[ desperate as she is to convince him not to write her off, a long pause follows his question while ness considers her options. if there must be a bright side to this horrific situation, it's that no one knows the truth of her magic, and it would be wise of her to keep it that way, if she can—but then, if neither of them are insane, and something magical is happening, he'll have notes on her abilities. the division heads will. she'll look more suspicious if she doesn't say anything now, even if she's just trying to protect herself.

weighing these considerations takes far longer than any natural pause in conversation, and she can feel—maybe manufactures the feeling of—his impatience on the other side of the crystal. eventually, with a tone as reluctant as it is pathetic, she speaks. ]

I can hold conversations within minds. Not read them, [ she wants that very clear, alright, she knows how this sounds in light of what she's trying to convince him of, ] but communicate between them, just as though we were conversing aloud. There are other things I can do, but that was what you needed me for in the Pass.

You have... or, you should have, notes on my magic. You were instructing me.