Growing Pains

The effects of the artifact were profoundly unpleasant, Lioness thought.
It was as if the "probe" was confused by the fact that there was so little magic to hold on to.
But as the magic of the artifact developed, it penetrated whatever was holding her power back, and started pulling at the strands to get to envelop the very roots of it.
Wolf started his incantations.
More unpleasantness followed.
It wasn't as fast as the original ritual Sarmad did.
Maybe that was what made it painful.
"Stop!" she couldn't bear it.
Wolf frowned.
"Back to the drawing board, I guess."