He looked at Karl and Triss, who were relatively unharmed, then carefully examined the scene and asked with certainty: "Triss, Your Excellency Karl... was this an experimental accident?"
Since there were no signs of a struggle at the scene, and neither party was obviously injured,
there seemed to be no more plausible explanation than an experiment gone out of control.
Triss sighed helplessly and nodded: "Yes, Fercart, it was... an unforeseen experimental accident."
Keira's gaze lingered more on Karl and Triss.
Her expression was very complex, a mix of hesitation, embarrassment, and a faint hint of anxiety.
Her lips twitched several times, as if she wanted to say something to Karl, perhaps an apology...
But for a long time, her pride and dignity as a sorceress acted like shackles, preventing her from bowing her head to Karl in front of Triss and Fercart.
Lately, she hadn't been hiding in her house without asking anything.
The news that Karl had been publicly legitimized by the king, received his inheritance, and won a huge reward had already spread throughout Vizima.
He was now the most prominent figure before the king.
On the other hand, these court sorcerers had already been viewed with suspicion and indifference by Foltest due to the Princess Adda curse.
In cases like the royal council a few days ago, when the main ministers gathered, they were directly excluded.
If Karl were to say a few bad things about her to the king because of what happened before...
Keira could almost foresee her future, finding it even harder to advance in the Temerian court.
They could be completely marginalized, losing their status as advisors, connections, sources of information, and significant income.
Just as Keira was struggling internally and about to swallow her pride and speak,
BOOM!
A muffled sound of an explosion, with a sense of spatial distortion, rang out.
In the open space at the center of the laboratory ruins, the air seemed to tear apart, and a fiery orange swirling portal suddenly opened.
The powerful magical fluctuations left all the sorcerers present in awe.
Immediately after, a flash of light erupted, and a figure emerged from the portal—it was Hen.
He still looked like a serious-faced, mustached middle-aged scholar, wearing fur and a robe.
Fercart saw that it was Hen, his face instantly filled with surprise, then became extremely respectful. He hastily took a few steps forward and bowed: "Hen, you are here?"
Hen's demeanor was as indifferent as always, but he nodded slightly in return.
His gaze swept over the chaotic scene, his eyebrows slightly raised.
Seeing the unfamiliar Keira, his brows immediately furrowed almost imperceptibly.
With a slight questioning look, he glanced at Fercart.
Fercart flinched at that glance and vigorously shook his head.
He lowered his voice and explained with emphasis: "Hen, it wasn't me! I definitely didn't leak any information about your whereabouts or anything else!"
Hen observed Fercart's reaction and secretly released his psychic energy.
Ensuring he wasn't lying, he snorted softly and stopped pursuing the matter.
He turned his head, and when his gaze fell on Karl, a genuine, gentle smile finally appeared on his serious face.
At that moment, Keira, standing to the side, was completely shaken and stunned, a storm raging in her heart.
The Dean of Ban Ard Academy! A member of the Chapter of Talent and Opportunity, one of the founders of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers!
How could she not recognize such a legendary figure of immense stature?
When they were appointed as advisors to the Temerian royal family, the final decision was made by the Dean and his colleagues.
She had witnessed Hen's appearance from afar outside the conference hall of the Gasta Palace.
Even in the textbooks of the Sorcerers' Academy, this legendary figure was mentioned.
He... how did he come to be here? Moreover, it seemed he had come specifically to find Karl?
How could a young man who had only just obtained official aristocratic status have any connection with someone like Hen?
For a while, countless questions swirled in Keira's mind.
But soon, she was overcome by a cold panic.
The only thing that could attract the attention of the Brotherhood's upper echelon was probably the Arzu spells...
Could it be... had Triss already reported the spells to the Brotherhood?
And even reported her previous disgraceful act—attempting to steal Karl's memories?
Thinking this, Keira's face instantly paled, and her eyes when looking at Karl and Hen were full of fear and anxiety.
"Teacher." Karl's natural address exploded in Keira's ears like thunder.
"Teach... Teacher? He calls Hen 'Teacher'?! The situation was worse than I thought—he became Hen's student?"
Keira's mind was in chaos; she had only been worried about the Arzu spells and her previous misdeeds.
Now it turned out that behind Karl stood one of the key figures of the Chapter.
This meant that if Karl wanted to pursue it, she would not only face losing her status at court but also severe punishment within the Brotherhood.
The thought "I'm finished..." lingered in her head.
Keira's frightened behavior was naturally observed by Karl without a trace.
A flicker of mockery passed through his heart: "Now you know to be afraid? Where was that sorceress arrogance when you were using mental spells to probe me before?"
Hen's gaze swept over them both, and he also sensed Keira's unusual fear, as well as the remorse and fear hidden in her complex eyes when she looked at Karl.
It seemed there had been some unpleasantness between this unknown sorceress and his newly accepted student; the rune on the back of Karl's hand had also been activated.
However, Hen didn't ask immediately; he held off for the moment and turned to Karl.
His tone returned to its usual calm: "Karl, is your luggage ready?"
"If everything is ready, I will open a portal right now and take you to the academy to officially begin your magical studies."
"Ready immediately, Teacher." Karl nodded and quickly walked to the collapsed corner of the laboratory.
He carefully pulled a dusty but sturdy bag from the rubble.
Just as Karl was about to turn to Triss and ask her to find someone to help send the chest of dimetrium to the academy,
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Hen uttered a sound of suspicion.
He tilted his head slightly, his gaze instantly fixing on a corner of the room.
A look of understanding flickered across his face, and he asked in a very positive tone: "Karl, in that box... is that dimetrium?"
He paused and explained: "The magical fluctuations here have an extremely subtle, unnatural weakening and distortion."
"Although it is very subtle, it cannot escape my perception."