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I was so of a pariah Like an exile who’d been banished to her own personal version of the Scablands

But there were a few students ent out of their way to try to make me feel welcome, to irl called Delta, younger than ned to escortif we needed anything, if I knehere I was to go next, if I was enjoying myself

Zafir jumped a little each time she appeared, as if startled by her enthusiasm I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen him so unnerved

"I don’t trust her," he warned between clenched teeth when she scurried away through the lunchtiet me an apple I’d never actually requested I’d simply commented that hers looked delicious I was certain she would have offered it to me if she hadn’t already taken a bite

"She’s har to be helpful It’s sweet, really"

"Don’t confuse sith cloying The latter can be difficult to s"

Brook sat down besidea tray overfilled with tls of stew and a plate of steamed potatoes Since Zafir and I already had our food, I assumed it was all for her She skewered one of the potatoes with her fork and dunked it into the stew "The girl?" she asked When Zafir nodded, she said, "I don’t trust her," she announced, right before stuffing the entire potato in her mouth

Sydney joined us then, her own plate filled with fresh vegetables and a strip of herbed whitefish That was another thing different about the Academy; they served food here, prepared to order

Brook curled her lip at Sydney’s light fare but held her comments, probably because her mouth was too full

"So? How do you think it’s going?" Sydney breathed in a hopeful tone I almost hated to answer her questionespecially in front of Brook and Zafir

I was grateful to see the new syste To see kids who’d once been divided, schooled under the sa class attending school at all

To hear Englaise spoken everywhere