[ Tech watches her at work -- the ease and subtly of her manipulations pulling even the most stubborn to her will like a puppet on the strings. It's impressive. Even more impressive if when the shrewd demon lets up and allows them into the forbidden area. Tech pretends to be put out by the warning not to copy anything -- as though he's not digital and can't copy it within his mind. But his disappointment will make it seem like nothing suspicious is at foot, right? Right.

So they're allowed in. Tech wrinkles his nose at the musty smell. He doesn't really like physical books. Not in the digital age. It's annoying to have to peruse and turn pages and blow off dust. But his time in Hellburbia made him more amenable to them so the wrinkle of his nose is his only complaint.

Yennefer is close and her whispered encouragement causes his heart to race for just a moment as he swallows. Right. Time for him to show off because she's counting on him to get her closer to her answers. She's been searching for so long and he might be her light in the darkness. He has to do this. To fuck over their captors but also to set her free.

So Tech grasps some books that seem like they might contain what they're looking for -- pulling them free from the shelves and brushing aside the cobwebs that cling to them before he settles at a table. Before he opens any new book, he'll often make sure with Yennefer that she doesn't sense some of that dark blinding magic surrounding them, but if she's able to give the go ahead, he'll open it and peruse.

Tech makes quick work of it, pouring over the books. With how fast he turns the pages, it might even seem like he's not spending any time on them at all. But it's just the way his mind works. He processes things fast. Computer fast. And within forty five minutes, he's gone through ten large books front to back. It's part way through the eleventh that he finally stops on a page and lingers. He squints, working through his mental translations and then looks at Yennefer. ]

Here. I think this is it.

[ His chair scoots closer to Yennefer and points to a few of the scribbled arcane words as though she'd actually understand what they meant. ]

All of this shit they used for the pre-show before the wedding. Mammon started the spell before he even spoke the words. The components are supposed to be cooked in a cauldron of boiled blood and it calls for a bonfire. It...

[ He squints, reading and rereading some of the words to more accurately translate them aloud. ]

It's a bonding ceremony meant to--

[ Tech cuts off so abruptly. No, that can't be right. That can't be right! He reads over the words a few more times and then looks toward Yennefer with the utmost dread. He has to say it. She has to know, but the words don't come easy. And they don't come without him wanting to take her in his arms and offer some means of comfort. ]

It allows the caster to link and subsume the souls of others. The lingering remains would be empty husks that require the caster to function.

[ A chill seems to go through him as he looks toward her again. ]

Yennefer, have you felt like a part of you was missing? Have you felt like you were incomplete in some way? And not just the way that comes from losing everything in Hellburbia. I...

[ He closes his eyes, exhales a breath, and then reopens them to level his gaze on her -- straight to the point. ]

Yennefer, do you think the spell was cast enough to have consumed part of your soul already?