It was the only logical explanation.
The history of the Empire dictated that Dark Magic was incredibly rare and necessary to absorb the rampant, toxic buildup of Holy Power.
Holy Power, in its purest, most concentrated form, was a destructive, calcifying force of absolute, blinding 'Light'.
When Julian had stepped onto the balcony at The Golden Stag, Seraphina's newly awakened, entirely unshielded, and completely untrained Dark Core had reacted to him the same way a drop of water reacts to a white-hot iron skillet.
Julian was a battery of pure Holy energy.
His 'Void' wasn't an absence of existence; it was an aura of Light so dense and pure that her Dark Core couldn't process it.
It was like staring directly into the sun without eyelids.
The 'crawling bugs' she had felt were the spiritual manifestation of her dark mana violently clashing with his ambient holy mana.
She had collapsed because she hadn't yet learned how to shield herself.
