I held the ruined pendant in my palm, examining it carefully. The dark energy had been completely drained, leaving behind nothing but a cracked stone. Kathleen Harding stared at me, her face still pale with shock.
"So it was... feeding on me all this time?" she whispered, her voice trembling slightly.
"Yes," I replied. "Slowly consuming your essence. Whoever gave this to you—your Master—he either meant you harm or was fooled himself."
Kathleen shook her head in disbelief. "Five years... I've worn it for five years."
I crushed the stone between my fingers, reducing it to dust. "Consider yourself fortunate. Most victims of such artifacts don't survive nearly that long."
"What happens now?" she asked, watching the dust scatter across my desk. "Will there be side effects?"
"Your energy will begin to restore itself naturally," I explained. "I'll provide you with some supplements to speed the recovery. You should feel stronger within days."
