"Seems we don't have to encourage them," Alex whispered to Eleanore.
"Looks like your decision to have Sugud evaluate their work instead paid off," she replied.
Alex shrugged. "I figured they'd respond better to an objective assessment of their work from someone qualified than to the two of us simply coddling them. They're well on their way to becoming proud pioneers," he remarked.
Meanwhile, while the couple whispered to each other, Lucien approached Marcus and Wilbert.
"Why are you two celebrating just because you've received a review? Don't forget that you've almost burned through the credits allocated to you," Lucien said. "Just so you know, I'm not helping you beg sis—I mean, the Headmaster—again. She said she'd cut me off if I did that one more time."
"Ah! You're right!"
Both Marcus and Wilbert clutched their heads in panic.
"What do we do?" they asked each other.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked.
"Please, brother, I need you to sponsor me!"
