In any other time, Faustus would have been considered his generation’s leading light — a prodigy risen from the humblest origins to the highest echelons of the Order; a conceptual genius whose Dualist philosophy inspired numerous theological treatises; an Invocator Adeptus who had burned to cinders some of the strongest Void Hosts encountered in living memory. None of it had come easily. All Faustus achieved had come by working harder than everyone around him. Thus, when he met Viorath, the virtuoso for whom every dazzling feat seemed effortless and every revolutionary insight seemed an afterthought, they were instant rivals.

Blasius Luca had taken an interest in the contentious philosophers to fill the empty position in the Chapter. Each spent hours in private interviews with him. Often, Luca’s interest focused on the Void: Could it be defeated? Could it be wielded for the Light?

Faustus bristled at the questions. “To embrace the Void is to invite Taint into one’s soul,” he said, emboldened by conviction. “Could one wield it? Certainly. Should they? Never.” The chamber door to opened. “Our faith is a war,” Luca said as Viorath entered, “and it needs warriors to defend it.” Faustus looked on while his rival was commanded to demonstrate Luca’s point with Faustus’s blood.

The battle that ensued would have been spoken of for ages had anyone witnessed it. In the end, Viorath proved stronger — barely. Faustus used the last of strength to distract his opponent with an illusory double while he escaped.

The Chapter, which now included Viorath, immediately declared Faustus and his views to be anathema. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts would be greatly rewarded. Anyone extolling his now-forbidden Dualism would be executed. Now, Faustus actively seeks allies opposing the Order, offering his might to help bring down the Chapter.