Shen hadn't expected this girl to speak with confidence on his personal field of study, echoing so freely his earlier thoughts of the exciting possibilities inherent in this sort of ability, if it truly works as advertised. When she's momentarily distracted by taking a note, he can't help but crane his neck to try and see what she's writing about. He catches what looks like different permutations on one idea, before quickly returning to a more nonchalant bearing when she looks up again.

Removing things, too... that does sound useful. What could stand in his way, if he could turn any obstacle into its constituent parts, or better yet, reshape it to suit his needs instead? Supposing what she says is true. He does look at her now, gracing her with his attention, at the same time watching for signs of a trick or a lie.

"You're an alchemist, too?" Of course he'd known other alchemists at his parents' court, but they'd strictly followed his family's recipes, too stupid or too afraid to see what else was possible. So it's hard not to sound a little intrigued, despite all his natural guardedness.