"Even when Orpha eliminates her apprentices, she never does it at the start. She has her own standards for deciding whether an apprentice is 'quality' or 'defective.' Combat ability, wealth, professional achievements, progress toward their dreams… You can call her cruel, you can call her cold-blooded, you can call her unbearably strict, but you can't call her petty."
"That's way beyond strict…" Lightchaser clearly disagreed with GodDraw77's balanced tone. "Wail, you, Wrong Answer, Mountfuse. Do you think ordinary people could ever meet those standards? …Anyway, Mistblade will be safe at least until graduation, since she already won the fun match championship back in fifth year."
Rita's breath slowed. She asked tensely, "What about Maple Syrup? Didn't you say her teacher Mountfuse was really good? You even said if he applied to any magic academy, every single one would fight to hire him."
