"My question is, why did they bring you in so quickly?" Evander asked, to no one in particular.
"I'm just excited to hear about what humans are like," Fiora said.
"OK, let's make a deal," Pyra said sternly. "If you answer all of my questions, then I'll answer any questions that you have about the humans."
"Deal!" Fiora said excitedly.
"All right, so these are my questions," Pyra began. "First, where are we and what is this place? Second, if any of this is actually real, then how come the humans don't know about it? Third, where have the fairies been living where the humans can't find them? And fourth, if I am a fairy, then why was I living with humans?"
"We don't know too much because we're still in training, but I'll try to answer them correctly. The group that obtained you is named Kendallsurge, which means fire and water. Also, it represents the candle to the fire that will set ablaze and surge out. Our job is to protect you and the other sister because we believe that one of you will bring peace to both the humans and the fairy world, and unite them. That's as much as I know about that."
"The humans don't know about our world because we live underground in the center of the Earth," Fiora added.
Pyra cut in, "But the center of the Earth is 6000 degrees! No one can live there. Also, what do you mean 'our job'? You were in on kidnapping me!"
Fiora responded, "First, scientists don't know everything, and it's not that hot down there, I promise you. I've never been there, although how could a bunch of fairies live there if it was that hot?"
"What do you mean you haven't been there?" Pyra said. "I thought you were a fairy."
"I am," Fiora replied, "but I was born here. My parents both work for Kendallsurge, and I've never seen the sun except in the valley when we're training."
When Pyra looked closer, she realized that Fiora's skin was terribly pale. "I'm trying to join Kendallsurge, but I first have to prove myself by training super hard and showing that I'm worthy. And I promise I wasn't one of the people who kidnapped you. I'm definitely not trusted enough to do that."
When it was Evander's turn, he said, "I wasn't there either. I'm even less trusted than Fiora, although I think I'm getting close to them letting me join."
Fiora scoffed, "No way will you be able to join for a thousand years."
"And lastly, the reason why you've been living with humans—I don't really know. The only thing I know is that you have been living with them, and that was only a rumor. I'm pretty sure that Commander Nightshade will be able to tell you. Speaking of that, we should probably take you to him now."
Pyra hesitated and then thought, He'll be able to answer the rest of my questions more thoroughly. Also, I really don't want to be cooped up in here any longer. So she decided to go along with them.
Right before they left, Evander said, "Farren, do you need anything from the supplies area?"
Then, next to the vent, a girl with brown hair and dark skin, covered in grease stains, crawled out of the vent by the door.
"Yeah, can you get me a hydraulic cable?" the girl asked. Then, when she saw Pyra, she smiled and said, "Hello."
"This is Farren," Evander said dreamily. "She's a tinker, which is a power that makes you really great with tech. She's extremely smart."
"I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that fairies are real," Pyra exclaimed. "And also, one more thing before we leave. If I'm a fairy too, then why don't I have pointy ears like you?"
Fiora replied, "You have to be 14 to get pointy ears." She showed her own. "Since I'm only 13, I don't have them."
"You mean when I turn 14, I'm going to get pointy ears?!" Pyra exclaimed.
Evander smiled. "Yep, they're pretty great. You can hear really well, like a cat. Although it can be really obnoxious whenever I'm trying to go to sleep, and Alex is snoring. I thought he was already loud, and then I got these things," he said, pointing to his ears.
"Who is Alex?" Pyra asked.
"He's my roommate," Evander said. "He's an illusionist, which means he can create illusions. He's already been accepted into Kendallsurge. The rest of us are just trainees, so we can only train and attend meetings where we discuss plans. But anyway, we should go."