However, the grip on the collar hadn't yet solidified.
Karl felt Hen's body tremble violently, as if he had lost all strength and was about to fall to the ground.
"Teacher!" Karl exclaimed, quickly releasing his grip and instead supporting Hen's body, which was nearly collapsing.
"Teacher, what's wrong with you?" Karl asked urgently.
He felt Hen's body tremble slightly, his breathing rapid and labored.
Sweating profusely, his lips slightly purple, he waved his hand heavily, as if wanting to say something, but for a long time couldn't speak due to the pain.
He leaned on Karl and took several deep breaths, his chest heaving violently.
Over time, the intense pain subsided a little, and color returned to his pale face.
"No... it's alright... an old problem... don't worry, just rest... it'll be fine."
Hen's voice was a bit weak; he barely straightened up, but one hand still unconsciously rested on his left chest.
Karl looked at Hen's obviously weakened state, his brows furrowed tightly. He knew Hen had a heart condition.
In the original story, during the Thanedd coup over a decade later, Hen was so ill he could only move around in a wheelchair.
But he hadn't expected Hen's condition to appear so early and suddenly attack during a battle.
It seemed... over these ten years, this condition would gradually worsen and worsen.
Seeing Karl's furrowed brow and worried eyes, Hen tried to force a relieved smile.
He patted Karl's hand that was holding him: "Really, don't worry... it usually doesn't happen."
"It's just that today... seeing your rapid progress, I, as your teacher, wanted to see where your limit is."
"I overexerted myself... a little too much, and it affected my old ailment."
He paused and looked at Karl intently, his eyes full of undisguised relief and pride.
Hen changed the subject: "However, Karl, you really surprised me today."
"Although you are still far from me in terms of the breadth, depth, and experience of your spells, considering your incredible physique and speed..."
Hen's tone suddenly became extremely affirmative: "Your overall strength has far surpassed most members of the Council, and one could even say it has exceeded the peak that many can achieve in a lifetime."
"If I were an ordinary council sorcerer, I'm afraid I would have died dozens of times over in this offensive just now."
"Even the other two members of the Chapter, Artaud and Francesca..."
"When they first fight you and don't know the details, they will most likely be... instantly defeated by you."
Here, Hen did not mention Tissaia, only the two Chapter members.
Because Tissaia was similar in seniority to him, though she wasn't a source sorcerer, she also wasn't ill, and he didn't think Karl could defeat Tissaia.
Hen Chang breathed a sigh of relief, looking at Karl as if he were a rare treasure: "Your talent is the most outstanding I have seen in my long life."
"Perhaps even those with the Elder Blood among the elves... no, they may not compare to you in some aspects."
By the way, a relaxed smile appeared on Hen's face.
"Thus, the experience schedule I originally planned for you, which might have taken decades, now seems significantly advanced."
......
The next day, Karl was found by Hen, who behaved very calmly, but his words were surprising.
Hen got straight to the point: "Karl, your foundation is already quite solid. It's time for some practical experience."
"I have arranged an experience for you belonging to the Brotherhood of Sorcerers' enforcement team. Your first mission is to assist in the pursuit of a fugitive sorceress."
Hen paused, looked at Karl, and his tone was meaningful: "By the way, the target of this mission is indirectly related to you. Her name is Alexandrea Davir."
Alexandrea? Karl was indeed a bit surprised when he heard the name and recalled it.
When Foltest purged Ostrit's forces, a sorceress suspected of being involved in the curse on Princess Adda was implicated.
Due to her special status, she wasn't directly wanted and arrested; instead, Foltest filed a complaint with the Brotherhood of Sorcerers.
"I thought she had already been arrested and was awaiting trial by the Brotherhood." Karl replied quietly.
Hen shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness on his face: "It's not that simple. The team sent to carry out the arrest mission came up empty."
"She apparently got wind of it beforehand, resisted arrest, and fled. This has undoubtedly aggravated her suspicions and crimes, and she is now officially registered as a wanted target."
He looked at Karl, his tone becoming serious and concerned: "The risks of this mission are generally controllable for you, but it cannot be taken lightly."
Hen's tone softened again, with future plans.
"This is just the beginning. If you successfully complete a few missions and make due contributions to the Magic Society..."
"Once you have accumulated enough contributions, I can formally nominate you as a member of the Council, and I have already considered your future path."
"Also, there is one thing you should pay special attention to: the types of protective spells you currently have are relatively limited."
"There are some spells designed specifically for opponents like you who rely on a strong physique, such as the Petrification Technique." Hen specifically emphasized the spell name.
"Once you are struck by it, you will be temporarily sealed, turned into a living but unconscious statue that cannot move."
As if to confirm his words, Hen said this while opening a drawer in his cozy desk.
Karl looked curiously and saw that the drawer contained no documents or books.
Instead, there were three neatly arranged statues, each only the size of a palm, carved from some kind of warm jade.
The statues were exquisitely crafted, and even more striking was their surface.
It slowly flowed with a compressed and powerful magical light visible to the naked eye; it was by no means an ordinary ornament.
Hen casually picked up one of the statues and placed it on the table.
The statue appeared as a male figure with distinct features but a sinister look.
"This is a higher vampire I encountered on a journey when I was young."
"They are a unique race, and at the time, he had just finished exterminating a border village when I happened to pass by." Hen's tone was even, as if recounting an ordinary past event.
Immediately, he pointed to the other two statues in the drawer.
"These two were his companions, who came to avenge him after he disappeared, but were subdued by me together."
Hen's words were very modest, as if subduing three higher vampires was nothing to him.
A flicker of depth passed through Hen's eyes, and he continued: "From them, I learned some things about their race."
"They can resurrect after death, have strong self-healing abilities, and their numbers are far greater than the world knows."
"Among them, there is an even more powerful vampire and leader, known as the Unseen Elder."
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