Varulae sat in front of Aderyn, entranced at what he was telling her. The dark crystal sat ominously on a table off to the side. The two could almost swear they'd heard the demented thing hiss. Aderyn had collected as many of the shards as possible and bound them up in a handkerchief, all of the pieces huddled within like a small congregated meeting of diabolical potential. Varulae eyed it, her mind racing as for the reason of its presence here in Cyrodiil. Very few had ever been seen, and certainly none within the Imperial Province – at least not known of.

Varulae looked back to Aderyn, her mind searching for at least one way to explain the object. She knew what it was, but as for how it operated – that was an entirely different story.

"Aderyn," she finally began, the words slowly forming in her mouth. "That thing," she said pointing to the crystal, "is a black soul gem – an evil creation for the uses, mainly, of necromancy."

Aderyn shuddered, he figured as such. But what was it doing down in the basement? Lorgren obviously had a use for it, but didn't even get a chance to use it – thankfully. Still, Aderyn pondered what exactly it did. He'd heard of Necromancers using them, but for what purposes? Did it behave like any other soul gem – the trapping of souls to be used for enchanting purposes? Aderyn always found the ability inhuman.

Aderyn couldn't stand the silence any longer, his voice streaked with disdain for the gem. "What is different about this soul gem? Doesn't it behave like any other normal one? Wouldn't it just steal the soul of creatures? Or can it steal more powerful souls?"

Varulae burst into laughter. Aderyn didn't find the questions funny, this was some serious stuff.

"You really think soul gems capture the souls of creatures?" Aderyn glared, but was confused.

"They don't capture souls?" Varulae shook her head. "Then what do they capture? And why are they called soul gems!?"

"Soul gems were once thought to capture souls, but recently it has been proven that they don't." Varulae patted him on the shoulder, her laughter steadily dying down.

"But what DO they capture?" Aderyn sat back in his large purple chair, the crackling of the fire next to him catching his attention. He couldn't help that he'd never been taught correctly about them – or ever taught for that matter. The matter of soul gems had never been brought up in his studies. Perhaps it was because his work ended prematurely. Varulae's voice called out to him. He'd apparently been lost in thought.

"Aderyn?" She made sure she had his attention, her eyes now locking with his. "Good, where were you just then?"

"Oh, just thinking about the stupid gems. Now, what do they do exactly?"

"You know how when using a life detect spell you can see the purple glow of any living figure?" Aderyn nodded, not exactly knowing where she was headed with this. What did a life detect spell have to do with soul gems? "And you see the purple glow sort of…" she looked around, searching for the right word, "pulse?"

Aderyn nodded, ideas raced through his head trying to connect the pulse with soul gems. Nothing. "And?"

"That 'pulse' you see isn't their soul, you must know that." She looked to him, letting his mind piece it together. He must have at least learnt how a life detect spell works.

Finally, his eyes widened and the pieces started coming together. "The pulsation is the energy flowing through us – the magicka bound through our bodies – more of a life essence."

Varulae nodded, a wide toothy grin spread from cheek to cheek. "Exactly. That life essence is what is captured by soul gems. Nothing more, nothing less."

"But… what happens to the souls?" That single fact still seemed to evade him.

Varulae narrowed her eyes in annoyance. Steadily she raised an eyebrow and then smacked his forhead.

"What was that for?" He growled, rubbed his forehead, and glared furiously.

"The soul leaves the plain of Nirn and return to Aetherius! Or whatever god or prince they serve's own plain." Aderyn seemed dumbfounded.

"Oh, I knew that."

Varulae shook her head in disbelief. "You've apparently let your mind get sloppy over the years as well." Aderyn shrugged. "Well, since that is now settled… what to do about the black soul gem?"

One thing was for certain. Romiskeld, Vigdis and Thormoor couldn't stay in Anvil any longer. The mystery of the black soul gems presence in the province could be solved soon, but for now their safety was of top priorty to Aderyn. After sharing his encounter the previous night Varulae agreed to this. Aderyn could only think of one place he would risk putting them. However, it could potentially be a rather terrible idea for one main reason – him.

--

A wisp of dark hair fell out of place, his graying Mohawk needing a good trim. Perhaps he should dare have Sabine try her hand at it again. After all she was the best armorer in town, her own pair of shears the sharpest for several miles. Unsharpened shears always pull and tug rather than cut effortlessly through fur and hair. Though, he always did wonder why she kept them. There weren't any sheep around, the closest ones far to the south in Skingrad. Still, his mind raced over the remembrance of how she nearly left him bald, his bluish scalp not the prettiest thing he'd ever seen. He always liked the hair style and she was the only one who knew somewhat how to make it just so. Sabine had the audacity to blame it on him for squirming too much.

Quickly he tucked his shirt in, his usual unkempt appearance a definite no for the occasion. His newly acquired outfit purchased through Seed-Neeus gave him somewhat the air or regality. Perhaps he could pull it off – after all she was new to town. He still couldn't believe himself. "Really? Weatherleah?" He could still hear her angelic voice ringing in his ears. The lie he would somehow have to come up with on why exactly he wasn't there right now seemed a fitful challenge. Frustrated with his own weakness for her, he slumped onto his bed, a huff escaping his lips. "What am I going to do?" Maybe he should just tell her the truth – that would hopefully go over well considering he truthfully lived right next door.

A sudden rap on his door made him jump up and off the bed, nearly hitting his head on the low hanging ceiling. With a verbalized gulp he swallowed the sudden pounding of his heart. "Who is it?"

A familiar voice came through the door. "Modryn? Are you still there?"

Quickly the Dunmer opened the door. It was him, and he brought along friends. "Aderyn! It's been fifteen years!" Modryn grabbed Aderyn in a grateful hug, but lessened when he realized the mer couldn't stand it any longer. His grave expression conveyed he needed help.

"Come in." Modryn offered the couple a seat next to the fire place, noting their child. It had been rather chilly outside lately. Though, winters were always more beautiful in the north. Snow even began to fall, covering the countryside of Chorrol in a sheer blanket of pure beautiful white. "It looks like we need to talk." Aderyn nodded.