I believe this to be the optimal solution that doesn't use any giant rotating arms (or whatever it is you all call them).

I thiiiink 56 is the optimal cycles. The animusmus engine needs a 2-cycle startup, and then an arm can grab a Vitae every 4 cycles. It needs to produce 13; after that it takes 2 cycles for an arm to pickup, rotate, and drop the last Vitae. So, 2 + (4*13) + 2 = 56.

But who knows.