In the broad corridor, Ariel's clear, melodious voice rang out again, as sweet as an oriole's song.
As though she had suddenly remembered something crucial, she turned sideways and spoke to Sylphy in a tone that was half teasing, half serious:
"Oh, Sylphy, there's something very important I forgot to tell you..."
She deliberately drew out her words, a mischievous glimmer in her violet eyes.
"Ordinary students at Ranoa Magic University have to pay a pretty hefty tuition fee."
"Only special-admission students who pass the assessment get to attend entirely free."
She paused, watching Sylphy's pretty face instantly turn serious, and her smile deepened:
"So if you don't pass the upcoming test, you'll have to pay out of your own pocket."
"And room and board, textbooks, wear and tear on magic items... those are all charged separately."
Her words had an immediate effect.
Two blazing flames instantly flared up in Sylphy's normally gentle, waterlike red eyes, as though tangible battle aura were burning within them.
Her fixation on money and sensitivity to its loss almost burst forth as a palpable aura.
She unconsciously clenched her small fists, her whole demeanor shifting from slightly relaxed to ready to give the coming battle everything she had.
Cui Ciyou watched with amusement. Ariel had a devious streak, too.
She clearly understood that someone who had experienced poverty from childhood would place enormous value on money.
Nothing could fire up Sylphy's fighting spirit more than the word "free."
In that respect, Sylphy was exactly like her teacher Roxy: both were experts at managing a household on a careful budget.
The other two "examinees" in the group-Aisha and Bannie-made a stark contrast.
Aisha was still young and only vaguely understood the concept of "tuition." She merely blinked her large eyes curiously, looking from Ariel to