Ludwig watched him for a moment. Tibari was inaccessible, the Shrike was missing, and they lacked the one artifact that might help them find either. None of that appeared to diminish Kaiser's enjoyment.
"You're remarkably pleased about this."
Kaiser looked up. "Of course I am. Do you understand what we're holding?"
"You've said condensed Authority several times. Repeating it hasn't made the explanation more useful."
"This is why you need to finish your magical education."
"I killed Sloth without finishing my magical education."
"And imagine how competent you might become if you understood the things you encountered instead of merely surviving them."
Van Dijk nodded. "He does have a point."
Ludwig pushed away from the table. "I should have stayed at the training grounds."
Kaiser laughed and raised the marble.
"We have Authority in a stable physical form. If Gluttony's power can exist like this, why couldn't something else?"
Ludwig paused.
"Wrath," he said.
