Page 67 of Dark Princess Ascending

Brandon smiled as he returned with a tray of coffee cups. "I hope it's passable."

“I’m sure it’s great,” Syssi said as she accepted a cup.

After Brandon distributed the cups to the rest of them and everyone prepared their own drink to their liking, Kian decided that they had spent enough time socializing and it was okay to get down to business.

"Have you tried using your telekinesis again since the other night?" he asked Morelle.

The glow in her eyes dimmed. "No. I didn't want to risk drawing power from anyone without their knowledge or consent. I don't like doing that, but it just happens, and it doesn't feel right to me."

"That's the wrong way to think about it," Syssi said.

Kian chuckled. "Well, not necessarily. If you think about leeches, they have medicinal usages, like drawing poison from an organism, so leaching away excess power might be a good thing in some situations."

"What do you mean?" Morelle asked. "And what are leeches?"

"Medicinal leeches are a type of worm, and they have been used for thousands of years," Kian explained. "They can help remove contaminated blood from wounds, improve circulation, and even help with certain medical conditions. Something that seems parasitic at first glance can actually be beneficial in the right context."

"That's fascinating." Morelle leaned forward. "We had nothing like that back home. Our parasites are mostly just opportunistic without providing any benefits."

"The point is," Amanda interjected, "your ability isn't inherently good or bad. It's a tool, and its value depends on how it's used."

Kian nodded. "Exactly. And that's why we're here—to help you understand and control it."

"I just don't want to accidentally hurt anyone," Morelle said softly. "Including myself."

"None of us reported feeling hurt or drained after you used your ability. The only one who was drained was you," Kian said.

"Hold on." Jasmine held up her hand. "I'm feeling like the kid who's not part of the clique. What are you all talking about?"

When Morelle was done explaining, Jasmine rubbed her temples between her thumb and forefinger. "Oh, wow. Now it all makes sense. I wonder how much you can draw and channel. I bet there is a limit to how much you can hold."

"Good observation." Amanda waved with her stylus. "That's easier to check than to measure how much power you can expel."

Brandon shook his head. "It should be done gradually. I don't think Morelle feels the power, so she might draw too much without realizing it."

Amanda turned to Morelle. "Is that true?"

"I didn't feel anything when I drew energy from Jin, Arwel, Cassandra, and even Toven, but I felt it when I drew it from everyone at dinner. It felt good, like an inflow of positive charge. There was nothing uncomfortable about it, but then I didn't know I was doing it."

"We need to test it," Amanda said. "Can you draw from all of us?"

Morelle swallowed. "I'm not sure I know how."

Kian had a feeling that she was blocking herself from accessing the power because she viewed her ability in a negative light.

Leaning forward, he braced his elbows on his knees. "You shouldn't think of what you do in terms of taking or drawing. Think of it asredirecting or channeling. You're not depleting anyone's power permanently—you're redirecting it temporarily for a specific purpose."

"Like a conductor leading an orchestra," Syssi suggested, catching his line of thought. "Each musician still plays their own instrument, but the conductor helps direct their combined effort into something greater."

Morelle seemed to consider this. "I know that you are just trying to make me feel good about my ability, and I'm grateful, but the meaning attached to it has to come from me."

Kian could respect that, but he didn't have all day, and Morelle was being stubborn. "You saved a precious life, and you were the only one who could have done it. I would have gladly parted with as much of my life energy as I could give to help you do that. But I cannot channel it into you unless you make the request. Make the request, Morelle. There might be more at stake here than your sensibilities."

39

MORELLE

Ouch. Kian was pulling no punches, but that approach resonated with Morelle.