Leland nodded at her apology. He couldn't bring himself to look at her because he knew what he would see. She of all people understood how much his ability to heal meant to him. The thought that he had lost it, possibly forever, it was devastating. "Thank you," he said after a long moment and then finished the last of his tea. He shook his head at her line of questions. "I wish I knew. The only thing I can think of is to try to find out more from others. Maybe this isn't the first time someone has heard of this. Maybe someone knows of a wizard who might know something. Maybe..."
Something about what she said had him finally look at her thoughtfully. "Talents won't do it, you said... But I healed someone, before my own talent got corrupted. I healed her completely. That means it is curable. But not by a talent that is uncorrupted. If someone uses talent to heal, they damage their own. How can someone heal without infecting themselves, without corrupting their talent?" The answer was so close but it was just so hard to think clearly. "Some way to heal...without having that ability change afterwards." Or heal with an ability that wouldn't change because it had already been corrupted. There was a sudden sick feeling in the pit of Leland's stomach, but his mind hadn't come to the conclusion that was right in front of him.