Part One

Friendship Begins

Fitz P.O.V.

I stared up at the large Foxfire building looming high above me. I tried to swallow pre-anxiety bile, square my quivering shoulders, and shakily take a few steps toward the Main Building. But I was headed off by a large group of chatting girls. One of them scowled back at me, as if trying to scare me. She honestly could, with a face like that.

My fumbling fingers tried to secure the Halcyon pin glaring at everyone from my neck. I was a Level Two this year, which meant having a Halcyon for a mascot. They were these birds that could tell a storm was coming, and I ( and everyone else) thought they were pretty useless.

I looked around and saw my own troubles put into perspective. A small boy with messy clothes and even messier blond hair was wandering around in a sapphire blue uniform, even though he didn't look like he was old enough to wear blue. He obviously had no idea where he was going. Poor kid. I hope he finds his way.

I walked over the purple grass to the main building, and stood there in the main building, among the other prodigies, waiting for orientation to begin.

I took this time to wonder about the small Level Two boy. Maybe he skipped the first year. Or maybe he has a growth disorder. No, actually that only happened with humans. Maybe he-

Dame Alina's sharp voice cut through my train of thoughts. For once in her life, that lady should try and talk a little nicer, and not so sharp. Wait, no; it was a good thing she didn't use her 'special voice'.

"- Level Ones, feel free to ask any passing Level Twos, they're in the blue, for directions. And all Level Twos, I expect you to be helpful and kind if any Ones ask you for help. All Level four students taking Universe, please take note that the Universe room has been to Floor Three, not Floor Two in the Level Four Tower. A reminder to all prodigies: The Silver and Gold Towers are off limits." At this point I decided that Dame Alina didn't need my attention anymore, and let it wander to a group of girls standing not far off. Then Dame Alina said something about Keeping Scenery, and a big spotlight shone over the Level Two boy I was thinking about. Then she thanked us for listening, and dismissed all of the prodigies that had been forced to suffer through her speech.

I made my way to the Level Two Atrium that had a giant sapphire Halcyon in the middle and walked straight to my locker. Bracing myself for the worst, I licked the small metal plate in front of my locker. Instead, I was rewarded with a sweet taste of Lava Sugar Lumps. My favourite! I took out the schedule and took a look at it, even though I had seen it after the Opening Ceremonies rehearsal.

My first class was Universe, then after lunch Elvin History, then study hall. Quickly I took of running to the Third floor.

"No running in the halls, Mr. Vacker! Need I remind you with a detention?" It was Lady Alexine, the Physical Education Mentor for Level Two girls. Particularly strict. Do not want detention with her.

"No Ma'am. I'll walk instead," I answered meekly, and set off with a fast pace.

Keefe P.O.V.

I was lost. Hope-less-ly lost. Every time I even so much as looked at another Level Two- let alone any other level- they would glare at me as if to say don't even think about asking me for directions. Then they would turn their head and walk away. Some of the prodigies looked sympathetic, but not enough to tell me where I needed to go.

Everyone was racing in one direction; to the lockers. Finally, one place where I could find what I needed. My photographic memory made finding the matching rune on my schedule easy as mallowmelt. I managed to skip the Opening Ceremonies and the rehearsal, pretending to be sick (It was easy, after eating some yallowyux), so I didn't know where my locker was. A Mentor had brought my schedule and other school stuff to Candleshade yesterday.

Licking my locker was probably the best part; it tasted something sweet and sugary. Very sugary. I looked at my schedule, to see what I had first. Something called Elementism. I grabbed the books I needed, stuffed them in my satchel, and looked as helpless as possible. No results. Every girl tossed her head when she saw me, and every boy turned his head away.

But the one boy who did look at me was walking faster than everyone. He seemed just as-if not more- determined to get to his class. He was up on the balcony that wrapped around the Atrium, leading to the higher floors. Yet when he saw me, he stopped, backtracked, and walked over to me. He greeted me with a standard Hello, I'm

"Fitz. Fitz Vacker."

I returned it with an "I'm Keefe Sencen."

He pointed to my schedule. "Whatcha got first?" Usually I didn't talk to people, but this guy was being so...nice that I looked up at him and answered his question. At least he didn't call me the new kid. He was a tall boy with dark, almost black hair and smooth teal eyes. He looked about twelve years old, and didn't appear to be very good with people. In fact, he hadn't talked to anyone in the short one minute I'd met him. Except me.

"Elementism. Do you know where it is?" I asked.

"Yeah, it's down that hall, take a left turn, then take the right fork, and turn at the last exit."

My baffled looked must have startled him, because he laughed and said, " You'll know it when you see a huge glass, not crystal, window with a pine tree outside it. And nice to meet you Keefe."

I made my throat work enough to say, "You too, Fitz. And thanks for telling me where my class is." After that he walked away with the same fast pace to his first class.

I had a feeling we were going to be at least friends. I walked off, following his directions to get to Elementism. My head flooded with relief when I saw a glass window and the pine tree.

I took a deep breath and walked into my first class at Foxfire.

Lunch With a Blondie

Fitz P.O.V.

Once I done with Universe, my head was not happy. I talked with my mentor about the difference between Cold Stars and Storm Stars, as well as the reason why moonlight is not used for the same things that starlight is used for. Did I mention that I also memorized half of the stars in the universe? No wonder my head was screaming.

I walked over the balcony and made my way to the Level Two atrium. My locker still tasted like Lava Sugar Lumps, which was a good thing. Sometimes they changed it midway through the day, so in the morning it would taste like custard bursts, but in the afternoon it would taste like wellowart: the equivalent of eating rotting wood marinated in swamp water, with a nice sprinkling of muskog gas on top.

I stashed my Universe books into my locker, and walked over to the cafeteria. I got my food, and tried to find a decent spot in the cafeteria. The only empty place was- wait no, it wasn't empty. It only had the small Level-Two-boy-who-looked-like-a-Level-One sitting down, looking downcast. Keefe, I think he said his name was. That is pretty much what you look like when you survive Elementism.

I walked over to Keefe's table and sat down opposite him. He didn't even looked up.

"Okay if I sit here?" I tried to ask the question as nicely as I could, but I still got a cutting response.

"You don't see anyone else sitting here."

I shrugged and ate my green soup that tasted like fallowpears, slowly, while I watched Keefe spoon his nasty shade of purple stew with roots and fruit floating in it into his sad mouth. I had tasted that once before, and it pretty much was the worst thing I had ever tasted. Other than the wellowart, and the only reason I'd ate that was...well...anyway. Back to Keefe and me.

"What did Sir Sherwyk do to you in Elementism?" I found myself asking before I knew it.

His eyes narrowed. "How do you know I have him for Elementism?"

"Saw your schedule. And I had him last year. And trust me, I truly pity you. Really, man."

He finally seemed to lighten up after this. "Well, I almost got zapped. But that's not nearly as bad as what happened here." He pointed to his head.

"...um, I don't see any difference." His hair looked just the same as when I saw him before class.

"A wind gust. A wind gust got lose and.." He shuddered. "It got my hair."

Okay then... "Hey," I said, not knowing if this was going to get me a punch in the face or a grin. "How come you look younger than me? Or any of the other Level Twos?" He narrowed his eyes at me. Uh-oh, here comes thepunch.

When he figured out that I wasn't joking, he said in a careless voice, "Because I'm not your age. Skipped a grade. Photographic memory, ya know?" He was tapping his head with his forefinger. "Anyways. Enough about me. Why are you sitting with me? Don't you have any friends?" Keefe asked almost professionally, his careless tone lost.

I really could not tell this kid anything. Not about leaving school, looking for an elf in a human world, and most importantly, why I was doing it. Nothing.

"Uhh…. Well I get sick… A lot.. You know how it is, and so I stay home most of the time, and all the other kids think… They think… That I have a… Disease. Yeah a disease, so they stay away from me." Okay, that it officially the worst lie I have ever told. Ever. "You don't mind?"

"No," he pulled on a smirk. "The other kids might buy that, but I don't. So yeah, I'm not afraid of your.." Insert air quotes here, "Disease."

I smiled, a real one, even though this kid had almost exposed me as a liar. I wish I could go back in time and suck that lie right back up. Oh well. Some things you can't change.

Keefe P.O.V.

Yep, this guy was officially my first friend. Even though he was a terrible liar, didn't care about my hair, and looked at my rushtock soup with disdain, he was my friend. So I decided to let him in my first… prank. I grinned evilly and asked him about.. Dame Alina, was it? Anyway the principal.

"Dame Alina? What do you want with her?" Fitz asked, his brows getting close together.

I explained to him my unsatisfiable craving for trouble. "So you're saying the first week you're here, you want to get a detention?" Fitz questioned me.

"Eh, maybe I should make it my first day. Might make her like me better, ya know?" Fitz just shook his head at me, and I shook my head mournfully back at him, in a teasing way. "Anyway, since smell is the strongest sense we-"

"Wait. Back the T-Rex up. What do you mean by we? Are you pulling me into this?" Fitz asked.

I grinned most devilishly, and told him with an iffy "...maybe."

He just groaned.