Julia shook her head. "Nothing like that," she assured him. "Physically, you'll be the same. You won't become some sort of monster or...lose any body parts." She considered it. "I honestly don't know what will happen. Maybe nothing. Maybe you'll be the exact same person you were before you were touched by something ancient and terrible. Or maybe you'll be different. There's a power inside of you. And it was forced on you by something. That doesn't always go away completely. I can strip away the dark parts but there may be something left in the aftermath."
She looked up at him, her smile small and sad. "I've been where you are," she said. "I had something dark and awful in me and I wanted nothing more than to have it gone." She went quiet for a moment, her gaze going distant. "I met a god. But he wasn't...he was cruel and vicious and he did things...you don't need all the details. He left a piece of himself in me. I tore out my own soul trying to get it out. I became something awful, trying to be rid of him. But eventually, I got myself back. And then I became this." She paused. "I'm not saying you'll be like me. Whatever touched you wasn't a god. And I'm not saying you'll be like it. But you may become something else. It's different for everyone."
She led him through the cottage and up to her room. She doubted the others would bother to disturb them, but it was better to be safe about it. For good measure, she put up extra wards around the room. Safer for everyone. The warm light of the setting sun came in through the windows, but she still lit candles and gestured to the bed. "Go ahead and lay down," she said. "It'll be easier. And more comfortable besides."