INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS

The cold wind fanned the burning fire as the three kept themselves warm in their thick coats. Lights were seen in a nearby town. Four loggers passed by earlier when they started to camp. Storm was talking about a school up in the North when they came with two horses pulling a trolley filled with logs. He immediately stopped talking when the four passers-by eyed the three travellers warily, whispering among themselves, but went on their way home.

Nate was deep in thought, staring at the dark shadows covering the tall trees in the forest. While they covered a great distance, the day wasn’t productive for him. He still hadn’t completely trust their companion but he tried to make the atmosphere between his sister and new companion lighter. Unfortunately, Hanne wouldn’t budge. She wasn’t one to make acquaintance easily and Storm seemed to prefer silence and solitude. Her complaints about walking in the forest didn’t help the tense atmosphere. Nate understood her suspicion but they didn’t have anyone else to turn to. While Storm appeared reserved and mysterious, he was knowledgeable and skilful. He was impressed at the way Storm saved his sister and finished the three opponents yesterday.

They had just finished a light dinner then fixed their sleeping bags when Storm excused himself. He walked away until he disappeared in the shadows of the trees. Hanne sat behind Nate then reached out towards the warmth of the fire.

“I’m sorry I’ve been complaining all day,” she whispered without looking at him. He chuckled.

“Not all day. Just when Storm and I aren’t talking.” This made her roll her eyes.

“I don’t like him,” she muttered.

“I know.”

“He’s hiding something.”

“I know. Aren’t we all?” He gave her a side smile. It sounded like a joke but it wasn’t, at least to Nate. She turned to him with a deep frown, which earned a tired sigh from him.

“I don’t trust him completely, Hanne. What I know is we need to stick together to reach the place and person we need to find,” he added. Storm told him of a group of Concordian teens who are looking for people just like them. When he asked who they are looking for, Storm didn’t know, just that his guardian instructed him to find them. The group would keep him safe. The story matched their mom’s narrative.

“So he can help us find that group?” Hanne inquired. The frown left her face but her lips were in a thin line. He grabbed a stick then fixed the burning woods.

“I think so. He’s also looking for them.” He watched the fire grew and danced as the ashes flew. He turned to his sister, who had her gaze on the ground. She was playing with her fingers. His chest tightened with the memories of their childhood and the day he promised her that he’s going to protect her forever. The same image flashed in his eyes yesterday when he thought he was going to lose her and before Storm struck his sword through the man’s chest.

“I’m sorry for pressing you. You don’t have to force yourself to like him,” he added. He knew that it was wrong for him to push her to like Storm even if he didn’t trust him himself.

“I’ll try.” She said this softly but it made him smile. “But he’s also rude. It feels like he’s ignoring me most of the time,” she added in a louder voice, eyes narrowing and lips in a deep frown. Nate laughed, throwing his head back.

“It seems like he isn’t used to talking,” he replied after his laugh. This made Hanne scoff but she didn’t say anything.

“Don’t trust him completely.” She whispered this then stood up.

When Storm returned, Hanne had fallen asleep and Nate was adding woods in the fire. Their new companion took a seat in front of Nate but remained silent. He wondered what took him so long but he didn’t question his disappearance.

“So that you two can talk comfortably,” Storm suddenly said. Nate looked up and found him staring at the fire. He smiled when he realized how thoughtful the guy is.

“Thank you. And sorry for Hanne’s attitude.” Storm looked up then raised one of his eyebrows. “You aren’t used to talking, right?” He looked away, his jaw clenched.

“Yeah.”

“Hanne too. She has trust issues.” If her friends weren’t insistent enough, she would have graduated without a group of friends. Despite them being party persons, he was glad that Hanne found people she can trust and be comfortable with. He knew that she was still keeping her fragile feelings from everyone but he hoped that she will tell him her fears someday.

“Haven’t we all?” Storm glanced at him when he said this. Nate chuckled, confirming his statement. “But you also don’t trust me.” Nate glanced at him before answering.

“No, not completely.” That’s the truth. “But you saved Hanne.” There was nothing more to explain. Storm clearly understood what’s behind his statement because he nodded.

“It’ll take us one and a half day to leave the territory of this region,” Storm announced after a long silence. They needed to make it to Westward before the people they’re looking for leave the place. Storm believed that checkpoints were placed in the main roads so it’s dangerous to use transportation. Nate pondered on what he knew about their situation. He glanced at Hanne’s sleeping form before turning to Storm.

“They acted late. What happened?” he whispered so that she couldn’t hear their conversation. Storm mirrored Nate’s serious expression.

“Someone controlled the situation inside the Academy. There are spies everywhere. It’s a miracle those kids were still alive.” Nate frowned at his companion’s choice of words but something in his eyes told him that Storm saw and experienced horrific things more than he tells. Nate chose to ignore his statement.

“Mom’s contact stopped three years ago but a letter was delivered three weeks ago.” He remembered the horror on his mom’s face as she stared into nothing while holding the piece of paper. She tried to hide everything related to his real parents but he insisted. For six years, he knew but didn’t have the heart to tell his sister. He thought she didn’t need to know anything because he planned to live normally but the odds weren’t in their favour. It’s best to tell her slowly. The letter said that someone will pick up Nate and Hanne but no one came until Rudy.

“Yes, because of the war. Contacting those people directly was a mistake,” Storm calmly said. Storm told him that he tried to contact someone in the Academy when his contact person, his guardian, vanished. He was asked to stay home and wait for someone to pick him up but the Mortemians beat them to his location. Storm made it out alive but not unharmed.

“Do you think we should trust them?” Nate had no answer Storm’s question. For the first time after they met him, Storm appeared anxious as he asked this. And for the first time after they left home, Nate felt really terrified.

“I’m confused. Even if I know about my parents and their lives, I don’t know if we’re in the right path. What I know is, if we stayed with our mom, she’ll be in danger.” And deep inside, Nate knew that choosing this path will eventually lead to Hanne knowing everything. He desperately hoped that she will understand why he kept it from her.

“What I know is we need to find them before we encounter another Mortemians,” Storm said under his breath. Both of them were staring at the dancing fire but Storm seemed to be accustomed to the cold because he wasn’t wearing a thick jacket.

A silent thought hung in the air. Nate and Hanne weren’t trained in fighting so they would be more of a liability than help to Storm if they face stronger enemies in large groups. They had to meet the others before Mortemians find Nate, Hanne, and Storm.

“Whatever the group’s plan is, I don’t mind, as long as I find my sister,” Storm added. Chill crept on Nate’s neck at the thought of losing Hanne, like how Storm lost his sister. Someone abducted her three years ago but he believed that she’s still alive. Hanne didn’t know this because the two always stray away from each other.

“Rest. I will guard tonight.” Nate was reluctant at first but Storm already jumped on the lowest branch of the tree and sat there, looking around. Nate’s final thought before he drifted to sleep was an image of a little girl running towards three blurry figures.

The sun was peeking above the horizon when Nate woke up. He noticed that Storm was dozing on the same spot of the branch, his back resting on the trunk and his arms crossed. After fixing his sleeping bag and heating water on the small kettle Storm brought with him, his two companions finally woke up.

After their light breakfast, coffee and bread, the three gathered their things to continue their travel.

An hour later, Nate couldn’t help but pity his sister walking in front of them, tripping several times as she walks. She must be suffering. She wasn’t used to long walks nor hiking in woods. It was good that she wasn’t complaining much but he didn’t want her to be injured or get sick if she couldn’t take it. Nate wasn’t familiar with the forests and the only thing that helps is his compass.

“There’s a small lake up ahead,” Storm suddenly spoke beside him. He must have noticed how uncomfortable and unhappy Hanne was. She glanced at Storm then Nate but didn’t say anything. Nate whispered ‘thank you’ to him. He responded with a nod.

When they stopped near the bank, Hanne ordered them to stay behind the tree. She was hesitant at first, but her face showed that she wanted to change into clean clothes. Nate and Storm were sitting on the root of a large tree; Nate was playing with some of his tools, suspending them in air, when he remembered that he didn’t know what Storm’s power is.

“What’s your ability? I didn’t see you use anything else but your sword earlier.” He glanced at Storm who was staring into nothing, deep in thought.

“I like my weapon more, but…” his voice trailed. Nate waited for him to finish but when the wind pick up its pace, he looked above to see if there are dark clouds forming. There weren’t. Then the wind stilled.

“That.” Nate turned to Storm when he spoke. What? His eyes widened slightly when he realized that he was talking about air.

“You said that you know about the two legions, but do you know the elementals?” Storm turned to him as he asked this.

“Power each of us possesses, which activates and fuels our weapons,” Nate replied. “But I don’t know how many there are in this world.” Their mom only told him a small portion of the magical world and it comprises mostly of what his true parents told her before they died.

“There are ten – fire, water, earth, metal, nature, air, ice, space, darkness, and storm. Both legions possess them.” Nate nodded at the new information. He realized that their strength is acquired from the manna of the world. But he didn’t understand what two of the elementals do.

“That’s a lot. What does space and darkness do?” He heard splashing behind him. He hoped that Hanne is enjoying herself. When Storm narrowed his eyes at him, he slightly panicked, thinking that what he asked must have anger Storm.

“Space is void,” Storm carefully replied. “Darkness is darkness.” Nate was still confused with his statement but he didn’t ask further.

“It’s hard to explain without experiencing it,” Strom added then turned towards the swaying branches and leaves. Even without knowing about them, Nate thought that those powers seemed dangerously strong. What if we encounter people with those abilities? He shook the thought away. He decided to train every night or while they’re resting.

“Ah.” Nate turned to Storm who was looking behind the tree. He was about to scold him for peeking at his sister but she spoke, stopping him from getting himself embarrass.

“I’m done.” He turned and smiled at her but he found that she looked uncomfortable.

“Are you okay?” he asked then stood up.

“Put them on that branch. It’ll dry after 10 minutes or so,” Storm said behind him. Nate watched a blush formed on Hanne’s cheeks but she didn’t say anything. He felt a tinge of disappointment that Storm read Hanne well rather than her own brother. He shook the feeling away because he knew he should be grateful to the guy. Hanne walked towards the thin branch Storm pointed earlier then carefully hanged her shirt and pants. True to his word, 15 minutes later, her clothes were dry and they continued walking.

It was less than an hour when Nate sensed a group of people in front of them. He slowed his pace then stopped completely. Storm also noticed their presence because his jaw clenched and stood in front of Nate and Hanne.

“Concordians,” he heard Storm whispers.

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Nate asked.

“No. It’s best that we find the others first. We don’t know who the enemies are.” Nate also remembered his mom’s instruction to seek the group first. The enemies can be from both sides. He knew that it’s unlikely that there aren’t spies in the two legions. His thought was interrupted when Hanne gasped behind him. What?

They were running. There were five people running towards them.

“They’re strong,” he muttered.

“Are we just going to wait here?” Hanne whispered. She was gripping the back of his shirt.

“Probably guards,” Storm muttered. His face was fixated at the path where the Concordians might emerge. Like Nate, his body was tensed.

“Are we going to fight them if they wanted us killed?” Hanne tightened her grip on his shirt as she asked this. Even with Storm’s skilled sword fighting ability, Nate knew that his group might lose. They were getting closer and Nate continued to assess their energies.

“We shouldn’t fight them, Storm.”

“Why?”

“You and I both know that they will still capture us.” He didn’t want to sound defeated but with the current status of his power, as well as Hanne’s, it would be hard to keep a long fight with trained soldiers.

“Alright. Let’s head West.” Storm finally gave in. He sprinted and Nate and Hanne followed. They were huffing and panting but didn’t dare stop. Nate was terribly worried of Hanne who wasn’t used to running.

“Up,” Storm instructed when they reach the part of the forest with gigantic trees and roots. He folded his knees then flew towards the lowest branch, jumping until he was out of sight because of the thick leaves.

“How am I going to do that?” Hanne whispered-cried. Nate drew her closer and she clung to him with her face buried on his neck. He tightened his hold on his sister. His heartbeat was drumming on his chest. He had done this before but it was years ago. Here goes nothing. He followed Storm’s formation and leaped. When he reached the lowest branch, he got confident. After five jumps, they reached Storm who was crouching on the branch and looking down. He moved to his left, giving Nate space near the trunk. One last jump.

“Hold onto the trunk,” Nate instructed his sister who’s still hugging him tightly, with her eyes tightly closed. She slowly let go of his body then carefully placed herself beside the trunk.

“Who are they?” Nate whispered as he crouched beside Storm. He saw the five bulky men holding weapons as they stopped running just below the large tree where they were hiding.

“Sentries,” Nate muttered. He remembered that years ago, a man with his insignia on his neck visited their mom. When the man saw that he was peeking behind the curtain, he smiled and waved at the little boy. When Nate was old enough, their mom told him that he was, in fact, their protector, a sentry.

“Yeah.” Nate watched as the five men scout the area around the tree. The thick leaves were hiding them but if the men tried to climb, they were going to get caught. I wonder if they sense our energies. A sudden gust of wind from behind them made Nate and Storm tumble but the two quickly hug the branch so they didn’t fall down. Nate quickly turned to Hanne and breathed a sigh of relief when he found that she’s still holding on the trunk. What was that?

“It wasn’t me,” Storm affirmed.

“Then-“ He wasn’t able to finish. Another powerful gust of wind passed, making them tighten their grips around the branch. Nate couldn’t keep his eyes opened. But when he sensed what was controlling the wind, he gasped, making him open his eyes. They widened as he looked around. The intensity was so great that his pulse quickened.

“They’re here,” Storm said what was in Nate’s mind. Yes, and they are strong. There’s no doubt that the energies were identical to that of the person he bumped into near his school and that of Rudy. He was aware that the person who was controlling the wind was stronger than Rudy and his two companions.

“Nate,” Hanne called out. She was hugging the trunk as if her life depends on it. I cannot NOT do anything. He looked down and found that the five men weren’t in sight. When the wind suddenly stilled, Nate and Storm quickly stood up. Then Nate’s eyes widened at the sight of several dark shadows standing on the branches surrounding their tree. 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10.11.12.13…

He suddenly shouted Hanne’s name and grabbed her body when multiple arrows flew towards them. Her body crushed onto his and he pulled her with him as his body fall from the branch. Save her.