"...they can't be removed." Not without killing him. Leaving it in- that would kill him eventually as well.

Shit.

"There is no- you need to avoid rifts. Rifts and VeilFire. The shards react to them in some way- most others with them have the shard in their hand and while I will not go so far as to say it does not hurt them; it certainly will cause you a great deal more harm for all that it is lodged in your chest."