"Don't be fooled," she said loudly enough for those around her to hear. "She's only here because of her connections. Does anyone really believe she earned the right to sit for this exam? Permission was handed to her because of who she knows, not what she can do."
Gasps rippled through the group, and someone leaned in. "But… the council approved it, didn't they?"
Stephanie's laugh was sharp, mocking. "The council can be influenced. But exams? These papers are graded by multiple professors, some of them strict to the bone. Not every examiner can be bribed. Let's see how far her 'connections' take her when she actually has to answer questions."
A few students snickered, emboldened by Stephanie's words. Others exchanged uncertain glances, not entirely convinced.
Still, for every doubter, there were those who spoke in Nnenna's defense.
"Don't forget, she defeated some of the best students to reach year four. She's not ordinary," a young man countered.
