It had to be said: Zion's three leaders—or rather, two of them, since the brown-haired girl with the long donkey ears clearly had no idea what was going on—were far too jumpy.
Pan Long figured the pressure they lived under had probably grown so intense that it was affecting their ability to think straight.
He even suspected that, the moment they heard there was "a way to ease or even treat Psychic Infection," the two perpetually exhausted Zion leaders had been so overcome with joy that they had temporarily lost their heads.
There was no point arguing with people in that state. All he could do was handle his own work and guide the situation in a positive direction.
So on his first day in Zion, he prepared to start teaching.
He had originally planned to pick three or five students and teach them. But "Doctor"—the black-haired man who directed the Zion Research Institute and was, nominally, its highest leader—suggested a large lecture instead.
"You can certainly choose a few students you like and give them private lessons, but please give more psionic users a chance to learn. Even if all you offer them is a little hope, a little comfort, that would still be something." Sorrow showed through his smile, impossible to hide. "Everyone has had such a hard time these past few years! Even if it doesn't help much, a little hope might at least let them... sleep more soundly."
His words came from the heart, and the meaning beneath them was enough to bring tears of sympathy to anyone's eyes.
Pan Long sighed and accepted his suggestion.
"All right. You're the expert on this sort of thing." He smiled. "In that case, I'll start the lecture shortly. The sooner everyone can begin learning, the better."
"I'll arrange