The High Council's decree weighed heavily on Chen He, a thin layer of ice over the bubbling cauldron of his secret. He had bought time, but at the cost of constant scrutiny. He needed to choose his "students" carefully. They had to be intelligent enough to grasp his unconventional methods, but open-minded enough not to question the impossible source of his knowledge.
His first choice was obvious: Kael. The young Xylan had proven himself invaluable, his sharp mind and unwavering curiosity making him a natural assistant. He had already witnessed glimpses of Chen He's inexplicable speed and precision, and his loyalty seemed unwavering.
For the others, Chen He conferred with Velin Lumina, Solen's father, who had become a trusted ally. "I need healers who can see beyond the obvious," Chen He explained, "who are willing to learn a completely new way of understanding the body's energy."
Velin suggested two. The first was Elder Lyra, a revered, older healer known for her deep understanding of traditional Xylan crystalline remedies and bio-resonance theory. She was meticulous, highly respected, and generally unyielding in her adherence to established protocols. "She will question everything, Human," Velin warned, "but if she accepts, her influence will be invaluable." Lyra would represent the established medical order he had to win over.
The second was Fenn, a younger Xylan from a lesser-known healing lineage. Fenn was quiet, almost withdrawn, but possessed an uncanny knack for detecting subtle shifts in a patient's glow, often noticing imbalances before any instruments could. Fenn had a natural, almost intuitive connection to the flow of Xylan life energy, a trait that resonated deeply with Chen He's own [Holistic Insight].
The training sessions began in a newly designated section of Chen He's clinic, under the direct, unblinking gaze of a Council observer—usually a stern-faced Xylan who silently recorded every word and action.
"We begin not with tools, but with observation," Chen He instructed, standing before a holodisplay of a generalized Xylan anatomy. "The body speaks through its light. Every flicker, every shift in hue, every change in intensity – these are messages."
He demonstrated his [Holistic Insight]. "Observe how the luminescence of the core regulators influences the spectral pathways in the limbs. A faintness here," he pointed, "might indicate a blockage there." He was essentially verbalizing the visual overlays and intuitive data the Modifier provided him, translating complex systemic analysis into principles his students could follow.
Lyra, ever the traditionalist, meticulously took notes, her glowing eyes narrowing in thought. "But the established diagnostic matrices do not account for such subtle interdependencies, Human. Our instruments focus on specific organ health."
"Your instruments are excellent," Chen He acknowledged. "But they record a moment. We need to perceive a flow. Think of the body not as parts, but as a single, dynamic light sculpture." He showed them cases, projected from his Modifier-recorded data (carefully anonymized), of children suffering from early-stage Crystal Stagnation. He pointed out the almost imperceptible changes in their glow patterns that the Modifier had flagged.
Fenn, however, seemed to grasp it almost instantly. The quiet Xylan would often nod before Chen He finished explaining, sometimes pointing out a subtle shift on a projected patient's glow pattern that even Lyra missed. Fenn's natural intuition for light was uncanny, making the "diagnostic intuition" concept seem less abstract.
During a session focused on adjusting the Resonance Chamber's frequencies for a new patient, a young Xylan named Glim, Chen He activated his [Absolute Precision]. He demonstrated how to fine-tune the controls, explaining the "feel" of the energy rather than just the numerical readout. Lyra struggled, her movements precise but lacking the subtle responsiveness. Kael, diligent, followed instructions perfectly. But Fenn, with a thoughtful hum, seemed to feel the resonance, making tiny, almost instinctive adjustments that mirrored Chen He's own.
The Council observer watched, unblinking. Chen He knew they were looking for a trick, a hidden switch, a secret they could uncover. But the secret was within him, an intangible, adaptive force that no Xylan could see. He was teaching them to see with new eyes, to feel with new senses, hoping they could eventually replicate his results even if they couldn't replicate his method. It was a tightrope walk, one misstep away from exposing the Modifier and losing everything.