Whats with the outfit? he asked, frowning curiously. You trying to go incognito? Good thing I spoke to you because Id never have realized it was you in that garb. Couldve completely missed you. I was expecting you to be in jeans and a shirt. Thats what kids from the third millennium wear, isnt it?

Oliver looked down at his 1940s overalls. It was true that he blended right in with the era.

Its a long story, Oliver said, not really sure what was going on. Wait. The third millennium? What do you mean by that?

The whole exchange was utterly baffling to Oliver. But at the same time he couldnt help but get caught up in Ralphs excitement. Even though he didnt understand how or why, it was very evident to him now that he was supposed to be here. He was supposed to be in 1944, standing outside Illstroms Inventions with this boy, Ralph Black. It made him feel a lot less lost to know he was no longer floundering around helplessly in the past on his own.

Come on then, Ralph said brightly, ignoring his question. No point hanging around here. Wed better go.

Go? Oliver asked. Go where?

Ralph stopped and looked at him, frowning. School, he stated. Obviously. When all Oliver did was raise his eyebrows in confusion, Ralph added, I mean, thats why you came here, isnt it? Why you came back to 1944?

Oliver shook his head. I… no, not really. I didnt mean to come back in time. It was sort of an accident.

Ralph looked puzzled. But it lasted only briefly before he gave a nonchalant shrug. Well, its not like history is fixed. And I guess I wouldnt have been sent here to wait for you if there was no chance of you turning up early. This must be a timeline where you come back in time accidentally rather than after being told that youre supposed to. He shrugged again. Anyway, wed better go. We dont want to miss dinner.

He went to walk away but Oliver wasnt about to just follow. He stood his ground.

Im sorry, but I dont understand, he said to Ralphs back.

Ralph stopped and turned to face him, blinking as if perplexed. Dont understand what?

That I came back in time to go to school, Oliver stammered. It doesnt make any sense!

Of course it does, Ralph said, pacing back to where Oliver was standing. How else are you supposed to learn?

How about at one of the million schools that exist in the third millennium! Oliver told him, repeating his strange phraseology from earlier and throwing his arms wide with exasperation.

Ralph looked even more confused. What are you talking about? Theres only one school in the entirety of the universe that teaches Seers!

Oliver froze. Seers. He thought about Armando, about how hed started to tell him about how he was a Seer before abruptly ending the conversation.