Chapter 3
While I completed my goal of extracting the Star from Ilinalta's Deep, there isn't anything interesting in particular to say about it. Certainly, there was fighting to be had, and the activity in itself was enjoyable, but other than a few cuts and scrapes, and that one conjurer who managed to singe the bottom of my robes - which I'm still a tad upset about - nothing really happened that is worth mentioning.
Given that Ilinalta's Deep is a fair way away from Winterhold, I make a few short stops to clients in Whiterun and Windhelm en-route back to The Frozen Hearth.
Nelacar looks almost surprised; he clearly didn't expect me to make the trip back. He's assisted with some of my research before, so I suppose he has doubts about mages who can't heal themselves and their survivability. Whatever concerns he might have had are ignored pretty quickly as I hand him the broken Star. After a few moments examining it, he explains that the soul of his old associate is still inside the Star, and needs to be eradicated before the Star can become usable.
"A special kind of soul trap."
Just the thought of being pulled into a different plane - inside the Star itself - makes gooseflesh erupt along my spine, a mix of titillation and trepidation. I must accept. Not only to return the Star to functionality, but to attempt to sate my unending curiosity, my unquenchable thirst for something new.
My decision is made without any semblance of hesitation.
"Hold still. This might sting a little."