Inflictors are elves with the ability to inflict pain or other negative emotions on someone else, including elves and goblins. Sophie, however, can also inflict positive emotions, thanks to her alicorn inspired DNA. This ability has the capability to incapacitate others and is very rare. Because this ability can be dangerous, the Council monitor all Inflictors carefully.
Sophie describes seeing colors in her peripheral vision before she used this ability. When Bronte inflicted on her, she imagined a cold and painful sensation and feeling, showing that the feeling and effect of Inflicting may vary, depending on the Inflictor.
Bronte taught Sophie to imagine all her strong emotions tied into a knot so when she needs to use infliction, she can unleash more power.
In Flashback, the Neverseen blocked Sophie's inflicting with fitted hats made of chain mail (or, in Vespera's case, a headdress.)
in Legacy, Sophie gets her abilities reset because the way that the Black Swan designed her inflicting is "malfunctioning." Instead of taking out everyone around her when she inflicts, now she can direct her ability to one person, singling out the one who she wants. Sophie shows us this in the 8th book, by singling out Lady Gisela and inflicting on her specifically.
Inflicting is visually depicted on the cover of Legacy where a beam of reddish-purple light comes out of Sophie Foster's head, although the actual power of Inflicting comes from the heart emotions (not the head)
However, during the end of Stellarlune, her inflicting ability comes out of both her hands and forehead in the same reddish-purple lightning strikes, proving that this ability can be used on multiple people at the same time.
Inflicting cannot be blocked without thinking caps.
Known Inflictors[]
Sophie discovers this ability in the first book when she is with Dex in Paris. In Exile, she learns that she can inflict positive emotions as well as negative emotions because of her alicorn-inspired DNA. Sophie is also given back a memory in Legacy of her and Amy when they were younger, where she inflicts on Amy when her new ability gets triggered.
Councillor Bronte was the only registered inflictor before Sophie manifested. He now acts as her Mentor and can only inflict negative emotions.
Silveny can inflict positive emotions and sometimes does it to help Sophie sleep.
Quotes[]
“All of her other abilities worked so effortlessly, she didn't understand why this one was such a struggle.”