I feel like I'm stretching the definition of nakama power, but I was thinking that if Dran wasn't her friend, he wouldn't have given her that thing anyway. That's why I feel like it still applies.
More importantly, as to why she didn't just use it right away, she may have needed a few seconds to understand how to use it. I'm also aware that pain generally causes lapses in judgment for those who are susceptible to it. That's why she just listened to elves instead of thinking for herself, until the pain died down. But that then gave her those few seconds.
So ya, maybe this chapter did have a little bit of thought put into it.