There's a soft hum of thought, Merrill watching their fingers move over Purrelden's fur for a moment as she thinks.

"It... depends on the person, I think. If you're the type to want more power, and most mages who turn to blood magic seem to be, then yes -- absolutely. In Clarel's case... well. I don't know her. But she seems like someone who would do anything to try and save her people. If blood magic seems to be the only thing that can do that? I think she'll keep doing it. But that's the thing -- it isn't. And I think she might be starting to realize that, now that the Calling has stopped. Now the blood of hundreds of Wardens is on her hands and she has to try and justify it to herself. She'll either cling to that or she'll break, I think."

Her thumb traces at one of the faint scars on her arm, an almost idle motion, but she's not done. "I think it'll depend on the approach. If we only condemn her, she will strike back harder. She believed she was doing the right thing. If we tell her that we know she was trying to save some instead of letting everyone die, then... well, then we might be able to get through to her, and she isn't likely to use it again."