Addie pursed her lips, her pupils dilating as she focused on the swirling void. It churned underneath her fingertips and a small growl of irritation built up in her throat as she hit that now familiar mental wall, the one that suggested she might not be able to go farther with this particular form of magic. She closed her eyes for a moment, turning her attention to this immediate threat to her focus. There was a pregnant pause as she allowed her conscience to explore the wall, feeling the jagged surface, allowing it to curl into the crevices that cracked the steadfast demeanor of the barrier. If Zad were to watch, he might notice the corners of her previously frowning lips to twitch upwards, curving into a small smile almost triumphantly. Her will solidified, and within those cracks that her mind had explored, the material of the wall began to crumble away, eventually creating a hole that she was able to sneak through. Back in the real world, Zad would see the void begin to grow once again in Addie's hands, faster than before. It passed over her fingers and grew larger, enveloping her hands.
Her hands grew dark and disappeared in the void's gloom. Her eyes remained sealed shut and she didn't notice, still exploring and pressing on. As Zad studied her, he might notice small twitches interrupting her otherwise smooth facial expression, indicative of small annoyances she encountered. The void paused. In her mind's eye, she felt pressure building up against her. Absently, her consciousness waved it away, studying the boulders in front of her that blocked her path. It was irritating, but not unsolvable. She slipped around the stones, feeling their weight against her skin as she moved in some form other than human, something barely more than fog. She broke through to the other side and waited for a moment, trying to focus. The pressure moved in waves and one nudged her, pressing her on; she knew she didn't have much more time left. In her hands, the void warped for a moment before accelerating suddenly, growing quickly until it was roughly the size of a yoga ball.
Somewhere, there was a dark hole, moving deeper and deeper into her mind. She didn't like it - too compact and tight for her taste - but she felt a pull, so she slipped down into it. The pressure continued to follow her and the tightness of the passageway was borderline claustrophobic. She took a deep breath, her hands trembling. It pulsed against her, jostling her as she moved around, trying to continue forward. She was losing it, she knew. Only a few more seconds. In a moment, the void grew, suddenly enveloping her entire person, engulfing her in a fog.
Her eyes flew open at his voice and it took them a moment for her to focus on him. Her hands were shaking and her brows were furrowed. "Zad..." she muttered, trying to take a deep breath. "Do I have to let it go?"
