and with this, I too become an offering...

“Ah! Gilles! Gilles! My beloved friend!
I imagine you're now suffering hellish tortures, ones which would demolish my feeble reason!”

Now is a good time to mention that, while it isn’t officially confirmed, this is very heavily implied to be a letter from Francois Prelati. I’m going to be writing under the assumption that this is true (because literally who else could it be). The phrasing of “I imagine” insinuates that this letter was sent at a time Prelati wasn’t actively present in Gilles’ life, and “now suffering” can place this at an early point in Gilles’ insanity.

“Your suffering is my suffering.
Your joys are my joys.
And the crime you committed is my crime, as well!”
This can be interpreted two ways. Metaphorically, it can be Prelati feeling connected to Gilles. Literally, it can be
about Prelati giving Gilles the spellbook and contributing to Gilles’ suffering, joy and crime.

“We grow to hate those we love.
As we hate, we are tested.
I consider carefully this discrepancy, this lamentation of the soul, and I think how I wish to save you.
However, I fear there is no escape from this fall from grace.
For there is no remedy that will overcome it.”
”We grow to hate those we love” could be about Gilles and going from being a devout believer in God to committing atrocities out of spite. The rest pertains to Prelati’s knowledge about Gilles’ downfall, and being a willing participant in it.

”It is with this in mind that I invite you to visit my workshop. Help me with additional studies and pursuits.”
It’s this invitation to his workshop that results in Gilles becoming evil and getting Prelati’s Spellbook from him.

”Why am I helping you? The answer I'll put down here for you, the one I love.”
🏳‍🌈

While we share a common past, you aren't like me.
While God have made you suffer and you have ended up where you are as you cursed Him, you do not reject Him.
I have seen the truth of faith there.
While sinking in a sea of evil, I have honest respect for your not having drowned in it.
I will help you till the end of your days.
This shows that Prelati also has a difficult relationship with God, as evidenced by him comparing himself to Gilles. Prelati makes an important distinction about Gilles: that he keeps his faith in God while cursing Him. The ocean metaphor relates to the sea creatures Gilles is able to summon with the spellbook.

... Welcome, to the dining hall of nightmares and terror."
Good quote. Really good quote. Awesome quote. The imagery of a dining hall, a lavish place where you can consume without reserve, is a REALLY good comparison to Prelati encouraging and enabling Gilles.

It’s got a lot more text compared to other bond CEs, but I think it's warranted given all the intricacies of Gilles’ fall from grace. I dunno, I really like it.