"The worst kind of teacher isn't the one who ignores you. It's the one who actually pays attention."
***
"I'm not going to coddle you." Isolde addressed the whole room, but her eyes kept landing on specific faces. Mine included. "I'm not going to whisper sweet lies about how special you all are. That inspirational garbage works for the golden children in the other houses because they've got resources and connections to back it up."
She took another drink. The flask was getting lighter. The booze didn't seem to touch her at all. Her eyes stayed sharp. Her movements stayed steady. Whatever the alcohol was doing to her long-term, right now it was just part of how she operated.
"But you don't have that luxury. None of you were born with silver spoons. Or if you were, someone took them away and beat you over the head with them." She let that land. "So I'll teach you to fight instead. To think. To turn your weaknesses into weapons your opponents never see coming."
