Thace lifts his head and kisses Steven softly. "I couldn't hold that against you when I've experienced similar benefits."

He sighs. "There are those with magic, called Druids. They can take the life energy, the quintessence, from just about anything. I've seen them render a planet and everything on it into lifeless dust. Thankfully that machine was a recent development and only ever used on one planet to my knowledge. But the quintessence they take, it's turned into fuel, used in medicine... Given as gifts for exemplary service. I've been given that... gift--"

Thace's expression twists with distaste, "twice. It's why my eyes are a solid gold glow without pupils. It doesn't happen to every Galra that receives quintessence, but to most."