Chapter 62: Chapter 61 – Helena’s Sacrifices and Luc’s Descent
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Helena continues using her animancy on prisoners for Crowther, refining her methods to extract information. She accidentally kills two subjects due to prolonged sessions, so she shifts to shorter, repeated exposures that build tolerance. Believing she has learned to control the process, she proposes healing General Titus Bayard by gradually building his resistance to her resonance, similar to mithridatism. She discusses the idea with Shiseo, then approaches Rhea and Titus. Luc interrupts, furious that Helena would experiment on Titus after failing to save Soren. He accuses her of seeing Titus as a military asset. Rhea declines the offer.
Later, Helena finds Luc on the roof of the Alchemy Tower, smoking opium. He is hollowed out, wavering between rage and exhaustion. He questions what happened to them, but refuses her help or her offer to heal Titus. Meanwhile, Lila’s pregnancy is progressing well, though she remains in quarantine. Kaine returns from a diplomatic mission to Hevgoss. Helena reveals she made a deal with Crowther—she would take on more dangerous work in exchange for approving Kaine’s orders. Kaine reacts with fury, feeling her protection undermines his role. They argue, then reconcile with painful honesty and physical intimacy. Helena feels she is crossing every line she once believed impossible to cross.
Key Events
- Helena accidentally kills two prisoners through prolonged mind-invasion; she adapts to shorter sessions.
- She explains her mithridatism-like healing plan to Shiseo.
- She presents the proposal to Rhea and Titus; Luc arrives and forbids the treatment, blaming her for Soren’s death.
- Rhea withdraws her consent; Sebastian offers brief consolation.
- Helena finds Luc smoking opium on the roof; they have a painful conversation about faith, war, and failure.
- Kaine returns from Hevgoss; Helena confesses her deal with Crowther.
- They argue about protection and autonomy, then reconcile.
Character Development
Helena continues her moral descent, using prisoners for information after crossing the line of causing deaths. Yet she still tries to heal Titus, showing she hasn’t lost all compassion. Her physical and emotional exhaustion is palpable; she feels she is bleeding to death inside. Her deal with Crowther reveals her desperation to protect Kaine, but it also showcases her growing willingness to manipulate the power structure.
Luc is at his lowest point in the chapter, hollowed out and dependent on opium. He clings to an idealistic faith that “good will triumph over evil,” but he can no longer trust Helena. His rage at her proposal masks his grief over Soren’s death and his own guilt. He refuses help, pushing everyone away.
Kaine returns from a successful diplomatic mission but is tense and suspicious. He reacts violently to Helena’s protective deal, seeing it as a violation of the unspoken agreement that he shields her. Their argument reveals the strain of the war on their relationship—both are terrified of losing the other and feel powerless.
Rhea is desperate for a cure but ultimately prioritises Luc’s judgement over hope. Sebastian plays a minor role as a sympathetic bystander.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- Mithridatism as a metaphor: The slow building of tolerance mirrors Helena’s own gradual loss of moral boundaries—she adapts to each new horror.
- Opium and hollowing: Luc’s addiction symbolises how war has consumed him, leaving an empty shell incapable of trust or hope.
- The abyss of war: Repeated references to the war as an abyss that demands endless sacrifice, leaving both Helena and Kaine feeling that everything is crumbling.
- Faith vs. pragmatism: Luc believes in the old stories of Orion and that goodness ensures victory, while Helena argues that victors write the narrative—a clash of idealism and grim reality.
- Protection and autonomy: The argument between Helena and Kaine reveals how attempts to protect a loved one can feel like control and betrayal.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 62 marks a critical turning point in Helena’s relationship with both Luc and Kaine. Her attempt to heal Titus is denied, deepening the rift between her and Luc, who now sees her as a threat. The revelation of her deal with Crowther introduces a new layer of danger—she has traded her own safety for a measure of control over Kaine’s assignments, but this bargain may have severe consequences. The chapter also shows the emotional cost of the war on every main character: Luc is broken, Helena is erasing her former self, and Kaine is trapped between duty and love. The intimate reconciliation at the end provides a temporary respite, but the underlying tensions remain unresolved.
Study Questions and Answers
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Why does Luc refuse to let Helena attempt to heal Titus, even though Rhea is willing?
Luc still blames Helena for Soren’s death and cannot trust her with another soldier’s mind. He also believes that her approach—treating Titus as a project—is dehumanising. His grief and opium use cloud his judgment, making him lash out. -
How does Helena’s deal with Crowther reflect her character development in this chapter?
Helena has become willing to manipulate Crowther’s vulnerabilities and accept morally ambiguous tasks (animancy on prisoners) in order to protect Kaine. This shows she is now crossing lines she once thought impassable, prioritising survival and control over her previous ethical boundaries. -
What does the argument between Helena and Kaine reveal about the state of their relationship?
The fight highlights a fundamental tension: both want to protect the other, but their methods clash. Kaine sees protection as his role, while Helena refuses to be passive. The war forces them into positions where safety feels impossible, and their love is strained by fear and exhaustion. The reconciliation shows they still need each other, but the underlying insecurity remains.