Nikolai's expression changed for the first time from the usual "old coot look" to a more serious expression.
:
Nobody likes talking about that, but I figure I should tell you before you make a terrible mistake. Nikolai cleared his throat.
:
It was several years ago, when I was still representing Veyriden in the Council. A summoner, like you, had made a discovery in the Great Library related to permanently summoning spirits and those kinds of beings, some ancient magic, and I allowed the investigation to continue. I had a reunion with the Council so I couldn't check their progress.:
When I returned from the reunion, Veyriden was overrun with... shadow beings. A lot of them. Apparently they found a way to summon or create souls, taking whatever body they could: golems, shadows, people... Furthermore, they were fully conscious and sapient, so they had basically given life to a lot of things that shouldn't be alive. They caused damage to the whole city, and a bodyless conscience is very hard to remove.:
They have the same will to live than anyone else, so when they finally dealt with them, a lot of people couldn't handle what they had just done and killed themselves. I was responsible for the deaths of hundreds, and was removed from my position as representative.:
The Library was also sealed to prevent the accidental release of a piece of knowledge that causes a similar disaster. That's why you shouldn't delve too much into the secret of the souls, and why the Summoner Contract forbids you from attempting to summon permanently.Nikolai went silent, and went back to staring at the front.