Annotated 21-24
In an earlier version, the toll that saving the group took on Fr’Nj was going to be more personal; it was going to age her a bit… not to make her as old-looking as Faereksch’Nj, but maybe closer in age to Syr’Nj. Or maybe just streak her hair with white. Just enough of a mark to answer the question of “Well, those are some pretty awesome Graiya-like powers she’s got, why isn’t the team using those ALL THE TIME against EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING?”
As it is, the reason for her reluctance is fairly clear in dialogue. We can presume her increased use of the power in the last few chapters will be in line with what’s going on here: she is (not coldly, and not without regret) guiding plant life to sacrifice itself, to stop a force that would otherwise kill much more life than the sacrifice. It’s just that in the last few chapters, her idea of what that force is will have changed. Alliances shift.
Two things I like here (there are others, but these just jumped out) Scip immediately goes on the defensive when he thinks Fr’nj isn’t getting the credit she deserves, and Rahcel’s eyes popping from Scip’s hand rather firmly being attached to her backside. Little details like those are like lovely easter eggs in a story I already quite enjoy.
Another thing I like is how Bandit is talking like a commander, but not an overbearing one, the way she responds to Byron here is clearly as a leader, without actually ordering him to do anything.
It’s adorable that Bandit makes a really good effort to caring about the trees for Fr’nj’s sake.
It looks like she’s doing a lot of things right in terms of being the leader, but the group isn’t quite playing along … classic issue with trying to assert more authority than is granted. I feel for her.