchase five batches of nitroglycerin at a fixed price before the end of the month.
• Jeremiah accepted the contract as a gift symbolizing friendship between Castel and Gem Bay and left the study.
• Jeremiah saw Alexei waiting to meet Theus as he reached the door.

Theus discussed Nora’s delayed return and the need for refugees to ease the island’s labor shortage, then reviewed factory output and planned to sell the soap surplus through a merchant caravan. Alexei ended the meeting by mentioning that Josh wanted to buy a ship on credit.

• Theus asked Alexei about the investigation into Nora, and Alexei said he had sought information through royal channels.
• Theus and Alexei considered how to contact Nora’s refugees, but Alexei lacked useful connections in the Northern Territory.
• Theus asked Alexei about the factories, and Alexei reported that the olive oil factory was growing more efficient while the soap factory had accumulated excess stock.
• Theus said Jeremiah had applied for authorization to form a merchant caravan and told Alexei to expand the warehouses before selling soap at coastal ports.
• Alexei told Theus that Josh wanted to buy a ship from him on credit.

Isaac and Chloe settled Moth Chasing Flame into a laboratory provided by the lord, while Chloe discussed contacting believers in the Northern Territory. She planned to go there after learning more about the situation, leaving Isaac to research the steam engine as she prepared to help the lord.

• Isaac oversaw the believers moving supplies into their new laboratory and praised the islanders for their efficiency.
• Chloe told Isaac that the lord had asked whether they could bring followers from elsewhere, especially the Northern Territory, and Isaac warned that the Silent Temple could barely protect itself.
• Chloe argued that the Silent Temple’s conflict with the Candlelight Society could make it a useful ally, and Isaac reminded her that they were currently the Candlelight Society.
• Chloe traded several bags of snacks to Monica for the use of a steam engine containing a Machine Soul, which the banshees carried into the laboratory.
• Chloe handed the steam engine’s research to Isaac and said she planned to visit the Northern Territory after learning more about the situation and hearing from Nora.
• Chloe said she would go to the Northern Territory to communicate with Nora or gather refugees because she was the chief.

Theus visited Nini beneath the manor and saw that she had developed her sea-serpent summoning spell into a way to herd fish ashore. Her success eased Castel’s food shortage and left Theus considering the spell’s broader potential.

• The Banshees expanded their cavern beneath the manor using Turn Stone to Mud to build and reshape their underground homes.
• Nini showed Theus her new spell, explaining that she could summon hundreds of weaker sea serpents for several days by continuously supplying mana.
• Nini used the sea serpents to drive a school of Moonfish onto the shore.
• Theus realized Nini’s technique could provide emergency food for Castel and reduce its reliance on importing supplies.

Theus asked Una to assess a plan to dig a passage from Castel down to the polluted Abyssal Trench and extract its Pollution for fuel. Una judged the tunnel feasible, and she and Nini began considering ways to pump or lure the Pollution upward.

• Theus learned that Una had become the Banshees’ informal construction leader because of her talent and enthusiasm for digging.
• Theus sent Una Castel’s structural map, and she corrected a minor discrepancy in the volcano’s location.
• Theus proposed digging through the rock beneath southeastern Castel to reach the Abyssal Trench and extract its Pollution.
• Nini objected that the plan seemed impossible, but Una said the route through solid rock should be feasible.
• Theus suggested using a Type II Steam Engine or the Pollution’s living nature to bring it up, reminding Nini and Una of the wolf they had used to lure Pollution.

Theus explained his plan to use pollution from the abyss as fuel and discussed the Empire’s Border Count system with Chloe. He revealed that he needed her to investigate the Northern Territory as part of a broader intelligence-gathering effort.

• Theus planned to use living creatures to draw abyssal pollution into a pipeline, where it could be collected and transported to Castel as a steady fuel supply.
• Chloe asked to travel to the Northern Territory to investigate Nora, but Theus told her he already knew what had happened and showed her information about Count Bazel.
• Theus explained that Count Bazel had sided with the three northern grand dukes, who were secretly undermining the royal family.
• Chloe questioned why the Empress tolerated Border Counts who could defect, and Theus explained that the Empress used the system to expand the Empire’s territory regardless of their loyalty.
• Theus told Chloe that his real goal was to build a team capable of gathering intelligence throughout the Empire.

Theus asked Chloe to help build an intelligence network, and she recommended Isaac, a dual-path Transcendent who hated the Candlelight Society. Theus invited Isaac to discuss the work and planned a voyage that could send Beatrice back to the Empire, sell soap, recruit Isaac, and collect refugees.

• Theus told Chloe he needed a long-term intelligence network reaching from the Northern Territory to the Empire, and Chloe admitted she could not give up research to run it.
• Chloe recommended Isaac, explaining that he had joined Moth Chasing Flame after the Candlelight Society abandoned him and his brother, and that he had the [Nymph] and [Investigator] paths.
• Chloe described the Moth-Chasing Flame Oath that bound Isaac, and Theus asked her to find out whether Isaac would join his intelligence work.
• Chloe said Isaac would likely welcome a chance to oppose the Candlelight Society beyond the island.
• Theus planned to fund Josh's merchant caravan, send Beatrice back to the Empire, sell soap along the northern coast, leave Isaac in the Northern Territory, and collect refugees on the return voyage.

Jeremiah returned to Castel Island expecting smooth dealings with Theus, but discovered that Theus wanted to hire the Black Pearl and its captain for a cargo voyage. Jeremiah considered the offer and questioned why Theus needed him to train sailors instead of hiring experienced hands directly.

• Jeremiah returned to Castel Island with authorization letters and nitroglycerin, then went to Theus's manor.
• Theus told Jeremiah he wanted to rent the Black Pearl, and Jeremiah protested that he would not give up his ship.
• Jeremiah softened and agreed to help Theus as a friend.
• Theus explained that he wanted to hire the ship, offered Jeremiah either a share of profits or fixed income, and said he could withdraw or sail with it.
• Theus said Jeremiah would need to train sailors and protect the cargo, and Jeremiah asked why Theus did not hire experienced sailors instead.

Theus recruited Jeremiah for a future ship and offered him a literacy pass, leading Jeremiah to discover that a heavy silver cup could float when held upright. Meanwhile, Connor told Theus that Josh had gathered islanders and sailors for a proposed merchant guild, and explained that Castel’s security and hope were drawing people away from piracy.

• Theus explained that his future steel ships would require literate sailors and gave Jeremiah a contract and a pass to literacy classes.
• Jeremiah tested the silver cup at the shore, saw it float upright, and went to the school seeking an explanation.
• Theus asked Connor to call Beatrice to discuss returning to Rhine and said he expected Jeremiah to accept the ship offer.
• Connor reported that Josh had recruited about a dozen people, including sailors, to support his planned merchant guild.
• Connor explained that a former pirate had stayed in Castel after receiving wages and attending literacy classes, and said the island offered security, order, and hope.

Theus learned why Isaac wanted to join Castel and agreed to appoint him to build an intelligence network after he swore the Moth-Chasing Flame Oath. As the oath ceremony began without him, Theus descended into Worker Theus to hear his followers’ prayers and immediately sensed something was wrong.

• Theus asked Isaac about his conditions, and Isaac said he only required Theus not to side with the Candlelight Society.
• Isaac explained that Castel’s efficient systems could support an empire and offered to build an intelligence network as a means of serving Theus and taking revenge on the Candlelight Society.
• Theus agreed to appoint Isaac after he swore the Moth-Chasing Flame Oath, and Isaac accepted the oath as a necessary restraint.
• Chloe, Connor, Ash, and the others accompanied Isaac to the oath ceremony while Theus monitored from the eastern testing grounds and sent Banshee teams to patrol.
• Theus left Ash in charge of the ceremony, traveled to the Golden Throne, and descended into Worker Theus’s body, where he noticed something was wrong.

Theus sensed and watched Isaac’s Moth-Chasing Flame Oath through the imprisoned Worker Theus shell, discovering that the ritual created a lasting connection that could serve as a receiver. After confirming the oath was completed correctly, Theus accepted Isaac into Castel’s inner circle and turned to planning his work in the Empire and the ship contract.

• Worker Theus sensed a connection beneath the church and formed a blurry image of Chloe, Isaac, and Ash preparing the ritual.
• Isaac swore the Moth-Chasing Flame Oath, linking himself to Theus and giving Theus a clearer, Isaac-centered view that remained after the ritual ended.
• Theus contacted Ash, who confirmed Isaac had recited the finalized oath without changes.
• Theus declared Isaac trustworthy and told Ash to have the group return so he could discuss Isaac’s work.
• Theus planned to send Isaac to the Empire after settling a contract for Jeremiah’s ship, then noted that Josh’s situation needed attention.

After Josh apologized for his false claims, more people joined his plans to trade abroad, while the Ashen Alliance prepared to enter the Empire. Josh told Ken that Theus was organizing Storm Heavy Industries and suggested that the lord wanted mechanical engineers aboard ships, leaving Ken to consider whether steam engines could power vessels.

• Isaac established the Ashen Alliance with guards from the manor, while Josh apologized publicly and showed his employment contract with the Steel Federation.
• More people sought to join Josh's venture, while Isaac said the Ashen Alliance would focus on opening the Empire's market before recruiting anyone.
• Josh told Ken that Theus was planning Storm Heavy Industries as a collection of Castel's factories, with a merchant association to sell their goods abroad.
• Josh pointed out that Theus was subsidizing advanced-class mechanical students who went to sea and suggested the lord needed engineers aboard ships.
• Ken connected Theus's work on a compact steam engine to the possibility of installing one on a ship.

Ken agreed to join Josh’s venture as a shipboard mechanical engineer. Theus approved a subway project linking the manor to the Eastern Test Site as a trial for a future route to the Abyssal Trench, and planned to put the steel mill’s workers to work after Beatrice left.

• After weighing Josh’s proposal, Ken agreed to join him and prepare to set sail within the next few days.
• Una explained that the Banshees wanted an underground passage to the Eastern Test Site to test their construction methods and transport goods.
• Theus decided to draw up a blueprint for a larger subway project and test a steam locomotive underground.
• Theus noted that the steel mill was nearly finished and planned to send Beatrice away so the workers could begin working there.
• Theus thought about visiting the workers, who were enduring the Candlelight Society’s rituals and atonement process.

Beatrice wrote to Uncle Jules about her time in Castel, Lord Theus, and her doubts about the Joan Family’s fate. She planned to return to Rhine with soap to help Theus and her family, carrying the sealed letter and gift box as she went to discuss her journey home.

• Beatrice wrote that Castel was safe and described Theus, his soap, fireworks, and heart-disease medicine to Uncle Jules.
• She worried about the Silent Temple ointment found on the island, but concluded it might have come from Alexei’s sister by chance.
• Beatrice felt conflicted about being valued for her noble status and admitted that she disliked the Church and questioned whether her family was destined to become Transcendents.
• After her maid told her that Theus wanted to discuss her return journey, Beatrice hurried to finish her letter and said she would bring soap to Rhine to help Theus and the Joan Family.
• Beatrice sealed the letter, packed the soap gift box, and left to meet Theus.

Theus learned that Ash and Nini had encountered Fishmen near Castel, revealing that the Fishmen had returned in significant numbers. He ordered scouting teams to investigate their strength and movements, leaving the Banshees preparing to learn whether a larger threat was approaching.

• Ash told Theus that she and Nini had encountered a Fishman scout while returning from the Abyssal Trench and followed it to a camp east of Castel.
• Nini revealed that the Banshees had killed all seventeen Fishmen they encountered, while Ash admitted she had charged in before Nini could stop her.
• Theus questioned the Banshees about the Fishmen's numbers and learned that they had miners and warriors, with several hundred miners and unknown numbers of warriors.
• Theus ordered Ash and Nini to lead separate teams on reconnaissance, avoid detection, eliminate small groups if necessary, and retreat from larger forces.
• Theus instructed the teams to use Banshees as Mind Link relays if they traveled beyond its range.

Theus saw several merchant ships depart from Castel, entrusting their voyage to Jeremiah and sending familiar allies and traders with them. After the Black Pearl sailed, Theus turned back to face the dangers still threatening Castel.

• Theus told Jeremiah that Ken would teach him to read, while Jeremiah prepared to captain the leased Black Pearl and teach Ken ship-handling.
• Theus declined Beatrice’s offer to stay and help, asking her instead to promote his soap in Rhine; Beatrice departed for the ship.
• Josh introduced the young members of his merchant group, and Theus urged them to learn the sea route and prepare their own ships and crew.
• Ash reported that two teams of Banshees would escort the fleet from a distance, while Theus ordered them to avoid detection and report any trouble.
• The Black Pearl sailed from Castel carrying Ken, Jeremiah, Isaac, Josh, and Beatrice, and Theus’s smile faded as he turned away.

Theus and Chloe arrived to transfer the workers from the Candlelight Society’s penance house to factories on Castel Island, where Theus promised them wages, food, and lodging. Hodge asked the Border Count for an advance so he could help his sister Lina.

• The workers, including Kyle and Hodge, recited prayers after being seized from Rhine’s factories for their association with Theus.
• Kyle tried to reassure Hodge that Lina would be fine, though Hodge feared she could not repay the gangs without his factory wages.
• Chloe entered with Theus and told the workers their penance was suspended and they would be taken to the testing grounds.
• Theus introduced himself as the Border Count and offered the workers factory jobs with wages, food, and lodging.
• Hodge stepped forward and asked Theus for an advance on his wages.

Hodge asked Count Theus for an advance to save Lina from gangsters, but the island’s lack of ships made sending money to the mainland impossible for weeks. Chloe offered to help, then revealed that Lina was already on the island.

• Hodge stepped forward and explained that he needed money to keep Lina safe from gangsters.
• Theus told Hodge they were stranded on Castel Island and that no ship could return to the mainland for at least three weeks.
• Chloe asked Hodge to describe Lina and offered to contact her.
• Theus agreed to advance Hodge some wages and showed the workers the factory and their dormitories.
• After the workers were settled, Theus asked Chloe how she could help, and she revealed that Lina was on the island.

Theus followed Chloe to Moth Chasing Flame’s hidden rooms, where she showed him Lina, a former companion who had become an empty shell. Chloe explained how their rituals summoned evil gods, leaving Theus to wonder how his own descent into a vessel worked.

• Chloe told Theus she had investigated how he knew so much about Moth Chasing Flame and mentioned a vessel, alarming him into contacting Banshee for backup.
• Chloe led Theus through a hidden passage beneath the church to Moth Chasing Flame’s hideout.
• Chloe showed Theus Lina, who had become an empty shell after being caught eavesdropping while the group searched for traitors.
• Theus thought he saw life flicker in Lina’s eyes, but she remained motionless when he looked again.
• Chloe explained that their summoning rituals used a body to call an evil god’s soul, which left Theus questioning how he had descended into a vessel.