“Corruption?” Talina asked.

“Of a sort," Valise nodded sadly. "The world is filled with magical energies. They flow through every living thing that exists upon Arolius. This is Transference. A form of magic that can be used to take magic from one thing and offer it to another." Her lip curled in disgust as she regarded the damage to the tree.

“In this case, ripping the magic of life from a living creature and shifting the energy to fuel the power of a sorcerer. This is a great crime to orcs, and to elves."

‘m no expert, but I don't think humans would be too keen on it either," Talina added.

That caught Valise's attention and she turned away from the black handprint to Look over to the slender woman.

“Are you not human, Talina?"

“In body, but not usually in mind. I've been thinking more about it lately. Torren made me see it. He is very human, you know. So... warm and feeling. I didn't notice it before, when all I had to do was dance, but I don't feel like that. I never have. I'm hoping that some of his humanity might rub off on me. It hasn't yet, but I'm very much enjoying the rubbing." She grinned.

“Talina, you have always had a somewhat direct nature, but you are human. A particularly graceful one, but a human regardless."

The young woman did not seem comfortable with that assessment, and instead shifted her attention back to the hand print.

“Will the corruption spread?"

"No. Well, not further than the tree. When something is partially drained of life, the emptiness it leaves behind seeks to be filled. The power flows into it like water into an empty vessel, diluting the nearby life. The tree will bear the brunt of this effect. The spell seems to have been done hastily, and there are no indications further power will be drawn from this place. Just don't get too close to it or the void might try stealing your own life force."

“What about your Life force? Should you really be getting that close?" “I am diminished in power to what I used to be, but I know how to hold that which I have left in place. It's one of the few tricks I have retained." There was no bitterness to be heard in Valise's voice in speaking on the matter, but she did step away from the handprint and the darkened leaves as suggested. No point in tempting fate.

Talina looked momentarily uncertain as she considered her friend's words.

“The clearing where Wren spoke to the pool was filled with dead foliage that looked Like that." She nodded to the leaves. "Should I be worried that I have somehow become infected?"

“It is not a disease, as such. And it is likely that you stepped amongst the dead foliage whilst they were being drained for the spell that summoned the voice. They would therefore not have their leeching quality until they were drained completely."

“How can you be sure?"

“Because if not, you'd be dead."

Talina felt a slight chill run through her at those words. She'd had more than a few close calls in her time, but at least she could see them coming. Having her life force sucked out by some kind of magical void she couldn't even see was definitely not her ideal way to go.

“Don't worry, Talina.” Valise stepped forward and placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. "You will be fine as long as you're with me."

That was definitely a change of attitude. Talina was under the impression that she'd be the one keeping Valise safe out there.

“What about when we arrive at the pool?" Talina began to resume the walk to their grim destination. "Won't the hollowed out vegetation suck out our spirit juice?"

A momentary Laugh escaped Valise's lips, as she'd studied magic and the native energies of the world at length. Yet, she'd never quite heard someone refer to the anima of existence as "spirit juice" before.

"I have something prepared in case we should come across that problem. Transference is a common tool of the demonic sorcerer, so I prepared for the possibility we might run across its effects.”

“The realms in the north are blackened." Talina noted that fact with a pointed suggestion hanging in the statement.

“If the demonic swarms continue their push, the entire world shall be," Valise nodded. "That is what they seek here. This world was forged in magic, and it is a potent harvest for any demon lord."