Thanks! That's something I definitely hadn't considered and honestly that would perfectly explain why it wasn't working. I didn't put two and two together to realize that low spatial influence was probably the cause. I was using the ASI:Muscle equipment on both Alcy and her cell which reduces spatial influence to 1.
Hadn't really noticed a difference elsewhere in combat (every common fight was over in 1-2 rounds anyway), and I didn't really understand what spatial influence did in the first place. Muscle's description states that "buffs will be affected" but I didn't connect the dots. All of my other buffs and protection effects were seemingly working fine (though in hindsight I assume now that they likely weren't as effective as they could have been if spatial influence hadn't been nerfed)
I appreciate you clearing up my frustration and confusion