REDO, keeper of lost cities

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟼

"Councillors, this is Sophie Foster." Alden introduced with a quick bow. "Sophie, this is Kenric, Oralie, and Bronte." He said, turning to look at her. But Sophie didn't say anything, she was just staring at Kenric, tears threatening to come out. He was alive, not dead, not burning.

Alive.

"Sophie, are you alright?" Oralie asked. She blinks the tears away and looks at Oralie and nods, "Uhm, yea it's just his ears." She said, gesturing to Bronte's ears. "They surprised me." Bronte raised an eyebrow and Fitz whole body shook with laughter. "They remind me of cosplays." She said, laughing a bit. Bronte eyes brows shoot up, "What?" He asked, growling. "She didn't mean any harm. She just is surprised, as she said." Alden said, defending her, "Our ears change shape as we age. Eventually it'll happen to all of us."

Sophie bit back her joke, instead asking, "I'm going to get pointy ears?"

"Not for a few thousand years," Alden promised. "But then I doubt you'll mind." Sophie smiled and sits down and, this time fully noticing that Fitz sat next to her. "Huh, that's interesting." She said, "So...does that mean elves can't die?" Sophie asked, she wasn't sure how to continue the conversation plus it was 'important,' "No." a trace of sorrow hid in Alden's voice. Sophie could hear it clearer now, "We can die. But our bodies stop aging when we reach adulthood. We don't get wrinkles or gray hair. Only our ears age." He smiled at Bronte, who glowered back. "Bronte belongs to a group we call the Ancients, which is why his ears are so distinct. Please, help yourselves," he added pointing to the domed platters in front of each guest.

Sophie uncovered hers and saw the mashed carnitas root and the umber leaves. Memories from that day came back and Sophie really wanted to point out it looked like a dead unicorn vomit like from one of those shows. She takes a bite and said, "Huh, it taste like a juicy burger and chicken fingers." She said, eating some more.

"You eat animals?" Fitz asked in a tone that would have made more sense if she'd said she ate toxic waste. Sophie wanted to tease him more, so she did, "Huh, you haven't?" Fitz shook his head, "Huh, such a shame." She said and Fitz pales slightly. They stare at each other then Sophie laughs a bit, "Sorry, I'm just messing with you. I take it elves are vegetarians?" She asked.

Everyone nodded.

Sophie just nods and munches on it, enjoying it quietly. Marty suddenly came to her legs and she gave him some f the food and he meowed in delight. "Is that your cat?" Kenric asked, Sophie nodded. "Yea," Kenric just nods.

"So, Sophie." Bronte sneered her name like it brothers him to say it. Sophie glares slightly. "Aden tells me you're a Telepath?" She sallowed her mouthful and she sat up straighter. Sophie had the confidence to face Bronte now, well more like got use to it. "Yes. I have been reading minds since I was five."

Kenric's and Oralie's jaws dropped.

"That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard," Bronte argued. "It's unusual," Alden corrected. "I can read your thoughts," Sophie said with confidence. Brontes rolled his eyes and crosses his arms, "Then tell me what I'm thinking."

She immediately went inside his head, the weird deepness that felt like an icy gust.

"You're thinking that you're the only one at this table with any common sense," she announced with a smirk. "And you're tired of watching Kenric stare at Oralie." Bronte's jaw fell open and Kenric's face turned as red as his hair. Oralie looked down at her plate, her cheeks flushing pink. Sophie couldn't help but laugh a tiny, tiny, bit. "I take it that's right?" Alden asked, hiding his smile behind his hand.

Bronte nodded, looking angry, chagrined, and incredulous all at the same time. Sophie couldn't help but be very satisfied, "How can that be? An Ancient mind is almost impenetrable!"