His gaze drifted briefly to Merlin's right arm—where the golden-blue threads had appeared earlier during the override.
Then his voice lowered, almost too soft to hear.
"You've manifested something before this, haven't you?"
Merlin's chest tightened.
That reaction—
That specific phrasing—
It wasn't from the original novel.
Kessler wasn't supposed to have context for anything like that.
Except—
Elara's spear shifted a millimeter.
Nathan took a half-step forward.
Adrian cracked his knuckles.
The entire group was preparing to defend Merlin if things turned ugly.
Hale noticed and raised both hands in a calming gesture.
"Students. No one is accusing your classmate of wrongdoing. We are trying to understand the cause of the intrusion."
"Then stop cornering him like a criminal," Elara said, voice low and icy.
Several instructors blinked—few students ever dared take that tone.
Nathan grinned, despite the tension. "Seconded."
