[Vander wonders how all these disparate pieces of Aetós’s research connect. Time and souls, he’d got to learn a bit about that firsthand. But the rest—in particular looking into someone’s kin? Could be Aetós sees another Shard-bearer with "potential." Could be they simply prefer to be in the know about any potential Bearer who might butt into their business… or prove useful to it. Despite spending a week down there, Vander still only got so much insight into what might be spurring them and their research on.

But did the experience dissuade him? If he was a smarter man, maybe it should. He came out of there marked, changed—though he still doesn’t know how, exactly—and wouldn’t he just be better off folding now before he lost more in this proverbial gamble?]

On the contrary. They’ve gone and made this personal, and they’re still a threat. I’m not going to simply roll over and let this continue unchecked.

[Still, he needs to recover first. Find out exactly what had been done to him, find out more clues to where they might be lurking and what their next move might be. He can’t be caught unawares again.

As for what they’re ultimately planning? He only has one small bit of insight into it.]

Aetós claimed to be interested in trying to puzzle out how to create souls.