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“I’ve seen mention of this before,” Leon said after a moment, his voice tight.“It was described in detail in the research archives ofLes Prophètes Illuminés.They called it ‘arcane residue.’”

Evander didn’t like the sound of that one bit.“What’s its significance?”

Leon met his gaze, his own deeply perturbed.“It’s the physical remnants of magical energy that has passed through a vessel not designed to contain it.”

A chill ran down Evander’s spine.He glanced at the dead thrall on the table, his heart drumming a heavy beat against his ribs.

“Are you suggesting that someone attempted to channel magic through this man?!”

“That would be consistent with my findings,” Mortimer observed thoughtfully.He moved to the next table, where he’d laid out Harker’s internal organs.He gestured for them to look closer at the dead man’s brain.“Note these lesions on the brain stem.It’s as though magical energy literally burned pathways through his nervous system.”

“Like lightning through a conductor that cannot support the current,” Leon murmured.

Dread tightened Evander’s chest.In what way any of this was connected to magical transference, he could not yet tell.But he couldn’t help but feel the Frenchman was close to the truth.

Viggo’s expression darkened.“So you’re saying they’re using thralls as magic conduits?”His words fell like stones in the silent room.

“It appears that way,” Evander said grimly.“The question is, conduits for what purpose?”

“Not that it’s any consolation, but this may go some way towards explaining why all those thralls went missing,” Rufus contributed tensely.

Mortimer hesitated.“Though there are no marks on his body to suggest foul play, Mr.Harker may not have been in a fit state to save himself when he entered the water, hence the signs of drowning.”

A fraught hush descended upon the room, the implications of the physical examiner’s conclusion hanging heavy in the air.

The dread dulling Viggo’s eyes echoed Evander’s fears and made his insides twist all over again.Evander clenched his jaw.

How many more thralls would they pull out of the river before they stopped whoever was behind this?

“Dr.Mortimer, would you compile your findings in a full report for Commander Winterbourne?”he requested, keeping his tone level despite his churning stomach.“Include everything, no matter how impossible it might seem.”

“Of course, your Grace,” Mortimer replied with a slight bow.“I’ve already begun.It should be on his desk by this evening.”

They had just left the morgue when they were met with a breathless alchemist.

“Your Grace!Thank heavens you’re here!”She glanced nervously at Evander’s companions.“Mr.Brown requests your urgent presence in our lab.”

Evander exchanged a tense look with the others.They followed the alchemist swiftly to the AFD’s Alchemical Analysts’ lab.

Vincent Brown was bent over his workbench.The alchemist’s expression brimmed with barely contained excitement when he looked up at their approach.

“Ah, your Grace.”He beamed at the sight of Viggo.“Mr.Stonewall, a pleasure to see you again.”

Viggo greeted the alchemist with a faint smile.

Evander briefly introduced Leon.

Brown stared curiously as he greeted the Frenchman.

“I’ve completed my analysis of those glass fragments Miss Shaw recovered from the Institute.”The alchemist indicated what he’d been working on.

The tray on the bench contained the shards of glass Shaw had collected, now meticulously arranged to show their original form—a small, round bottle.

Evander’s pulse accelerated.“What did you find?”

“It was a most fascinating concoction.”Brown picked up a vial containing a pale purple liquid from a rack of tubes.“I can understand why you and Miss Shaw originally thought it might beNoctis Bloomfrom the colour, but it was far from it.The residue contained in these fragments is a highly sophisticated transfiguration potion.”

“Transfiguration?”Rufus repeated with a frown.