"When we come to this island, we're frequently alone," Ender said. "Some of us can't even return to where we came from, or talk to our family or friends - either because it's physically impossible, or because we don't think we'll be believed."

There had been a risk of thunderstorms today, so Ender had preemptively moved the class inside. To the gym, where they could sit on mats on the floor and retain some of the closed-circle sense behind their outside meetings.

"There's a lot of ways to deal with that," he said. "Maybe you bring something with you you can cling to. Maybe you've got some way of closing yourself off from feelings of loneliness or homesickness. Or maybe you're just glad to be here with us, happy to explore."

He took a sip from his water bottle. "How did you feel when you first got here?" he asked the group. "How do you cope? Do you think there are some coping strategies that are better than others? Do you feel like you belong here, or do you think you ever will?"

Once he finished asking those questions, he threw a quick glance towards a certain member of the group. "Alluka?" he said lightly, "Would you mind sticking behind a little longer after class? I have something to talk to you about."