Sebastian nodded, still looking annoyed, then stepped forward to address them. “Good morning. I’m Sebastian Thomas, but you can and will call me ‘sir.’ I’ll be teaching you, since as has been explained to you, none of you were born on Discovery Day, and therefore you need extra help.”

Fort glanced around in surprise. None of these new students were born on Discovery Day? The Oppenheimer School hadn’t taken that type of student before, so maybe he’d actually proven something, back at the old school.

Or maybe there just weren’t that many available kids born on May 9.

“Dr. Ambrose will be around for part of each class,” Sebastian continued, “but otherwise she’ll be occupied…”—he trailed off, like the next bit was painful for him—“with a special project, one that my class is helping her with. But instead of being there, probing the limits of Healing magic, I’m here, teaching you how to take out splinters.” He glared at them. “Which means you’re all going to work extra hard to learn your magic, or I’m going to be annoyed. And you don’t want to see me annoyed.”

One of the kids snorted at this, and Sebastian slowly turned his head. “You think I’m joking?” he said, his hands glowing with a blue energy.

The boy shook his head, suddenly nervous. All the students around him backed away, leaving the boy alone in the crowd. Sebastian jumped down from the stage and patted the boy’s shoulder, the glow flowing from his hand into the boy. “I hope you liked having your tonsils out, because now you’ll be going through that a second time.”

“Wait, what?” the boy said, then put his hands up to his throat. “What did you do?”

“You will listen when I speak, or you’ll be spending a quiet few days in the infirmary as the rest of your class leaves you behind,” Sebastian said to the others. “Am I clear about that?”

The students nodded, all except for Fort, who rolled his eyes.

Sebastian, of course, locked onto Fort immediately. “Ah, our former sole New Kid,” he said, moving toward Fort through the crowd as the other kids parted like the Red Sea. Sebastian’s hands began to glow blue again, and he reached them both out toward Fort’s shoulders. “So happy to be teaching you, Fort!”

Fort put his hands up defensively, but Sebastian was too quick, clamping his hands down on Fort’s shoulder before he could dodge. But instead of making him ill, the energy in Sebastian’s hands gave Fort a small burst of energy. “You looked like you were about to fall asleep on your feet,” Sebastian said, releasing his shoulders. “That better?”

“Yes, actually,” Fort said, not sure what he was being set up for.