Katherine was surprised with Adolfo's presence, she gave him a quick nod as greeting then she turned back to the debate, ignoring the way the audience's attention had briefly flickered toward him.
The debate pressed on, with Katherine countering every attempt to undermine her argument. The scholars and mages before her, who had clearly expected an easy victory, were growing visibly frustrated.
"Magic," one of them declared with an air of superiority, "is an art that has been studied and refined for centuries. A person with no ability to wield it cannot possibly grasp its intricacies."
Katherine gave them a pleasant smile—the kind that preceded verbal destruction. "Oh? And yet, history is full of non-mages who pioneered advancements in magical theory. One of the most celebrated scholars of enchantments, Professor Enoch Valren, had no magic of his own. He developed the first stable conduit system, did he not?"
Her opponent faltered. "Well, yes, but—"
