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((The Mon/Wen/Fri Double -- page 2 of 2))
He was trying to think of something else to tell her that might make her happy. He'd never felt like the best purveyor of 'good news,' but there had to be something, right?

'...Uh. Y-your dad seems to be doing better.'

'Oh? How so?'

'When we were training earlier today, he was actually kind of nice to me.'

'Hmm. Is he not normally nice to you?'

'Ah. Uh. Well. Not exactly, no. Not that I mind. He's my teacher, so it's good that he's strict. It's just--er... He seemed like he was in a good mood today.'

'I see.'

Hector wondered if that had made her feel any better. He couldn't tell.

'By the way,' said Emiliana, 'have you ever heard of something called "Sto?"'

'No. What's that?'

Apparently, it was a meditation technique that Gohvis, of all people, had taught her about.

Hector didn't know all that much about mutation, so he took the opportunity to ask questions. When Garovel had first described it to him, the mutation type had sounded like quite a horrible power to have, and judging from all that Emiliana had gone through--and was still going through--Hector's opinion of mutation didn't really change all that much.

But it was a relief to know that she was getting a handle on it, at least.

And a part of him did find it fascinating, to be sure. Altered states of consciousness? Tapping into hidden areas or features of the brain? What a wild concept.

'I don't know if any of this will be useful for a non-mutator,' said Emiliana, 'but I thought that it couldn't hurt to tell you.'

'Hmm.' It was giving him ideas, to be sure, but after hearing her say that, maybe he shouldn't get his hopes up. After a moment, though, another thought struck him. 'Hey, uh... have you noticed anything different about your ability to concentrate, lately?'