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~~((The Totally-Not-Random May 1st Special -- page 6 of 18))~~
"So this was why King Martinus was resistant to your manipulation?" said King William. "You wanted to change something in him that was too old?"

'I... suspect that was the reason, yes, but I do not know for certain.' Hanton ruffled his feathers. 'That was the first time I had ever attempted to influence him telepathically. All throughout our childhood, I never once tried it. He was my friend. Even if he would never find out about it, I still felt that doing that to him would have been a betrayal.'

William held his one hand up to his chin, thinking. "Then are you saying that there could have been a different reason why he resisted you?"

'Well, yes. Some people are simply resistant by nature. Or even... immune.' He eyed Hector again. 'I know not why.'

He didn't know? Hmm. Hector considered that morsel of information a bit further. During that first encounter with Hanton, Hector had gotten the impression that it was his ability to think in parallel thought processes that allowed him to ignore the Sparrow's attempts to freeze his mind, but considering what Hanton had just said, Hector couldn't imagine that the blessing of Focus was particularly common. He'd be surprised if someone had even heard of it, much less possessed it.

Hector had to ask. "How many people have you met who were immune to your telepathy?"

'Including you? Only four.'

Hector tried not to seem so surprised, but it was difficult. "Over the course of your entire life?"

'Yes. People who are merely resistant are less rare. Regardless, cautionary tales regarding such individuals have been passed down through my family's generations. It is a foolish Sparrow indeed who disregards that possibility and instead tries to solve every problem with such an invasive method. One might even argue that it was precisely such carelessness that caused the downfall of my ancestors.'