Lance knew better than anyone what students represented. The corruption of a regime is inevitable, but as long as there is fresh blood for timely replacement, development can continue. However, once the educational system rots, that blood itself becomes contaminated...
Grendel didn't know why the Lord reacted so strongly and, naturally, didn't bring up the issue again. Instead, she talked about the recent situation concerning refugees.
The composition of the refugees had changed, as had the proportions within their ranks. Previously, they were mostly farmers who could no longer survive, dragging their families along as they fled famine. Now, however, they were townspeople affected by the conflict, fleeing to avoid the war. The silver lining was that the quality of these refugees was much better; quite a few craftsmen and literate individuals were identified during the initial screening.
