Foxfire is the most prestigious academy for elves in the Lost Cities. Teachers are called Mentors and wear orange capes while students are called prodigies and wear colors corresponding to their level. All ability classes are taught one-on-one so that lessons can be modified to fit each prodigy. (Telepathy session between Fitz and Sophie with Tiergan as mentor notwithstanding.) This excludes physical education and agriculture, which are done with all prodigies on certain days. Along with teaching, Mentors are also in charge of taking turns teaching detention. Mentors also have the ability to give prodigies detention. The Foxfire staff takes turns choosing flavors for the locker DNA strips (as mentioned in Book 1: Keeper of the Lost Cities).
Every day starts with an orientation where the principal reads announcements while other Mentors take attendance of all the students using their registry pendants. Magnate Leto (also known as Mr. Forkle) is the current Foxfire Principal.
Campus
The campus consists of a wide stone courtyard with a five-story glass pyramid. The main building wraps around the pyramid in a sharply angled U and is made entirely of stained glass. There are six towers--each a different color--which separate the wings, and a seventh tower, a Leapmaster, stands in the center. On the left, there is a domed amphitheater and two smaller buildings. To the right, there is a gold tower and a silver tower, which are twisted around one another. There are many fields of purple grass.
Every Level's building has an atrium with lockers. The lockers open by using a person's DNA. There is a strip to lick which tastes different every day; the flavors are chosen by the mentors. If the strip tastes unusually bad, then all students know that Elwin is the one to blame.
The Elite Levels are entered by licking a small DNA strip, however, if one (such as Sophie Foster) is too short to reach, the Beacon can let them in. Only elves are allowed in the towers, to make sure every prodigy's studies are not disturbed.
School Uniform
Girls wear a pleated skirt with black leggings, shirt, vest, and waist-length cape.
Boys wear a lace-up jerkin over a black long-sleeved shirt and blue slacks with pockets at the ankles, along with a waist-length cape.
Students in the elite levels are required to wear special capes.
The uniform colors depend on the level of the student.
- Level One: Black or Onyx
- Level Two: Blue or Sapphire
- Level Three: Brown or Amber
- Level Four: Green or Emerald
- Level Five: Red or Ruby
- Level Six: White or Diamond
- Level Seven (Elite Level): Gold
- Level Eight (Elite Level): Silver
Levels
Foxfire's Levels are essentially like grades. There are eight levels altogether, but only the first six are available to all elves. The Elite Levels, Levels Seven and Eight, only allow elves with abilities to study and learn there.
Every single level has a mascot and qualities to go with the level. It can be noted that each mascot is the color of the Level's cape. Only certain ages can attend certain levels.
- Level One: Ages 11-12, Mascot is an Onyx Gremlin, and qualities are being Curious and Capable.
- Level Two: Ages 12-13, Mascot is a Halcyon, and qualities are being Calm and Steadfast.
- Level Three: Ages 13-14, Mascot is a Mastodon, and qualities are being Clever and Cooperative.
- Level Four: Ages 14-15, Mascot is a Dragon, and qualities are being Adaptable and Cunning.
- Level Five: Ages 15-16, Mascot is a Saber-Toothed Tigers, and qualities are being Bold and Calculating.
- Level Six: Ages 16-17, Mascot is a Yetis, and qualities are being Earnest and Fearless.
- Elite: Level Seven: Ages 17-18, Mascot is a Flareadon, and qualities are being Resolute and Enduring.
- Elite: Level Eight: Ages 18-19, Mascot is a Unicorn, and qualities are being Noble and Gentle.
Every level has corresponding lessons.
Classes
All students who haven't manifested their special ability take this course. It puts them through a series of tests aimed to trigger an ability. If they don't trigger an ability by level 4 they will have to leave Foxfire and are considered Talentless. During Book 1: Keeper of the Lost Cities, Dex, Marella, and Jensi go through testing to see if they are Frosters. The test involved going in an oven and baking them for 2 hours.
Agriculture is for level three prodigies so they can learn how much work and effort the gnomes put into growing food.
In Alchemy, prodigies learn to change things into metal, as well as learning how to brew various things. It is the equivalent to our Chemistry classes except for none of the information we have is correct in the Elvin world.
In Elementalism, the prodigies learn to master the elements. This mostly involves catching them in bottles.
The history of the Lost Cities and the coming of Elvin culture is taught in the course. This course steadily gets more in depth of history as you get older.
Linguistics is the study of languages including ogre and all human languages. This class is usually only available to the elite levels, however, Sophie Foster is allowed to attend this class because of her ability as a Polyglot.
This course is designed to unlock the full potential of the Elvin mind.
In Multispeciesial Studies, prodigies learn about different species.
In P.E., the prodigies learn to channel the strength of their minds to different parts of their bodies, allowing them to jump higher, run faster, and become stronger. The whole school participates in P.E. together every Tuesday and Thursday morning. Every elf has a personal changing area outside of the amphitheater. They occasionally have splotching matches.
- Ability Focus Session
Any Foxfire prodigy who has manifested an ability is required to train in that ability every Tuesday and Thursday, one-on-one with a mentor. Possible sessions include Telepathy, Vanishing, Empathy, Flashing, Gusting, Phasing, Frosting, Technopathy, Conjuring, Beguiling, Inflicting, Descrying, Mesmerizing, and many more. At the begining of each student's time learning about their ability and how to use it, the mentor who is teaching the sessions will give the student The Ethics Lecture. Note: Training in Pyrokinesis is strictly forbidden.
In The Universe, the prodigies learn about every star, planet, and astronomical object.
Known Prodigies
Current Prodigies
Sophie Elizabeth Foster - Abilities: Polyglot, Inflictor, Teleporter, Telepath, Enhancer
Biana Vacker - Ability: Vanisher
Fitz Vacker - Ability: Telepath
Keefe Sencen - Ability: Empath
Dex Dizznee - Ability: Technopath
Jensi Babblos - Ability: Unknown
Marella Redek - Ability: Pyrokinetic
Stina Heks - Ability: Empath
Maruca - Ability: Unknown
Wylie Endal - Ability: Flasher
Linh Song - Ability: Hydrokinetic
Valin - Ability: Unknown
Lex Dizznee - Ability: Unknown
Bex Dizznee - Ability: Unknown
Rex Dizznee - Ability: Unknown
Trella - Ability: Unknown
Dempsey - Ability: Unknown
Shayda Adel - Ability: Unknown
Dedra - Ability: Unknown
Huxley - Ability: Unknown
Audric - Ability: Unknown
Previous Prodigies
Alvar Soren Vacker - Ability: Vanisher
Jolie Ruewen - Ability: Conjurer (deceased)
Alden Vacker - Ability: Telepath
Grady Ruewen - Ability: Mesmer
Edaline Ruewen - Ability: Conjurer
Della Vacker - Ability: Vanisher
Councillor Alina - Ability: Beguiler
Brant - Ability: Pyrokinetic (deceased)
Known Mentors
Councillor Alina was formerly the principal of Foxfire, who read announcements during orientation. She has porcelain skin, fragile features, and caramel-colored hair. She is a Beguiler and is now a Councillor.
Magnate Leto is the new principal of Foxfire after being promoted from his original position of Beacon of the Silver Tower. He is tall and keeps his black hair extremely gelled. He is a Telepath and turns out to be another of Mr. Forkle's identities.
Lady Alexine is the Physical Education teacher for the Level Two girls. She is slender, with long raven-colored hair and almond-shaped eyes. She is a Phaser.
Lady Anwen teaches Multispeciesial Studies.
Sir Astin teaches The Universe. He has pale blonde hair and a soft, whispery voice. Sir Astin turns out to be one of Mr. Forkle now.
Barth the Reaper is a gnome that teaches the Level Three prodigies Agriculture.
Sir Beckett teaches Elvin History to Level Three students.
Lady Belva teaches The Universe and is rumored to have a crush on Keefe. Her idea of punishment is ballroom dancing.
Councillor Bronte was brought in to teach Sophie in Inflicting.
Lady Cadence is Sophie Elizabeth Foster's Linguistics teacher, she was forced back to Foxfire to teach Sophie and has no other students. During Book 3: Everblaze, she was promoted to the title Master Cadence and is the Beacon of the Silver Tower. However, she is still called Lady Cadence. She is a Polyglot and a Conjurer. Lady Cadence also supports the ogres. Her punishments for detention are peeling curdleroots or placing effluxers around Foxfire.
Sir Caton is the Physical Education teacher for the Level Two boys. He has muscles like a Titan god.
Sir Conley teaches Elementalism.
Lady Dara teaches Elvin History for Level Two prodigies.
It is unknown what Sir Donwell teaches, though Keefe says that he led Detention.
Elwin works in The Healing Center at Foxfire as a physician, along with Bullhorn the Banshee.
Lady Evera teaches Multispeciesial Studies
Sir Faxon teaches Metaphysics.
Lady Galvin teaches Alchemy. She is slender with red-brown hair. She cares greatly for her capes. She wants to teach professional alchemists but is forced by Councillor Alina to teach the beginners.
Sir Harding is the physical education Mentor for Level Threes. He has broad shoulders, warm brown skin, and shoulder-length black hair woven into a braid.
Lady Nissa works in The Tutoring Center with students that need help in their classes.
It is unknown what Sir Rosings teaches.
Sir Tiergan mentors Sophie Foster in telepathy after agreeing to return to Foxfire for a year. Many people were surprised by his return since the incident involving Prentice. At first, no one was allowed to know that he was Sophie's mentor. He returned in Exile to continue being Sophie's telepathy mentor. In Everblaze, he starts teaching Fitz as well, in Sophie's classes. Sir Tiergan is later revealed (in Neverseen) to be Granite, a member of the Collective (similar to the Council) of the Black Swan.
Lady Veda teaches Level Three Elementalism. She is described as a wispy woman with waist-length black hair.
Lady Zillah is Tam's shade mentor.
Lady Sanja is Keefe's elvin history mentor.
Lady Ceah is mentioned as an Elvin History mentor.