You and Failiel follow Alexandra to a room which has a variety of things in it, most of which might have magical purposes. You can only guess about that, but that elaborate circle inscribed into the floor sure looks like it ought to be magical, if it is not just decoration.

"This circle is one of the few places in the House where magic can operate." Alexandra confirms your guess. "Laura, take this ball and get into the circle... Now try to make it light up." Laura, a hot brunette wearing a witch outfit, or rather half of one, and the smaller half, looks at the ball and it glows like a lightbulb.
"Failiel, your turn." Alexandra says as Laura steps out of the circle. "Into the circle and make the ball bright." Failiel is trying something, you can tell, but nothing seems to be happening. "Well, what is wrong?" Alenandra asks.

"I don't know." Failiel almost tearfully answers. "I can feel the magic is here, but I just can't get it to obey."

"Well, it seems there was some truth to your talk of a bond." Alexandra muses. "Let's see what happens when Rick tires. You two swap places."

You follow orders. There is something odd about the circle, but you have no idea what as you stand there in it. And you have even less idea of just how you are supposed to make this ball light up. "Think of it glowing." Failiel suggests. You try, but the ball does not change.

"Another failure." Alexandra shrugs. "Well, there are a lot of other possibilities. Failiel, you mention the idea of batteries. Let's see if you are Rick's battery. Into the circle with you." Failiel enters, but the ball stays unlit. "Maybe if you touch him..." Alexandra offers. But this too has no result. "OK, we try with Failiel holding the ball and trying to light it."
This too fails to do anything, as do several other variations. By the time Alexandra orders "This time, you two hold onto each other and both try to make it glow...", it is simply one of many tries and you try it without hope, or really without thought.

So the resulting glow is a shock to you. Maybe not enough of one to make you gap like an idiot, or at least you hope not, but even if the glow is not blinding, you were not expecting it at all. And it seems to be a real thrill to Failiel, at least from the way she hugs you. "Brighter! Think brighter." She orders. You do as told and the soft glow increases until it is painful to look at. And Failiel's joyful hug becomes painful too.

Which distracts you from the light, which winks out. "So there is a link." Alexandra declares. "Sounds like it will take a fair amount of work to get you back up to speed, Failiel. That will be Laura's job. You too will be her toys until further notice. Obey her in all things." She pauses for a moment. "Of course, you need to get swallowed by a lot of people too. Which to give priority to?.."