Malice Scepter with two Support Gems Spirit Issue

I think this is a bug, but newer to the game.

Using the 'Font of Power Omen Scepter' with two spirit support gems, Vitality (20) and Clarity (10).

Not turning any other spirit reservation skill on (Raging Spirits (30) and Skeletal Arsonist (37)) I am at 150/180. which is correct.

I enable Raging Spirits. 120/180 Still Correct.

Enable 2 Skeletal Arsonists. 46/180 Everything still works.

When I add the third Arsonist, which says 37 spirit to enable, leaving me with 9 left, my malice icon goes dark with an exclamation mark saying not enough spirit.

Does the Malice skill on the Scepter require spirit free to operate? I removed Clarity, and my spirit reservation is now at 19 and the skill is still greyed out... Put Clarity back in and take Vitality out and am at 29 free and my skill is now back online again? Did some mix and match and it appears I need more than 26 but less than 29 free.

I take off the support gems, and max out my spirit reservation right to 180, and Malice is still operational.

Am I missing some core mechanic?

The same thing is happening to me. I'm hoping it's a UI bug since my malice aura (red circle around my character) is still on as long as I meet proper spirit req's.

With malice+clarity, im at 6/446 spirit and I have the red circle.

With malice+clarity+vitality, I get put back to 16/446 and my red circle is gone.

UPDATE: looks like i am indeed applying stacks of malice :)