It was evident how much importance the other party placed on this matter, even casting aside border defense concerns.
Seeing Sir Karl return to the banquet hall, Triss immediately went to him, looking at him with concern.
Sir Karl smiled and shook his head, indicating he was fine, and gently clasped her hand, whispering, "Triss, I'll explain in detail later. We… have things to do."
… Back at Triss's residence in the Trade District, Sir Karl finally relaxed. The maneuvering throughout the night had left him a little tired.
The glory of the Martial Arts Tournament, while he didn't care for it, he at least had to appear as if he did.
Otherwise, it would make him seem out of place and wouldn't catch Foltest's eye.
But more importantly was the sense of urgency the conversation with Foltest had brought him.
"What did you say? He wants you to lift Adda's curse?"
"Sir Karl, that's far too dangerous! That striga is something even an entire squad of elite knights couldn't handle."
"I know you're strong, strong enough to easily defeat those knights in the Martial Arts Tournament, but curses are a completely different domain!"
After listening to Sir Karl's narration, Triss's eyebrows knitted together, her worry evident.
"Of course, I know it's dangerous, Triss." Sir Karl held her hand, trying to reassure Triss.
"But Raymond needs that promise, that pardon, and you know my past background."
"Moreover, I'm not as unprepared as you might think." Sir Karl paused, his gaze deepening.
He released Triss's hand and took an item from his close-fitting pocket.
It was a necklace made of pearls strung together by delicate silver chains, with a smoothly polished obsidian pendant, ancient and mysterious in its entirety.
That was the obsidian necklace he had obtained earlier when he killed the drowners.
"Wait, is this a magical artifact?" Triss curiously took the necklace. She could feel the faint magical fluctuations remaining on it.
"I stumbled upon this item a few days ago when I destroyed a drowner's nest. When I touched it, I saw some strange characters."
"They seem to contain some knowledge, but I completely fail to understand it."
Before he finished speaking, he picked up a quill and paper from the desk, relying on his previous memory.
He quickly and accurately sketched out a few lines of twisted, ancient, and powerful characters.
The structure of these characters was distinct from the Northern Common Tongue they used in conversation, with brushstrokes that seemed to contain the phenomena of lightning and barriers.
Zio'bel Ard, Hârn aen Ard.
And Triss's expression changed the moment she saw these characters.
She took the paper, her emerald eyes fixed on the symbols, her red lips silently moving as she tried to chant them according to some rhythm.
When she uttered the first syllable, the magic in the room instantly became active, and the flames in the fireplace shot up and then fell.
The crystal vessels on the table hummed faintly, and it seemed as if lightning crackled in the air.
"Oh my goodness, this is simply…" Triss abruptly stopped, her face filled with shock.
She looked at Sir Karl with eyes as if looking at a rare treasure.
"Sir Karl, do you know what this is?"
Sir Karl shook his head: "I only feel that they are extraordinary."
"This is more than extraordinary! This is a spell composed of Elder Speech, and it's an extremely ancient and powerful variant!"
"These Elder Speech words… if I'm not misinterpreting them, they point to two legendary spells that have long been lost."
"Alzur's Shield and Alzur's Thunder!" Her breathing became somewhat rapid.
"You don't understand, Sir Karl. Alzur was one of the most powerful sorcerers hundreds of years ago."
"He and his mentor Cosimo created the Witchers. He laid the foundation for some of today's magic."
"But these two spells, especially the Thunder spell, are said to have been lost with Alzur's death due to their excessive power and difficulty in control."
"They are only sporadically recorded in the oldest texts; even the most learned members of the Brotherhood might not know the specific incantations!"
"You actually… actually obtained their knowledge and inheritance from a necklace artifact?!"
Just then, the study door was gently pushed open a crack, and Keira's charming face peered in.
She wore her usual, seemingly harmless smile: "Hey, Triss, I thought I heard some commotion over here… Oh? Sir Karl is here too? Hasn't he gone to enjoy a hero's night?"
Her gaze swept across the room, instantly settling on the paper filled with Elder Speech characters in Triss's hand, and the excitement and shock that had not yet faded from her face.
Keira's eyes sharpened. She caught the name Triss had blurted out in excitement— "Alzur."
"Alzur?" Keira walked in, swaying her waist slightly.
She asked casually, "Are you discussing some interesting ancient history? Sounds impressive."
Triss immediately realized her slip of the tongue. She subconsciously tried to put away the paper, but it was already too late.
Keira's curiosity had been thoroughly piqued by the two of them.
"Nothing, Keira, just some academic research." Triss tried to explain it away lightly.
But Keira was not so easily dismissed.
Keira took a few steps closer, her gaze fixed on the paper: "Come on, Triss, the expression on your face isn't what you have when discussing ordinary academics."
"Alzur, I think I read that name in some forbidden book."
"He's said to be some ancient figure who created terrifying magic. What have you found? Something about his lost formulas? Or spells?"
Her tone gradually shifted from curiosity to eagerness, even carrying a hint of greed.
For a sorceress, the allure of lost powerful magic far surpassed any jewels or fine clothes.
Sir Karl frowned slightly, stepped forward, and stood between Triss and the paper.
"Madam Metz, these are just some personal discoveries of mine, unrelated to the academic research of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers, and certainly none of your business."
Upon hearing this, Keira's gaze turned to Sir Karl, her smile becoming somewhat strained: "Personal discoveries? Sir Karl, powerful magical knowledge belongs to all spellcasters and should not be hoarded privately."
"Especially creations by a dangerous individual like Alzur… Perhaps entrusting it to the Brotherhood for safekeeping and research would be a more appropriate choice?"
At this point, she paused, throwing out a bait.
"Of course, I won't take your things for nothing."
"I can pay you a satisfactory amount of oren, or… some special magical items for entertainment?"
"I can even put in a good word for you with the King. I know you seem to need… recognition." She gave Sir Karl a meaningful look.
Sir Karl sneered inwardly. He, of course, knew what Keira was referring to.
However, what Keira didn't know was that he had already spoken with Foltest.
And now he had received Foltest's promise. A few good words? He no longer needed them!
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