(Keltham does privately feel surprised that there'd be Asmodia and Ione out of the first eleven Ostenso students, and Meritxell who is maybe not quite looking to be in that same class at the moment; and only Lady Avaricia to outperform the rest of a supposedly much more elite candidate class.  It does seem a bit... tropey, if he doesn't just need to offer them more training.  Or maybe these people have too much Existing Expertise and too much Achievement In a Narrow Field and not enough Being Random Very Smart Kids Ready To Learn.)

(Keltham does privately feel surprised that there'd be Asmodia and Ione out of the first eleven Ostenso students, and Meritxell who is maybe not quite looking to be in that same class at the moment; and only Lady Avaricia to clearly outperform the rest of a supposedly much more elite candidate class.  It does seem a bit... tropey, if he doesn't just need to offer them more training.  Or maybe these people have too much Existing Expertise and too much Achievement In a Narrow Field and not enough Being Random Very Smart Kids Ready To Learn.)

(Keltham does privately feel surprised that there'd be Asmodia and Ione out of the first eleven Ostenso students, and Meritxell though she is not quite looking to be in that same class at the moment; and only Lady Avaricia to clearly outperform the rest of a supposedly much more elite candidate class.  It does seem a bit... tropey, if he doesn't just need to offer them more training.  Or maybe these people have too much Existing Expertise and too much Achievement In a Narrow Field and not enough Being Random Very Smart Kids Ready To Learn.)