ToME: the Tales of Maj'Eyal

For the prodigy Cauterize, does damage that my shields absorb count? In other words, can I pop up a shield and start hitting myself with the fire beam in order to unlock it? Or does it have to be genuine damage?

EDIT: well, I have just fired at myself without a shield and unlocked it, after testing with a shield that I won't kill myself that way (yeek archmage).

I'm afraid it doesn't it the damage is somehow negated.