Nalaea Herydark
Ironhand 9926, Gilnas City
Eigengrau was rather intrigued that Vordea's elven cultist had managed to summon her, and so decided to entertain where this was going, at least for the moment. Taking stock of her surroundings, they were clearly in a hidden basement, as the door to the room was cleverly designed to blend into a wall based on the outline, and the smell of stale blood suggested a sinister use for the room.
"So what is this about, Nalaea?" Eigengrau monotoned, looking around for a place to at least sit.
"I need to know something that's been gnawing at the corners of my mind since our last encounter in Vaust's Inn." Nalaea said, the sleeplessness on her face evident. Heavy bags were present under her eyes, and her voice wavered on the edge of madness.
Eigengrau didn't respond at first, instead choosing to walk the timeline. She observed Nalaea's past and future actions, and most importantly the pact she made with Vordea. She wasn't interested in Nalaea in any way, but she also needed to impart the seriousness of what she was about to ask her. Returning to what passed for the present, Eigengrau slowly approached Nalaea, her face as blank as ever, portraying no emotion.
"You want to know if your mind is your own, is that it?" Eigengrau asked, her voice monotone and flat, with the all the energy of a dead tree behind it. "You are making a serious accusation against your Goddess."
Nalaea was never sure when or if Eigengrau was lying. Her completely expressionless way of speaking, as well as her blank face made her outright impossible to read. She decided to weigh the two options. If Eigengrau was lying, there was some reason she was trying to dissuade from this train of thought, and from digging deeper into it. From what Vordea had told her of Eigengrau, they had been close friends for an uncountable gulf of time, and so she could be covering up for her best friend. On the other hand, if she was telling the truth, the implications are... well.
"You do not answer right away." Eigengrau monotoned. She was pleased, this meant Nalaea was considering her warning.
"The way I see it, there's two choices. Either you're covering up for your best friend, or she broke a divine law." Nalaea eventually said, her voice quiet and with none of the fire it usually had. "That being said, I'll take the risk that you won't lie to me. Am I still... me?"
Eigengrau was not surprised at this decision, but was still disappointed as it meant violating Vordea's privacy and observing the moment she corrupted Nalaea's soul. "A moment."
From Nalaea's point of view, Eigengrau did not move, because she was merely extending herself into that point in time. As Eigengrau found it, she quietly observed from the fourth dimension, invisible to all. Yes it was plain to see, but she wished it wasn't so... plain to see. She long ago gave up trying to keep up with Vordea's seemingly endless thirst, and was quite glad Vordea never pestered her for it. At the very moment it happened, Eigengrau looked closer, and reached in Nalaea's being to examine it.
"Hmmm. So this is what Mira had to fix. Curious. It was really an accident after all." Eigengrau said, talking out loud as she pulled apart Nalaea's essence, looking at it piece by bloody piece. "Yes, the soul is filled with... hate? For who? Ah, I see. The body... yes yes I see now. A new kind of elf. The mind though, let me see that."
Eigengrau shifted through Nalaea's mind, taking her time. What she found was a complete obsession with Vordea the likes of which she hadn't seen in many kalpas, but all of it formed naturally. Whistling a haunting tune as she did so, Eigengrau tweaked Nalaea's mind slightly, in order to prevent future problems. No need to mention this to Nalaea, she thought. She might accuse me of other things.
Returning to the basement, Eigengrau tried to take on an expressive, but gentle tone as she conveyed her findings to Nalaea.
"Calm your heart." Eigengrau said warmly, smiling. "There is no trace of mental corruption. Your mind and thoughts are your own, all the actions were done freely."
Nalaea sunk to her knees and closed her eyes, exhaling. She looked visibly relieved, and as if perhaps she was about to cry. Eigengrau squatted down next to her and softly placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Come now, you're a monster of God. You don't cry. Not anymore." A small child's voice said.
Nalaea opened her eyes and was shocked to see not Eigengrau, but a young child with short red hair and green eyes, smiling at her.
"Who are you?" Nalaea asked.
"I'm a friend. She's worried about you. They both are. Don't let your obsession consume you."