Chapter Summaries

Sean took control of Lorinvik and searched for clues about the important event foretold by prophecy, while refusing to seek another prophecy. Duke Derrick prepared to pursue the throne and ordered his nephew Seras to keep Prince Darian waiting longer.

• Sean extended his research period and seized Lorinvik's government so he could monitor events surrounding the prophecy.
• Sean ordered palace staff to compile and cross-check an inventory of the Royal Palace's archive.
• Duke Derrick asked a palace worker about Sean's needs and said he had secured a Third Order professional's support for a critical moment.
• Derrick learned that Seras was negotiating with Prince Darian while keeping Theodore unaware of events in Antir.
• Derrick demanded that Seras stall Prince Darian for five days, despite the worker's estimate that he could delay him for only about three.

Elan took Fran’s three apprentices to see their weapons tested in Antir, but they feared the battlefield because of rumors about apprentices being used in cruel experiments. As the troops assembled, Ocien recognized the enormous black object he had helped build, and the group waited to see it deployed.

• Elan told the apprentices that Fran wanted them to observe their weapons’ effects and shortcomings in battle, and Kahn revealed that academy rumors had made them fear going to Antir.
• Elan reassured the apprentices that they would face bandits and receive protection, unaware of Fran’s actual plans for the operation.
• Elan and the apprentices watched a large, silent crowd assemble in the square, with people gathered in groups and reciting rhythmic phrases.
• Several gray-robed people and ordinary workers hauled an enormous pitch-black object into the square, and Ocien recognized it as the device whose parts he had helped make.

Elan realized Fran's troop was marching on Flying Eagle City and kept himself and the apprentices out of the battle. Anna's soldiers routed a cavalry ambush with their firearms, then aimed their cannons at the city gate as the apprentices recognized the weapons' potential.

• Elan noticed that Anna's troop marched in disciplined ranks along a repaired road toward Flying Eagle City.
• Elan asked Anna whether Fran had ordered the attack and insisted that he and the apprentices stay out of the fighting.
• Flying Eagle City's guards sounded the alarm, and Elan led the apprentices to shelter as Anna's troop formed up beyond bow range.
• Two First Order knights led a cavalry attack, but Anna's soldiers fired their guns, brought down the riders and horses, and killed the knights.
• Kahn sensed that he was close to advancing, while Ocien watched the battle and wished he could examine the weapons.
• Anna ordered the cannons aimed at Flying Eagle City's gate and had the fuses lit.

After learning that Flying Eagle Territory had fallen and Ian was dead, Theodore concluded that an unknown royal bastard was trying to take Antir’s throne. He decided to remain in the Royal Capital, summon the Alliance’s help, and dare the advancing forces to face him.

• Theodore learned that White Flower Territory’s forces had killed Ian and seized Flying Eagle City, leaving him without a substantial fighting force.
• Theodore suspected that an unknown bastard of the former king was leading the campaign and decided to contact an Alliance Investigator rather than the Transmutation School.
• Theodore chose to stay in the Royal Capital, believing the throne was strengthening him and that he could defeat any Second Order opponent who entered.
• Theodore ordered a messenger to tell the lords that he intended to remain king and threatened to punish those who abandoned him.
• Theodore expected the invading force to lack the strength to attack the Royal Capital and believed its leader would have to challenge him directly.

After Fran captured Flying Eagle City, Elan questioned why she was occupying Antir. Fran showed him the Alliance’s approval for her claim and revealed a spell that stunned him, leaving him to wonder how she knew a Law School spell.

• Elan entered Flying Eagle City with his apprentices and saw Fran’s believers gathering residents to preach rather than plundering them.
• Elan asked Fran why she had attacked the city, and she showed him an Alliance-approved application to occupy all of Antir.
• Fran explained that the Alliance had approved her application after she won an award, but Elan pressed her for the real reason behind the conquest.
• Fran led Elan to the lord’s castle and asked Anna to pause the demolition so she could show him something.
• Fran cast Self-Establishment Decree, a spell Elan recognized as one that granted its caster the benefits of a territory.

Fran revealed to Elan that she was using [Self-Establishment Decree] to seek Territory Blessings through Territory Resonance, and showed him evidence that her experiment was working. She recruited Elan to help administer her territories by offering him coauthorship, while he considered the research’s prospects and the obstacles to publishing it.

• Fran explained to Elan that she had learned from a paper how [Self-Establishment Decree] could trigger Territory Resonance.
• Fran told Elan she had found a way to turn the resonance into a Territory Blessing, and he felt the land’s rhythm sync with her when he touched the tablet.
• Fran said River Valley Territory was already hers and explained that taking over all of Antir was part of her experiment.
• Fran asked Elan to help manage her territories and offered to include his name on the paper; Elan eagerly accepted.
• Fran said the results would appear in the Northern Lands Society, and Elan considered whether the Law School and the Alliance’s Arcane Mage Award might recognize the work.

Fran explained why her Territory Mage Profession had not formed and planned to strengthen her Territory Blessing by conquering more land. After taking three towns, she saw Territory Mage appear on her Panel as a One and a Half Stars Profession.

• Fran realized that her high life level made the Territory Blessing too weak to form a new Profession and decided to seek more territory.
• Fran planned to conquer three towns after securing Flying Eagle Territory and gathering enough believers to govern and fight.
• Half a month later, Fran led believers armed with firearms from Flying Eagle City toward the three towns.
• Fran used Telekinetic Hand to lift a town gate after the cannons fired, and the defenders quickly collapsed.
• After capturing all three towns, Fran placed a stone tablet in the third town and saw Territory Mage (One and a Half Stars) appear on her Panel.

Darian abandoned negotiations with Theodore’s forces and prepared to leave Antir, but a series of throne tremors suggested Theodore’s rule was becoming unstable and gave Darian hope of recovering his losses. In the Royal Capital, Theodore felt the throne nearly reject him, yet he could not bring himself to abandon it and take command of his knights.

• Darian learned that Theodore’s negotiator had deliberately stalled the talks, so he stopped negotiating and sent his subordinates to steal valuables across Antir.
• Darian considered leaving Horn Pass and returning to Lorinvik, but the throne’s pull revealed that Theodore’s succession was growing unstable.
• Darian halted the execution of six captured knights when a powerful tremor struck the Royal Capital, and he saw a chance to make up for his losses.
• Theodore felt the throne tremble beneath him and feared that another shock would cast him off.
• Theodore realized he needed to act against the enemy who had taken three cities, but he could not give up the throne to lead his knights, so he remained indecisive.

Fran led her followers to attack Antir’s Royal Capital and confronted Theodore in the palace. After explaining that she acted for the Alliance to reclaim Antir, she killed him with the red light of the Spell Ring.

• Fran ordered Anna to fire the cannons and open the way into the Royal Capital.
• Anna’s followers fired five volleys, collapsed part of the wall, and advanced through the city under shields of light.
• Fran broke through the palace doors and found Theodore leaning against the throne.
• Fran identified herself as Lai, an Alliance mage sent to reclaim Antir, and told Theodore he could die.
• A flash of red light crushed Theodore to pieces.

Fran took the Royal Capital after Theodore died and ordered Anna to have the faithful target the Shadow Cult, anticipating its infiltration of Antir. In Moon Maple Territory, Darian recruited Reed into the Lord of Shadows’ following, and the chapter ended as they sensed a distant tremor and Darian realized something was wrong.

• Fran told Anna that Theodore was dead and the Royal Capital was theirs, then ordered her to have Aila rally the faithful against the Shadow Cult.
• Anna left to carry out Fran’s orders while suspecting that the Shadow Cult and Fran’s religion would eventually clash.
• In Moon Maple Territory, Darian urged Reed to show respect to the Lord of Shadows, and Reed performed the initiation ritual.
• Reed asked Darian to have his followers kill Theodore, but Darian redirected their conversation to what might happen next.
• Darian and Reed felt a distant tremor; Reed guessed Theodore was approaching to request troops, but Darian sensed something was wrong.

After Theodore's death, Darian and Reed planned to exploit Antir's succession crisis while continuing their trade deal. Fran investigated the throne's response to her Territory Mage abilities, then learned an Alliance Investigator had arrived and fought with Aila's group.

• Reed and Darian agreed that the new ruler would need the lords' support and discussed profiting from the succession struggle.
• Reed planned to attend a royal summons and offered to send an apprentice-level believer with him, while Darian refused to risk going himself.
• Darian and Reed negotiated a plan to transport Lorinvik goods through Horn Pass without using the official checkpoints.
• Fran examined Antir's throne and recorded that Territory Mages could be drawn to it but needed control of at least two-thirds of the territory to sit on it.
• Elan told Fran that an Alliance Investigator had arrived at Theodore's request, and that Aila's group had gotten into a fight with him.

Fran investigated a clash between her followers and Alliance investigator Frey, then had Elan bring him to the Royal Palace. Frey recognized Fran there, but she was making a strange rhythmic sound beside the throne.

• Fran found that Aila and Anna had fought Frey after followers tried to stop him from passing through their preaching, and she told them to treat people in distinctive robes differently.
• Fran sent Elan to bring Frey to the Royal Palace while she prepared to handle the damaged investigator's badge and the Alliance's concerns.
• Frey told Elan he had come to investigate a report that an outside force was seizing territory in the Antir Region under the name of an illegitimate child.
• Elan brought Frey into the throne hall, where Frey recognized Fran standing beside the throne and fell silent as she made a rhythmic sound.

Frey awoke in Antir with no memory of the events that had brought him there, while Sean searched Lorinvik’s books for clues and finally used another Prophecy Spell. Sean’s prophecy pointed him toward Darian, Prince of Lorinvik, as a possible source of information.

• Frey examined Lai’s application to occupy Antir, then persuaded Fran to let him remain for three days before she took the document back.
• Elan showed Frey where he could stay and realized that Frey did not remember what had happened; Frey noticed his Investigator’s badge no longer had its scorch mark.
• In Lorinvik, Sean searched through stacks of books but found no relevant clues, while a nobleman told him that Seras had returned from Antir.
• Sean debated whether to make another prophecy, then cast the spell and learned that his search was connected to Darian, Prince of Lorinvik.

Sean decided to travel to Antir after a new prophecy suggested Darian might possess what he was seeking. In Moon Maple City, Darian and Reed received a plea for aid describing a mysterious army attacking Wolf Fang Territory, leaving them without answers about the new king or the turmoil in Antir.

• Sean recognized Darian’s name and concluded the new prophecy might point to Antir, where Darian and Connor’s death were connected.
• Sean left his books behind and decided to go investigate Antir.
• In Moon Maple City, Reed and Darian worried that no news had arrived about the new king or the canceled succession.
• Reed received a letter from the lord of Wolf Fang Territory asking nearby lords for knights to help against a powerful, unidentified army.
• Darian advised Reed not to send a knight and planned to send believers to investigate the Royal Capital and the attacked territory.
• Darian proposed that they make the spice they had discussed while they waited for more information.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Fran captures the Royal Capital, and the Radiant Sect expands rapidly.
• The Alliance submits an application to enter the 'Ancient' Domain.
• Fran requests the Lord of Radiance to let her enter the 'Ancient' Domain with the Alliance.
• Fran learns about the Alliance's actions within the 'Ancient' Domain and decides to make a prophecy.
• Fran enters the 'Ancient' Domain and makes a prophecy about the Alliance's concerns.

Character Developments

• Fran shows strategic thinking and resourcefulness in planning her entry into the 'Ancient' Domain.
• Fran demonstrates her determination and willingness to take risks to gain valuable information.
• Una shows concern and relief upon Fran's arrival.

Significant Themes

• The power of prophecy and its limitations.
• The struggle for control and information between different factions (The Alliance, Fran, and the Gods).
• The consequences of uncovering ancient secrets.

Character Interactions

• Fran interacts with the Lord of Radiance, seeking her help to enter the 'Ancient' Domain.
• Fran reassures Una and seeks her assistance in identifying the spell fluctuation from the Alliance's people.
• Fran makes a prophecy about the Alliance's concerns, revealing crucial information about a looming event.

After receiving four prophecies, Fran considered whether to use the Star Gazing Art again and chose not to, wary that it could steer events toward a dangerous outcome. She concluded that she would be drawn into the affair before reaching the Fourth Order, that The Alliance was heading toward losses, and that the Gods were deeply involved, but she kept the location of the Church of the Goddess of Ocean Currents’ main island to herself.

• Fran told Una to watch the mages who had arrived with her while she examined the information she had received.
• Fran rejected the instruction to use the Star Gazing Art, fearing that it could force events toward a foretold scene.
• Fran decided to learn the Third Order Promotion Method from Harbos after returning from the Floating City, and judged that she could not avoid being drawn into the affair before the Fourth Order.
• Fran inferred that The Alliance’s investigation could lead to losses and that the Gods were closely connected to the matter.
• Fran decided not to tell The Alliance where the Church of the Goddess of Ocean Currents’ movable main island was, since the Alliance’s gains might not benefit her and could put her at risk.

Charles's new round of prophecies yielded little, while Elijah warned that the Alliance might soon abandon the investigation in favor of Vernon's ocean strategy. Meanwhile, Sean found a lead in Darian's castle, but sensed someone approaching from outside.

• Charles questioned the returning prophecy Mages and heard predictions about a sea-bound thing and a relic like one described by the God of War.
• Elijah revealed that he had entered the prophecy group to check for suspicious actions, and said he would support one more attempt but not further efforts without results.
• Charles agreed to support Vernon's ocean strategy eventually but argued for more attempts to learn about the Ancient domain.
• Sean entered Darian's castle under a Mass Sleep Spell and found a statue of the Lord of Shadows in Darian's room.
• Sean's prophecy about the statue said that whoever toppled it had a connection to what he was seeking, giving him a promising lead.
• Sean sensed a slight movement outside the castle despite the sleep spell.

Aila led Anna and several Priests into Moon Maple City to capture the Lord of Shadows’ Proxy, while Anna was assigned to incapacitate the city’s lord. Darian awoke after being captured and mutilated, but the Priests killed him before he could summon the Lord of Shadows.

• Anna guided Aila and five First Order Professionals into Moon Maple City after the Radiant Sect captured Wolf Fang Territory.
• Aila explained that captured enemies had revealed the Lord of Shadows’ Proxy was in Moon Maple City, and Anna agreed to help seize him.
• Anna went to deal with the lord while Aila and the Priests searched the castle for the Proxy.
• The Priests blasted open a room and found the wounded Proxy, Darian, lying unconscious on a collapsed bed.
• Darian awoke bound and bleeding, but the Lord of Shadows did not answer his call.
• Aila relayed the Proxy’s instruction to kill Darian, and the Priests ended his life.

Sean investigated the priests who had killed Darian and discovered that their unknown Deity was connected to what he sought. He traced their leader to Fran in the Royal Capital, but her Alliance documents and her mentor’s recommendation prevented him from pressuring her for answers.

• Aila and the priests killed Darian and another figure, then placed their bodies before the damaged Divine Statue of the Lord of Shadows.
• Sean realized the priests did not know their Deity’s name and divined that their beliefs were connected to his goal.
• Sean followed the priests’ leader to the Royal Capital and found Elan directing them, but divination pointed to someone beside the Royal Palace.
• Fran sensed Sean’s invisibility, and Sean revealed himself as a Third-Order mage before identifying her as the priests’ leader.
• Fran showed Sean an Alliance territorial expansion application and Harbos’s letter of recommendation, then refused to disclose her Deity’s identity because it was confidential to her experiment.
• Sean abandoned his attempt to pressure Fran and left without learning which Deity the priests worshipped.

Fran became a Second-Order Radiant Priest and then a Second-Order Territory Mage after gaining control of two more territories. Her territory blessing greatly increased her mental power, leaving her wondering whether she could now contend with a Third-Order mage like Sean.

• Fran recognized Sean as a Third-Order Astrology School mage and Connor's father, but decided that killing him was too dangerous for now.
• Fran used the golden booklet to advance to Second-Order Radiant Priest, spending enough faith energy that the Sect could not produce another Profession holder for at least half a month.
• Fran inspected her new divine spells and tested her changed blood trait, finding that a drop of her blood could damage a wooden chopping board.
• Fran sensed that two more territories had fallen under her control, bringing her total to ten and advancing her to Second-Order Territory Mage.
• Fran found that her ten territories granted her a substantial mental-power blessing and wondered whether she could now challenge a Third-Order mage.