After you visit St Tyna's Convent with Anca, it will become apparent from the books you find that you need to track down Saint Mihai's sword. A blade said to be able to take down just about anything, including Brencis.
However, the problem is that aside from knowing that the sword is located somewhere in Vale Sangora, it's not exactly clear where to start your search.
Luckily, Anca has a lead. An old monk, Albertus, is said to be living in The Middens just outside the Swartrau gates. This is where your quest begins.
Finding Albertus
Albertus' house in The Middens
After your discussion with Anca, there will be a map marker pointing you to The Middens, but when you arrive, you'll come to find that there isn't all that much left of this district, as the plague has all but wiped out everyone.
However, you'll find that, alongside packs of hellhounds, there is still someone living here, as there are scribblings and ramblings written all over the walls. Use your focus mode to look around, and you'll come to a house that is absolutely covered in these scribbles. Head inside, and this is where you'll find Albertus.
Making Sense Of A Confusing Discussion
Your conversation with Albertus the Mad Monk
You'll find that Albertus has gone very mad living alone in this plague-ridden district. However, if you know how to engage with the old coot, you might be able to extract some of the knowledge inside his crazed mind.
To break it down for you, here are the dialogue options that you'll need to select to get some sense out of the old man:
- I'm looking for Saint Mihai's Sword
- Pick Up piece of Charcoal
- Abelard The Sorrowful
- Swartrau Plaza
- His Pennance, the place of his redemption
- Never once set foot inside it
- St Mihai, a great warrior, arrived at Vale Sangora
With this new knowledge, you'll have narrowed down the location of the sword to 'below the cathedral'. So head there.
Entering The Cathedral (Daytime)
A view of Swartrau Cathedral during the day
In the daytime, you can simply enter through the front door to access the cathedral. From here, you can talk to Florin and the rest of the congregation. What I would suggest here is not wasting any time notches, as no options that push time forward are all that helpful.
The exception being the discussion with the young acolyte. Offer to help him move the boxes, and he will allow you into the Belltower. There you will find the key to the treasury.
Also, make sure to speak to the Deacon, as they will agree to give you access to the library if you find out what has happened to Radu the Caretaker. This will be important later.
The deacon inside Swartrau Cathedral
Next, head into the courtyard, and straight ahead is the treasury building. Head inside and push the bookcase aside to reveal a secret passage. This is where you will find the Golden Chalice bearing Saint Mihai's symbol. This is half the puzzle solved, but you'll need to know where he is buried.
Next, you'll need to head to the Almshouse and head upstairs to talk to Stefan. Take the time to help him clean and dress his wound, and in return, he'll tell you that there is a wing of the Almshouse that was closed off during the plague. He believes it houses the cause of all the disappearances in the Almshouse.
A movable bookcase inside the Almshouse
Head into the small room on the upper floor and move the bookcase to reveal the blocked-off wing. Then head downstairs, where you'll find the Almshouse Monstrosity. This is a mini boss that behaves like a Murohn; it's nothing special, but don't underestimate it.
If you beat them, you can get your hands on the Caretaker's Key, as well as Murohn Blood, the Noctis Scapalrure, and the Ring of Relentless Blows.
Looting the Caretaker's Key from the Murohn
You can then head into the Caretaker's Shed and get the Stained Glass Shards, and have the Craftsman in the Cathedral put them back together for 50 Denarius. But, because of the Chalice you found earlier, there is no need to do this.
Instead, simply head to the Deacon and tell them what has happened to Radu, and they will give you the key to the Library. You'll even get some added infamy for completing A Dubious Gift as you do.
Once inside the library accessed through the courtyard, I would urge you first to loot all the bookcases, as there are a few manuals on offer. Then head upstairs and find the book you're after. Then inspect it to gain the knowledge that the crypt is in the side courtyard.
The crypt entrance, fourth grave from the left
Head to the side courtyard, and you'll find five highlighted graves. To save you some time, the one you'll want to inspect is the fourth from the left. Do this, and you'll reveal the path to Mihai's resting place.
Entering The Cathedral (Nighttime)
A view of Swartrau Cathedral at night
Solving this one at night is a much easier affair. To begin, use the scaffolding near the front of the cathedral to scale the building. Then, use an opening at the top to enter the cathedral high in the rafters.
You'll hear a blood ritual ongoing below, so it's important to get your Shadowsteps right. You'll need to travel across the platforms until you reach the Fresco closest to the ritual below on the left. This bears Mihai's symbol. Meaning all you need to do is find his burial site.
The mural inside the cathedral you need to inspect
For an easy exit. Head to the nearest platform above the ritual below, and you'll find the Cathedral Roof Key. Allowing you to exit without backtracking.
Then, to find the plot of Mihai's burial at night, you'll need to head to the area covered by wooden planks near the Almshouse, where you'll be able to reveal a passage down below.
Movable boards outside the Almshouse
Down there, you will find a dead thief who intended to hack his way into the secret catacombs you seek, revealing that they are below the side courtyard.
You'll need to battle some Kobolds before you can head to the surface again, but that should be no trouble for you, especially in your vampire form.
The dead thief tunneling to the crypt
Then, just as it was in the daytime, you'll need to interact with the fourth grave from the left in the courtyard, allowing you to access Mihai's tomb.
The only thing to consider at night is that there are guards all over the courtyard and grounds. You can fight them and there is little consequence outside of this quest. Or, you can use Shadowstep to get around them for an easier time.
Finding Mihai's Crypt
Mihai's boss fight inside the crypt
Inside, you'll eventually enter a room where you hear moaning from the other side of a wall. Inspect this wall, and upon tearing it down, you'll reveal Mihai, who was in a state of Torpor and has gone mad.
This triggers a boss fight, which is rather straightforward as bosses in Dawnwalker go. He's a skilled swordsman and has a gimmick where he can disappear and fill the area with smoke, meaning you need to be perceptive and watch out for sneak attacks, using directional blocks to defend against his attacks.
But otherwise, this is a very run-of-the-mill fight, perhaps reflecting how weak he has become.
For winning this fight, you'll gain his blade. But he tells you that the sword fragments have been lost, and they will need to be recovered to return the sword to its full, legendary strength.
And with that, A Monk and A Saint concludes, and your quest to find Saint Mihai's Sword Fragments begins.