Colette's room was dimly lit, but oddly comforting. Nelacar still sat rigidly in a chair as the professor flipped through a hefty book, talking all the while.
“I spent most of my early years in High Rock,” she explained. “Magic isn't nearly as frowned upon there, and Restoration even less so. I was able to gain quite a bit of knowledge. But there were not as many restrictions in High Rock, either, and mages would often attempt dangerous experiments for the sake of furthering knowledge...I lost many a friend to curiosity.” She shook her head regretfully, then slapped her hands down on the open book. “Here it is. Take a look at this report.” The Altmer took the book gingerly and studied it, surprised at how in-depth it seemed.
“'The Corruption Incident of 4E 173,'” he read out loud. Colette nodded.
“I was there for the whole mess. A poor soul tried to bind herself to a soul gem to see if it would strengthen the gem's potency for enchantments. When she came back, she was...not herself.” Nelacar read along, his focus on the symptoms. They certainly matched what Siobhan was going through. “We were able to figure it out. The gem had maintained a portion of her soul, as she intended...but it was corrupting both her and the gem itself. A friend of hers went through the same binding in order to re-take the portion that remained, but...if you die inside a soul gem, your soul is bound. Both of them died in the process, and the soul gem had to be destroyed through special means to make sure it wouldn't cause any damage.” Nelacar felt the color drain from his face.
“You think...” he began weakly. Colette nodded again, sympathetic this time.
“I think the Black Star has maintained a part of your friend's soul. If it remains trapped, the Star's influence will take over her entire being. The gem itself will be irreparable, her soul will be corrupted and twisted, and her body will die.” She looked up at him, her eyes full of meaning. “However, if a well-armed person were to enter the Star, they could retrieve her soul. It would be no easy process, but it's the only way.” The Altmer handed the book back wordlessly and leaned on his knees, trying to calm himself.
“I understand,” he said weakly. No, there was nobody else who could do this for them. He was the reason Siobhan's soul hung in the balance, and he couldn't risk anybody else for the sake of this experiment. It was his fault, he reminded himself, and his responsibility. “How would the process go?”
“The same soul trap you used on your friend would be used on you. You would enter the Star, find the portion of her soul, and subdue it. Calming her would bring her back to the rest of her soul, at which point the caster could get you back out,” Colette explained. “Phinis Gestor—you met him, earlier—would be the caster in this case. He's very knowledgeable. You'd be in good hands.” Nelacar nodded, forcing himself to meet the Breton's eyes.
“I...I can bring Siobhan and the Star up here, then,” he told her. Colette nodded silently, understanding his intention.
“I'll go inform Arch-Mage Aren and Phinis, then.” They both stood, and she held out her hand for him to shake. “Good luck, Nelacar.”
Nelacar/F!DB: "Promises" 4/?
“I spent most of my early years in High Rock,” she explained. “Magic isn't nearly as frowned upon there, and Restoration even less so. I was able to gain quite a bit of knowledge. But there were not as many restrictions in High Rock, either, and mages would often attempt dangerous experiments for the sake of furthering knowledge...I lost many a friend to curiosity.” She shook her head regretfully, then slapped her hands down on the open book. “Here it is. Take a look at this report.” The Altmer took the book gingerly and studied it, surprised at how in-depth it seemed.
“'The Corruption Incident of 4E 173,'” he read out loud. Colette nodded.
“I was there for the whole mess. A poor soul tried to bind herself to a soul gem to see if it would strengthen the gem's potency for enchantments. When she came back, she was...not herself.” Nelacar read along, his focus on the symptoms. They certainly matched what Siobhan was going through. “We were able to figure it out. The gem had maintained a portion of her soul, as she intended...but it was corrupting both her and the gem itself. A friend of hers went through the same binding in order to re-take the portion that remained, but...if you die inside a soul gem, your soul is bound. Both of them died in the process, and the soul gem had to be destroyed through special means to make sure it wouldn't cause any damage.” Nelacar felt the color drain from his face.
“You think...” he began weakly. Colette nodded again, sympathetic this time.
“I think the Black Star has maintained a part of your friend's soul. If it remains trapped, the Star's influence will take over her entire being. The gem itself will be irreparable, her soul will be corrupted and twisted, and her body will die.” She looked up at him, her eyes full of meaning. “However, if a well-armed person were to enter the Star, they could retrieve her soul. It would be no easy process, but it's the only way.” The Altmer handed the book back wordlessly and leaned on his knees, trying to calm himself.
“I understand,” he said weakly. No, there was nobody else who could do this for them. He was the reason Siobhan's soul hung in the balance, and he couldn't risk anybody else for the sake of this experiment. It was his fault, he reminded himself, and his responsibility. “How would the process go?”
“The same soul trap you used on your friend would be used on you. You would enter the Star, find the portion of her soul, and subdue it. Calming her would bring her back to the rest of her soul, at which point the caster could get you back out,” Colette explained. “Phinis Gestor—you met him, earlier—would be the caster in this case. He's very knowledgeable. You'd be in good hands.” Nelacar nodded, forcing himself to meet the Breton's eyes.
“I...I can bring Siobhan and the Star up here, then,” he told her. Colette nodded silently, understanding his intention.
“I'll go inform Arch-Mage Aren and Phinis, then.” They both stood, and she held out her hand for him to shake. “Good luck, Nelacar.”