If you want to waste a good soul, go ahead and do that. Souls exist to fuel enchantments, not to fuel discussions between collectors. You either use it or you waste it. There's no in-between.

Here's what's going to happen. You're going to give it to him. He's going to put it on his shelf. It's going to stay on his shelf. Forever. He collects soul gems, so if you want to set Missa free, giving it to Tynachos is not an option.

I've told you already, I'll hold on to this soul for further study. I have many other souls that demand more immediate attention, though.

Interesting, interesting. The soul gem is far more astringent than it seems from afar. It's like the gem has constricted around the soul, slowly crushing what remains of it. When you focus on the soul, it has a certain tremulous resonance. What an excellent addition for my repository. It's certainly worth appreciating further. Here, take these. Don't let Dalyne see you walk out with them.

Is this some kind of joke? Or did you actually lose it? Come back with the gem, or don't come back at all.

No? What do you mean, 'no'? You're not going to recover the soul inside that soul gem. You should give it to someone who can properly study and appreciate it.

Well, yes, what else would you do with it? If you must demand something in return, I'll give you some of these scrolls I was going to let Lorviel sell.

Studies is what I do.