Can't get ascendancy points 1-2

I skipped over the trials of sekhema in act 2. I then completed trials of chaos and received 2 ascendancy points from that. I then went back to do trial of sekhemas with the quest item balbala barrya and cant get the points upon completion. the altar doesn't activate and the quest says to interact with the altar to recieve ascension points. It gives back the barrya upon returning to the entrance as though i failed. I have completed it 3 times with this outcome.