Bry lets out a strangled sob but pulls herself together a lot more quickly than the other human as the dwarf falls still. "He's with the Absolute now," she says, swallowing dryly and trying to hold back her tears. Then she looks up at Ivetrielle and farther up at Astarion. "...my apologies. I—we didn't know. That you were also a True Soul. Edowin—our brother—he was one, too. Chosen. Like you."

UM.

"Of course, well, no harm done." Except to the guy who is, uh, dead.

The other human looks up, too, and he's not really succeeding at holding back his tears. "...I'm sorry, True Soul. I'm Andrick, she is Bryanna. We—"

    "Do you have orders for us?" says Bryanna, standing up and straightening her spine.

Orders?? The fuck?? And a True Soul?? What even is that??? Ivetrielle has no idea what these people are talking about or what is going on.

"I, ah, need to confer with my allies for a moment. We did not expect to find another True Soul here, and are not prepared to deal with two new apprentices. If you'll excuse us."

"Yes, True Soul," says Bryanna.

He gives Ivetrielle a pleading look then starts walking back to where the other two are.

Uh, yeah, okay, she’ll follow after retrieving her staff. She’s still confused, but she’s pretty sure that Astarion is as well, and that they’re all about to go be confused at each other about this True Soul nonsense.

"This is something about the parasite." Okay so not as confused as her. "I could see into his mind. I don't think he knew it was a parasite, they think it's powers given by this 'Absolute'."

"Oh. That... makes it make more sense. Okay. And, in that context, I map out as another cultist, obediently following after my betters."

"So we must kill them. Deny our enemy every advantage."

"They could prove useful, though. If other infected are also under the impression that the infection is a blessing from this Absolute, that means these people will have information that we will need to understand what's happening. And they may provide clues as to why we're not growing tentacles."

“I think I lean ruthlessly lying to them and using them for information,” agrees Ivetrielle, nodding. “We can always kill them later.”

This sort of casual turnaround from working selflessly to save someone’s life to ‘we can just kill them later’ might inflict whiplash on her party members.

Yeah it kinda does.

...only a little bit.

No Lae'zel was right this woman is ruthless.

So they can return to those two, who had started talking to each other in subdued tones but who immediately stand at attention again once they're close enough.

"Before I decide what to do with you, I must know how much True Soul Edowin managed to impart on you. Tell me about the Absolute."

"The Absolute is our goddess," says Andrick. "She is going to rip down the old world order, start a new one. Then we'll be the ones with the power. —well, you will firstly, True Soul. You don't need me to explain that."

    "A True Soul is one who has been chosen by the Absolute, and speaks with Her voice. And when the time comes, the True Souls will rule."

"And what is the process through which one becomes a True Soul?"

"...is that a trick question?" asks Andrick. "Only the Goddess chooses True Souls according to Her divine wisdom. It is not for mortals to know."

"Of course it's a trick question, novice, and I did not invite your criticism. I told you to answer the questions and so you will answer the questions."

"...please forgive me, True Soul, I meant no disrespect."

"I will decide whether I'll forgive you or not later. For now: where are the bases of operation of the followers of the Absolute?"

    "Our brother did not tell us about all of them. He only knew of the one at the old temple to the west. We were on our way from there when..." Bryanna gives Edowin's corpse a glance before looking back up at Astarion.

"...should we really be talking about this out in the open...?"

Astarion glares at him...