The Insider ~ A Fitzphie FanFic KOTLC

Chapter 6

Sophie, Edaline, and Grady stood hand in hand at the Leapmaster.

"Foxfire!" Grady called out, as the crystals spun around and directed their light at a precisely cut small clear crystal. They were whisked away by the shimmering light and brought to the grounds of Foxfire, where they could see a handful of gnomes raking at the colorful grass. Beyond that, indistinguishable shouting could be heard, along with the sound of bodies hitting the soft soil. 

"What is that?" Sophie asked, taking a cautious step closer.

"Bramble practice." Grady explained, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

Huh, Sophie thought, That's weird...

"Do they have a mascot?"

"Yeah, it's the Phoenix." Grady looked at her: "I didn't know you followed the YBL?"

"What's that?" 

"Youth Bramble League," Edaline said.

How was that real? It was merely part of my dream? Right? 

Sophie had a bad feeling about this. How had she dreamt about things she didn't even know about? 

Talk to Forkle she added to her mental to-do list.

Edaline waved over one of the gnomes raking the rainbow grass, who soon ran up to them. After talking briefly to Edaline, she fumbled for a key in her grass-dress pocket as the group walked up to the main entrance of the staggering glass pyramid. She pushed the golden key into the matching keyhole, unlocking the massive doors, with indistinct shouting in the background. Sophie thought she recognized one, but quickly waved the thought away.

"Foxfire looks so strange empty." Sophie said looking around the main level, which housed the orientation room, which looked like the empty reception hall at Everglen, which is where...

Stop it, Sophie. He's not worth it. 

Sophie focused on the many things she hadn't noticed before in school, like how there were tiny offices (tiny by elven standards) off the main room. The gnome led them to one of the small offices, and opened the door. A petite woman with black hair that looked almost purple was sitting at a large oak desk, writing scrolls with a fancy quill. Her purple-black hair was in a high ponytail on the top of her head, with small braids in the ponytail, and bangs sweeping sideways, slightly covering her small eyes. Her eyes were a faded blue, as if they had been sitting outside in the sun too long. She wore a simple purple tunic with a small Foxfire pin on the side, fastening her thin black cape to her tunic. The boots she wore almost went up to her ankles, and were well worn.

"Hi Addeine, how are you?" The woman asked the small gnome.

"I'm just fine, but these people need uniforms." The small gnome said, with her hands fidgeting with a small flower on her dress. 

"Is that so?" the lady got up and walked over to the Ruewens. "I'm Aurelia, I work for Foxfire, as you could probably tell." 

"Nice to meet you," Grady said as he offered his hand.

Aurelia shook it and returned to her desk and opened up a type of computer that seemed to be built into the oak desk. She quickly began typing on the small keyboard, which Sophie noticed, was in the elven ancient alphabet.

"What's your name, dear?" Aurelia said, glancing up at Sophie.

"Sophie Elizabeth Foster-Ruewen." she said without missing a beat.

Aurelia began typing again, then quickly stopped.

"Looks like Magnate Leto has approved a level skip," Aurelia glanced up at Sophie, "which is quite peculiar." 

She dragged her finger across the screen, scanning a new text. 

"Oh my," 

"What?" Sophie said, concerned.

"You're skipping to be at the same level with Fitzroy Vacker? Your cognate?" Aurelia said, a curious expression present on her delicate face.

"Yes," Sophie said, looking down at her boots to hide the change of color on her cheeks.

"Well then you'll need some Level Six uniforms, correct?" She said, not looking up.

"Correct." Sophie said, still nervously staring at the ground and her boots.

"Right, well I just messaged some of the gnomes who make the uniforms, and they be right here with a set of Level Six uniforms."

"How much is in a set, again?" Edaline asked.

"20 uniforms including tunic, cape, vest, skirt, pins, and leggings, but you can wear your own black leggings, as usual."

After a few awkwardly silent moments, two gnomes came out with a white chest with a yeti on each latch.

"Thank you." Aurelia said as the two trotted out of the office. 

Grady picked up the chest and started to walk out the door, with Edaline following shortly behind him.

"Wait that's it?" Sophie asked, befuddled. "You're not going to pay for it?"

"Sophie, education is free in the Lost Cities." Edaline said with a sweet smile on her face.

"How did I not know this until now?" She asked, a tinge of annoyance caught in her throat as she followed her parents out the doors. Chattering was heard ringing through out the once empty halls. It grew closer and closer, and the group was soon greeted by about 30 or so sweaty boys wearing identical golden sports uniforms that reminded Sophie of soccer jerseys from the human world. They each carried an identical golden bags with numbers corresponding to the ones on their jerseys. Two of the boys were carrying a bag filled with balls that reminded her of volleyballs. One particular boy caught her eye. His jersey was number 17, and it had a special red color on the edge of the short sleeves, with elven letters she couldn't read. It had a stain at the top shoulder, as if he had tripped and fallen in the dirt. His hair was damp with sweat and plastered onto his forehead. He was talking with two other boys, who were slightly taller than him. The bag he carried had his name at the top: Fitz Vacker.

I just love ending chapters where Fitz just randomly appears! I'm so sorry yall, but I will have to post only one chapter this week. Basketball season just started, and I've got tons of soccer going on now that it's cooling down. I'll try and get three or four in next week as a little bonus. Thanks for sticking with me thus far! UWU