A whole host of emotions roiled inside him as he followed everyone to the F hall for breakfast on the levitating table. He clipped himself in next to Hazel, prepared this time for the sudden sensation of elevation. He also knew to be quick and grabbed himself an oval-shaped banana and a stack of neon pancakes. But as he reached for a glass of green orange juice, his gaze went through the glass table to the one beneath him. There, Edmund was sitting with Vinnie. They both glared up at him. Oliver quickly broke eye contact.

Are you all right, Oliver? Hazel asked. She sounded concerned. Its not still the test, is it? I did try to tell you it wasnt a big deal.

Its not that, Oliver replied. Its Edmund. Im sick of bullies. I thought here of all places I wouldnt get picked on.

Hazel looked at him sympathetically. Try to ignore Edmund. I know its hard. I was bullied at my old school too.

You were? Oliver asked, feeling his friendly connection with Hazel deepening.

She nodded, empathetic for his plight. Being a Seer makes you different, even when your powers arent showing yet. I guess were smarter than the average kid and it makes us stick out.

From the other side of Oliver, Ralph suddenly piped up. Im not smarter. He laughed and pointed at himself with both his thumbs. Worst Seer the schools ever seen, according to Doctor Ziblatt.

At the mention of their teacher, Oliver remembered it would soon be time for lessons, for learning. He felt himself tremble with nervous anticipation.

Once breakfast was eaten, the robot arms cleared their plates and the table descended. They left the F hall and went into the main atrium. It was even busier than it had been yesterday with students everywhere, whizzing around on the myriad walkways above.

Ralph led the way to the elevator; thanks to his height, he had a larger stride than the others. He also seemed to enjoy being a leader, which was fine with Oliver because right now all he wanted to do was follow.

Everyone squeezed insideOliver, Walter, Hazel, Simon, and Ralph. Though hed only known them for a short while, Oliver felt like hed found kindred spirits. They were from different points in history but were bonded by their powers. He felt closer to them than he ever had to anyone before. For the first time in his life, Oliver felt as though hed found some friends.

They whooshed upward. Then the doors to the elevator opened and Ralph directed everyone along a walkway. They stopped outside a door. Then, for the first time since arriving at the School for Seers, Oliver went into a classroom.