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Graves bobbed his head a little. “It also eases feelings of suspicion and paranoia.”

Lakefire. The man was influencing their emotions, too?

Zeff utterly hated that information.

So much so, in fact, that he was unable to stop himself from asking what was probably a very dangerous pair of questions. “Do you really intend to release us after this is done? Just send us on our merry way back to Sair after all we’ve learned?”

If the field marshal was irritated, however, he did not let it show in the slightest. “No, actually. I intend to help you retake your homeland, just as I said I would.”

Somehow, those words infuriated Zeff even more. The absurdity of them. The impossibility of trusting them. But he did manage to control himself, this time.

Somewhat.

“I find that difficult to believe,” said Zeff.

“Of course you do. But you will see. Time will bear out the truth in my words.”

“After this, I am not certain we will even want your help, Hawk.”

The man seemed amused. “Heh. If it comes to that, then I will still help you, without revealing myself again. A promise is a promise, even to those who won’t remember.”

Smooth-talking bastard. “I will remember,” said Zeff. “I will never forget.”

“...Indeed.” Graves’ expression was a soft one. Sympathetic.

Pitying.

Zeff didn’t know what to make of that, but it certainly wasn’t making his hatred burn any less hot.

He remained silent, though, not wanting to say anything else that he might regret. What was even the point of coming in here, he wondered? What had he expected to accomplish?

Foolishness.

“...Allow me to elucidate one other matter,” said Graves after a short spell of silence. “You seem to be under the impression that you are entirely immune to my abilities. That your Supreme Will grants you total protection. And perhaps the wiser course of action on my part would be to let you continue thinking this. I’m sure it would simplify matters.

“But when I imagine you encountering another psychic at some point in the future--one with truly malicious intentions toward you--I feel compelled to inform you that you are, in fact, not immune. You are merely resistant. Which, for better or worse, means that all of the harmless techniques that I can use on your brethren... would not be so harmless on you. Because in order to influence your mind, I would have to push much harder--and that could indeed do real, lasting damage to you.”