"You, my friend, may be very important. You have the highest magical capacitance of anyone I have tested. I'd rather not let such an opportunity slip through my fingers..."
"You, my friend, have a very high magical capacitance! You have just passed the first test! I will need to do the same for your friend there..."
Tayen looked at her with deep concern, still holding her close in his arms.
Just then, unimaginable pain shot through her. It was all the burning of the fire that had consumed her, but all at once and duplicated in every part of her body and mind. It lasted for what could have been seconds or hours, then vanished.
Carab unlatched the box and removed a small, dark blue gemstone. He wore gloves as he held it out to them with a wickedly gleeful smile. "Who's first?"