INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS

Three days passed.

The dark underground chamber was transformed for the meeting. For the first time in three years, the sealed underground room was lit, making it look spacious and modern. Five rosy chandeliers now hanged from the black ceiling. The branches were spiral in shape with crystals dangling from each. A long rectangular table now replaced the 30-year old round table. The golden C engraved on the back of the modern king chairs and golden candle holders looked more aureate under the bright light. Heat from the fireplaces kept the huge room warm. A 110-inch flat screen placed on one of the ivory walls showed a picture of two people’s back walking beside what seems like remains of a temple. It hanged above a fireplace. It faces one side of the table without a chair. The 13-feet Sal wood door suddenly creaked open. The footsteps on the black tiles were rushed and impatient.

Three people occupied their seats and started organizing the papers they were carrying. For 10 minutes, the only noise in the chamber was the rustling of papers. The door opened again and the remaining four individuals came bustling in carrying laptops and papers. It was the first time in three years that they bought devices underground. Security made sure that they are not recording anything. Everyone looked at each other when everyone was finally seated. It was a school day so they were in their usual attire. They knew each others’ faces. But despite their differences in status, they are equally members of the Consortium.

The past three days were hell. Every hour there’s bad news, horrible news, and more horrible news. They were collecting information, planning defence, interviewing witnesses, gathering evidences, and preparing for possible attacks. The future of the Academy lays on the palms of their hands.

“I hope everyone is well,” Larimar commented with a bright smile.

“We don’t have time for pleasantries,” Pietersite barked.

“Ok, relax, Flourite.” Larimar looked like he was having fun teasing the irritable Pietersite.

“Pietersite is right,” Flourite commented. He sat on the chair on other edge of the table. Even if there is no hierarchy in Consortium, it was evident he leads the group.

“Zircon.” He looked at the person nearest to the flat screen. Zircon nodded then stood up holding a black remote. He walked to the opposite edge of the table. He clicked the remote and the screen showed a table with names, ages, addresses, and details of the individuals’ whereabouts for the past 20 years. Arthur Wright, Silver Price, Skhy’s parents; and Margarette Whitemoore were on the top of the list.

“As you can see Wright and Whitemoore had contact until three years ago. Whitemoore was in the war but disappeared after. Whitemoore was entrusted to protect Althea Forskleigh as her guardian but Whitemoore left her in the care of another guardian,” Zircon explained.

“She will attract more danger if she was with the kid,” Druzy murmured.

“I agree. She wasn’t a high-esteemed individual so she was the perfect person to entrust with the child but someone probably found out about her so she left,” Zircon added.

“And the kid?” Flourite asked. Zircon lowered his gaze to the ground then sighed.

“I see. The Mortemians found her first,” Flourite empathized. There was a heavy silence in the room before Pyrite interrupted.

“Mrs. Emmy,” he read the fourth name.

“Yes. It was a lie that she left the country to travel. She found another child and trained her. The kid is no longer with her today. But Mrs. Emmy...” Zircon stopped. His jaw clenched. “Her secret house was attacked by Mortemians weeks ago.” Several gasps were heard.

“The...body?” Pyrite asked in his soft voice. He was internally praying that she had escape.

“Nothing as of this moment. She might have escaped before the attack.”

“And Ashworth?” Pietersite, who sat on Flourite’s left, interrupted the grieving. It wasn’t because he’s apathetic. He was devastated to hear that his mentor might be dead but in order to save the others, they can’t waste their time being sad.

“She was willing to cooperate when I said that it’s for the sake of her children-adopted children. Their guardian got killed but no one bothered the family until now. Ashworth said that someone contacted her, saying that someone was going to fetch the kids. Their phones cannot be traced. We can assume that they are on their way.” Pyrite, Flourite, Druzy, and Larimar began taking down notes. Since they worked inside the Academy, it’s their responsibility if the kids are found near the premises.

Zircon added more information on other witnesses and the measures he and his team decided to do outside the Academy’s premises. This went on for an hour. After he finished, he went back on his seat.

“Ah the news about the Hu-”

“It’s the last of our agendas today,” Druzy, who sat on Flourite’s right, interrupted. He remained in his seat but started fixing the papers in front of him.

“There are lot of them than we thought. Wright knew the kids’ families and used Sentries to contact them. All kids were adopted or with other family members. I narrowed the family names I found in Thorneridge’s first daughter’s diary,” Druzy announced.

“Thorneridge? Mrs. Emmy’s family?” Pyrite, who sat opposite Zircon, questioned.

“Yes. She wrote something like ‘I know the destiny of my little sister.’ Apparently they hid the birth of the youngest daughter. Mrs. Emmy found her three years ago. Silver Price was close to Mrs. Emmy too.”

“In short, they had been working for decades behind others’ back,” Pietersite spat. He was furious at them. They made everything difficult by believing and spouting nonsense.

“They couldn’t trust us,” Pyrite murmured.

“Aside from Thorneridge’s youngest daugther, Ashworths’ children, and Whitemoore’s Althea, there’s little to no information about the other three. Two of them were described in Wright’s letters as ‘Darkness’ and ‘Rock’, maybe their personalities or powers. But there is one thing that I’m sure of.” Druzy’s eyes were focused on Citrine, whose stare didn’t waver.

“Wright kept the seventh one really close. He or she is inside the Academy,” he concluded. After their intense exchange of stares, Druzy continued his report for 10 minutes. Everyone then turn to Larimar, who sat beside Druzy.

“The Premier confessed that he tried to help Skhy,” he started.

“Nothing surprising about that,” Pietersite exclaimed. Larimar gave a cheeky grin.

“He knew that Wright was planning something to find the children. But he doesn’t know the details. Furthermore, he tried to decode Mrs. Emmy’s letters but couldn’t find anything,” he retold his talk two days ago with the Premier.

“How come Wright didn’t tell him anything? He doesn’t trust his best arm?” Flourite asked curiously.

“He is the Premier. Wright knew that he had to follow the Consortium’s rules,” Larimar replied.

“So where does his loyalty stands?” Pietersite probed. Larimar chuckled humorlessly.

“To his job,” he replied a matter-of-fact. He threw a long report on the important employees. Everyone was paying attention to every name.

“I will still follow the Premier’s every move. I still don’t trust him,” Larimar concluded. He passed around papers with contents written in cipher.

Thirty minutes later, Flourite turned to Pyrite while everyone was scribbling and typing.

“It seems,” he started. Everyone turned to him when he spoke. “That some historical books are missing. Some books were also altered.”

“What?” uttered Pietersite, Druzy, and Zircon.

“What do you mean by ‘it seems’?” Druzy demanded.

“What is the librarian doing?” Pietersite was now frustrated. “I thought he knew that place like it’s the back of his hand.”

“Mist.” His answer didn’t need any explanation. The members had the same problems for the past years. There were spies for Mortemians in their Academy. They don’t cause serious problems but this time, they probably stole important archives.

“That’s how strong Mortemian mist is?” Druzy murmured, both fear and anger evident in his eyes.

“No. Mist uses illusion. It can be cleared,” Citrine finally spoke. He was quietly observing the panic. “It can only win if you don’t know that it’s an illusion.”

“There are legends about future warriors called Regalis and battles but they didn’t mention ‘the Seven’ or who they are or where they came from or how they became ‘the Seven’. Even if something was written in books, they are not there anymore,” Pyrite continued.

“The world is changing. Even if magic and illusion are still here, the modern world can cause anything to change the future. What I’m sure is, the next war might or might not happen depending on our decisions and actions,” Pyrite reasoned out. Everyone except Flourite and Citrine nodded in agreement.

“Right now the most important thing is to save the children. Whether it’s true or not, the Mortemians and some Concordians believe the prophecy or legend, causing chaos. We’re not even sure if the Mortemians are only using this to initiate a war or make a fool of us. Even if we prove to them that it’s not true, they won’t stop because battles will still happen until the balance is returned,” Flourite declared. No one said anything. At the back of their mind, they knew that fact.

“We are here to protect and maintain the Academy,” Citrine, who sat between Pietersite and Pyrite, added. “But the problems concern the whole Concordian community. The researchers are continuing their search for answers about the previous war. The Sentries and Legionnaires are safeguarding the whole country. I’m constantly monitoring all communities in the country.”

“You’re right. We’ve been here for three years. The years after the Eschaton war. It was hard to get up again but we have to continue,” Larimar agreed.

“Now it’s time to act,” Citrine announced. “The kids travelling weren’t easy to find because their energies are unidentifiable and fresh. Also, Mortemians are everywhere so our people are trying to protect the mass. But we are ready. The Academy is surrounded. The fortresses were instructed. First action is to gather and protect them.”

“Whatever happens, their safety comes first,” Flourite announced. “The place for them to stay is ready. I will personally talk to them.”

“Why can’t we just let them come to the Academy? It’s safer than anywhere,” Pyrite asked. Compared to his speech earlier, his voice was now quivering.

“And concentrate the Mortemians’ attack to the school?” Pietersite probed. “We can’t afford that. Also, there are people who support the belief. They might be gathering more people.”

“We are against people of our own kind,” Zircon murmured, clearly annoyed.

“It will pass. They won’t fight for that belief forever,” Flourite asserted.

“Now, let’s move to Hunter,” Zircon announced. Everyone became tense. The name sent chills on their skin. Everyone was reliving what happened three years ago. Not the war but what happened after. After that person left, the Consortium received news about him until he gone missing a year ago. He killed and cursed people.

Zircon pressed the remote and the screen showed a picture of two people’s backs walking beside a broken temple in a desert.

“He was there all along?” Druzy asked no one in particular.

“Who’s the one beside him?” Larimar asked. He was shorter than Hunter and was holding a large item.

“A rock?” Pyrite suggested.

“As of this moment, they have crossed the border. Our team and Citrine’s were tailing them but they probably noticed us so they hid. We don’t know where they’re headed but the last known location is North West of Westward. They seemed to be going South.” Zircon didn’t miss a beat.

“Do you think he wants anything to do with the Academy?” Flourite asked.

No one had an answer.