(W) Plutus (A) Spoon With Luca's return from the World Tree, Athanasia finally has a way to help her father. Little do they know that a peculiar guest of Duke Alpheus has been pulling dark strings in every interaction, with the emperor being of special interest. Meanwhile, Claude's perplexing ailment seems only to ease under Jeannette's company, but he has slowly been more tolerant of Athanasia's presence. Ever hopeful for any improvement in her father's eyes, Athy must face the worst when Claude's health takes a sudden and drastic decline...

(W) Plutus (A) Spoon Despite the castle gag order keeping Claude's illness a secret, rumors begin to spread among the aristocrats about the emperor's indisposed state. With Claude unconscious, Athanasia must serve as the emperor's proxy, though she struggles to contain the rumor mill while caring for her father and also managing the affairs of state. When a parliamentary meeting veers terribly off course and Duke Alpheus acts in a manner unbefitting his usual self, a shrouded figure reveals himself before the gathered nobles. The shocking true identity of the visitor revealed, Athanasia must stem the beginnings of a coup!

(W) Plutus (A) Spoon The emperor remains unconscious as Athanasia confronts her uncle and his claim to the throne. Unfortunately, without her father, Athy can do very little to keep the late emperor at bay. As Claude's condition continues to deteriorate, Athanasia and Lucas confront the dangerous reality of their only option-using the power of the World Tree. Its power is all-consuming, threatening to whisk away Athy's sense of self and trap her soul in the essence of the world. Against his better judgement, Lucas allows Athanasia to use the World Tree to rid her father of his curse, and though Claude awakens, Athy is slow to follow. What did she encounter in the ether that held her back?!