The assignments Belfinger handed to the black cat weren't difficult; as long as one diligently reviewed the textbook and reference materials, they could answer them. However, the process and answers were overly intricate, merely exercising the students' patience without improving their magic abilities in the slightest.
Just like that question on drawing a star map.
These days, a standard star map drawn by a magical feather pen is sold at Green Grocery for five copper coins a large sheet. If it's a specified star domain, you only need to pay an additional five copper coins, and the shopkeeper will thoughtfully add a soft edge to the star map—note that at the Yota restaurant in Beta Town, a small roast chicken sells for twenty-four copper coins, skin and bones included.
Besides the old scholars of First University, no one was using a brass telescope and feather pen, bending over parchment, and tracing the varied bright stars in the sky anymore.
