Something about what he said was welcoming. Actually, a lot of things about what he said were welcoming. Still birds of a feather. Still of a familiar kin to one another. Even prior to any of the changes he might have made. Ziio could not only respect it, she could appreciate it.

Even more so, she acknowledged that she respected and appreciated it. The first step in really solidifying sentiments and attachment of a kind. Although in the back of her mind, there was some hesitance in attaching herself to anyone further. In her stoic and maternal way, Ziio loved her students, even if she didn't say so. Kind of in the same way that the Clan Mother loved her people. Because in one form or another, the students (and staff) were her people.

She shook her head, "You are not wrong. Few opinions matter so to me where I am concerned. Yet I feel..." Her right hand lifted and for a moment, she merely motioned, as if she didn't know how to give voice to what she was thinking. "I do not dislike the times we have with one another. They are of import to me." Like she was relearning how to express herself. Simply because it was someone new she had finally felt close enough to in order to attempt.