It actually was buffed to not require to be centered on the target. I don't recall if any recent cost changes occurred, but it was 40 nora for a long time in the past and is 40 nora now.
There might have been some point where it was 35 - I can't say for sure, but an old database called Pox Pulse does have it at 40 at that point in time.
I thought it was like 35 nora a few patches ago, then when SL got a lot of nerfs it got a cost increase to 40. Guess not though