Together?- A SOPHITZ fanfiction (UPDATES ON HOLD)

Relief

Sophie woke up the next morning tangled in her cape, her hair a shapeless mess. The groggy complaints of her roommates echoed around the room, followed by muffled laughter. Cleorie was giggling, and it was such a strange sound following the past overwhelming weeks. Soon, everybody joined in, Sophie included, their hysterical sniggers filling up the room. Even Biana succumbed to the energy created. They began gripping their stomachs, tears falling out of their eyes, gasps, and wheezes ending the chorus of joy. They had done it.

Minutes later, they were all dressed and began packing their things, cleaning and emptying the room that had become home in the past 2 years. Borrowed hair ribbons were returned, trash-filled pockets were overturned, old, used scrolls accumulated over the months were recycled, and jubilant chatter about what after would bring spilled out into the halls. In less than an hour, Sophie's items were packed and ready to go in a single bag (tweaked by Dex to look small but fit an entire baby alicorn inside, of course), and set on her bed.

The girls decided to head down to breakfast together one last time. As they made their way out, Sophie bumped into Biana. "Sorry!" she exclaimed, feeling embarrassed for her reoccurring clumsiness. Instead of a snotty response or frown, though, Biana smiled lightly, to which Sophie replied with a meek smile in return, and breezed out, following Cleorie, Lhouna, and Mativelle towards the cafeteria. Once they arrived, Sophie was slammed with the vibrant sounds of the room.

It was as if the prodigies of the elite levels had all drunk a jubilation elixir, reflected by the sound of whoops, laughter, and animated discussion. Bright sunlight streamed in through the windows as prodigies hugged, grinned, and cried, some with joy, some with sadness as they braced themselves for what was yet to come. People waved to Sophie and she smiled back as she took a heaping amount of food and piled it up onto her tray. Normally, the thought of getting her finals scores would have made her want to puke with anxiety, but not today.

She made her way to the table her roommates had staked out as they were joined by Dex, who gave her an overly animated fist bump, Marella, Maruca, and even Stina, who hadn't bothered Sophie all year. Biana was there as well, sitting next to Cleorie, who was looking quite tormented over her Universe score (Sophie didn't have to take it in her Elite years, considering she had a map of the stars etched into her brain). The energy in the room was so carefree; it was as if everyone had forgotten their results were going to be announced in a matter of minutes.

Sophie stuffed her face with delicious food while people talked around her. No one was speaking to her, but she liked the little bubble of solitude she had created around herself. It was comforting, surrounded by people who liked her yet gave her the space she needed. The peace she felt should have made her feel unsettled, like the calm before a storm, but she just relished in the fact that she wasn't stressing about turning in an essay or picking out a tiara. She was interrupted by the room's sudden silence, people hushing one another quietly as Magnate Leto arrived.

Magnate Leto, i.e. Mr. Forkle, Sir Tiergan, and Sir Astin looked bright and chipper. He smiled with a knowing, fatherly annoyed expression as he held his hands up to command the room into silence. Sophie avoided his gaze. He was the last person she wanted to know about her secret. He waited until the room was completely silent and paused. Was it for effect? People began to shift in their seats. Magnate Leto had the power to make you feel uncomfortable yet want to place your full, undivided attention on him. He finally nodded once and began to speak.

"Elite Prodigies. You have completed 2 years of intense study. You have unlocked the depths of your ability or abilities, learned about our world and its people, and are now prepared to begin your next league of forever. In a moment, you will be called forward one by one to receive your scrolls with your results inscribed within them. Your parents lay waiting in the Atrium, waiting for your results to appear on the Scroll they have with them once you've decided to open your own. One last thing-," he said, as people began to shuffle around again.

"Do exit the room and read your results in the hall. Your results are more than satisfactory but we would rather not have, ahh... tears, so to speak. You should all be proud. As you set foot out of the tower for the last time, remember this: you are all destined for greatness. Without further ado, welcome to the Nobility. Will Miss Farida Abel come forward and receive her scroll..." People gave each other nervous looks but Sophie was hit with her anxiety full force. The speech Mr. Forkle gave had perfectly chosen words, so insignificant that only Sophie could realize their true meaning. The word destiny was not picked by chance.

The glint in his eyes as Magnate Leto passed out scrolls, congratulating everyone, only increased when he called out, "Sophie Elizabeth Foster-Ruewen, please." Sophie's head snapped up. She hadn't realized they had gotten so far along. The room was already about a third empty as she rose and took a few shaky steps towards the podium at the front of the cafeteria. Magnate Leto passed her scroll over with an almost unnoticeable wink and proceeded to call out the next Prodigy.

Sophie stepped out of the room with a growing sense of trepidation. The scroll glimmered slightly as she took a few breaths outside of the room and in the empty hallway. As soon as she opened it, Grady and Edaline would also see the results. She squeezed her eyes shut and pulled it open. There was no point in stalling. She waited a few seconds then risked a peek. Her eyes quickly shot open and her mouth dropped in an O as she took in what the scroll said. Tears welled up in her eyes as she began sprinting down that hall towards the Atrium. What in the world?

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I'm bad, I know. Does updating at 10:18 pm count as a wednesday update? I dunno.

Short chapter with a cliffhanger, of course. I won't keep you waiting for long- you'll have your next chapter next wednesday and maybe an extra one if you're lucky.

WE'RE SO CLOSE TO 10K READS!  As a fanfic author, this is HUGE! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

You're the best! Love you lots!

-OrbitAstra 💫