“The Sanctuary is not a break room or common space, Sarah Beth,” Pastor Dee said. “This is a special place intended for intense meditation, prayer, and learning. Only a select group of students, like Corbin and yourself, are given access privileges.”

Sarah Beth nodded. “How many students are allowed?”

“At present, less than a dozen,” Pastor Dee said. “That surprises you?”

“Yeah,” she said, feeling suddenly light-headed. “I know I’m advanced for my grade, but I assumed everyone else could do what I’m doing by the time they were in high school. I mean, that’s how it works, right?”

Corbin and Pastor Dee shared a look.

“I wish that were true, sweetie,” Pastor Dee said, “but that’s not the case. Ninety-five percent of the students in this school will never develop the skills you and Corbin have.”

“Then why even have a school in the first place?” Sarah Beth said, feeling as if the ground beneath her feet were swaying. “Are you saying St. George’s Academy is nothing more than a screening tool—like, to find diamonds in the rough?”

“The fact that you’d even think such a thing is upsetting,” Pastor Dee said. “We are one of the top private Christian schools in the entire world. Our charter is to protect, educate, and develop our students—in that order.”

“I’m sorry,” Sarah Beth said. “I didn’t mean to offend you. I know it’s a great school. I was just . . . I don’t know, surprised. I thought when I came here, I would finally fit in. I thought all the kids here would be like me. But instead, I still feel like a freak.”

Pastor Dee’s eyes softened, and she gave Sarah Beth a hug before saying, “First of all, you’re not a freak, and I never want to hear you say that again. But also, every student here is like you. They all have gifts, and even though you are more capable than the average student, that does not diminish their contribution or their worth. Remember Paul describing the body of Christ and how every single part is important for the whole body to work? The same is true here. Alone, one young Watcher with limited mastery of his or her individual skills is vulnerable and weak against the Dark Ones. But together, the student body is very powerful, as promised by Jesus in Matthew 18. Remember the metaphor of the bundle of sticks—it’s easy to snap a single twig, but put a dozen twigs into a bundle and together they are unbreakable. This is the power and purpose of St. George’s. Every student, whether they realize it or not, amplifies and augments every other student’s gifts.”

“There is a force multiplier effect when we’re all together,” Corbin said.