The moment Nova's glowing hand made contact with the barrier surrounding Maeve, the ancient Elder's entire body went rigid. Her eyes—now visible as the chamber's light dissolved the last of her concealing magic—widened with what could only be described as absolute shock.
"What..." she whispered, staring down at the baby whose tiny fingers were pressed against the light barrier. "What is this?"
"That," Thalia said with obvious amusement, "would be empathy. Nova is sharing what she experiences when she looks at you."
Maeve's knees buckled, and she sank to the marble floor, her hands pressed to her temples. "I can feel... everything. Her curiosity, her complete lack of fear, her..." She looked up at Samantha with something approaching wonder. "Her absolute certainty that we belong here. That we're supposed to be part of something larger."
