Alfred went on, "Only the best outer court students qualify to be assessed for entry into the inner court. Those who enter must be sixteen or younger. That means none of the ones you just saw were inner court disciples."
He paused, eyes sharpening.
"The ones you should pay attention to are the two youngest. Being sent out at that age means their talent is extraordinary. They've likely already been chosen as inner court candidates. And that makes them…" His gaze swept across the four. "Your greatest rivals."
The words struck like a hammer.
"Our… rivals?" Violetta asked in disbelief.
Alfred looked at her. "Because I'm training you to enter Central Academy's inner court and fulfill a wish I never completed."
Ray hesitated. "Teacher… are you saying you couldn't graduate from the inner court?"
A faint bitterness flickered across Alfred's face. "I entered. But I didn't graduate."
Rihanna.
The name surfaced in Ray's mind like a ghost.
