INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

After leaving the Department Office of the Legionnaires and passing several security checks, the group was led through an underground pathway. There’s no unpleasant smell and dirt. It was a wide bricked pathway with a concave ceiling. Wall lights lined both walls. Despite living in the confinement of the Academy all his life, this was the first time Skhy entered the private zones of legionnaires. They are soldiers guarding the Academy as well as other important places related to Concordians. High officials also have their set of legionnaires at home. These soldiers, who have their insignias around their eyes, lived confidential lives and weren’t allowed to favor the students and faculties inside the school. Skhy had always admired them but his parents won’t let him live a dangerous life, whether as a legionnaire, sentry, or fortress knight.

Two legionnaires guided them while the other two walked behind the group. Throughout the long journey underground, he didn’t utter a word while his companions converse freely. He knew that his silence worried some of his companions but he was thankful that no one bothered him. They must have been very curious about what he talked about with the Premier, Mr. Gravin Castledgrey, and Karl. He had a lot on his mind. He couldn’t believe that the Consortium let them in so easily and with few conditions.

Upon emerging from underground, they found themselves in front of a seven floored long white building. Skhy knew they were behind the dormitory, which by now, is empty because everyone’s in class. It feels like I’ve been gone for so long…

He didn’t notice the two people coming out of the glass sliding doors. A middle-aged man with black wavy hair and a tall woman with brunet hair faced the group with a smile. Skhy stared at them with longing eyes. All his bottled emotions were rising on the surface.

The four legionnaires left without a word. When they left, the woman rushed to hug him. He released a long and satisfied sigh and closed his eyes for a moment. When she released him from her embrace, he saw a tear fell down her cheek. He smiled, showing her that he’s fine.

“These,” Skhy motioned to companions, “are my friends.”

“Nice to meet everyone. I’m the manager of the girls’ dormitory, which is the right side of this building. Call me Denise.” The man patted Skhy’s shoulder before introducing himself to the group.

“I’m Lucas, the manager of the boys’ dormitory.” He smiled widely at everyone. Skhy was glad to see familiar people, nice people.

One by one, the group introduced themselves. But when it came to Faz, Skhy got worried. Most people in the Academy knew his past but Denise and Lucas weren’t familiar to his face, only his name.

“Hunter,” he said briefly. The two managers appeared confused at his attitude but Skhy nodded slightly at them. Just let him be. They got the message. Maybe they weren’t familiar with his last name so they didn’t react.

“You had a long day and you’ve been carrying large bags,” Denise said as she glimpsed at their dirty backpacks. “I will show the girls their rooms. Boys, please follow Lucas.”

Skhy turned to his companions to give them instructions.

“Clean and rest. I know we’re tired but let’s meet after three hours in a Conference Hall room, PR9. Ask Denise how to get there,” he told the girls. They nodded but Lei appeared anxious and Hanne held her brother’s arm tighter.

They entered the building and the familiar light blue walls comforted him. The group quickly separated into the left and right wings. The boys and Lucas rode the elevator to the sixth floor.

“The largest room?” Skhy asked when they stopped walking and faced a wooden grey door. The sixth floor had the most luxurious rooms in the dormitory. It only has 12 main doors, six in boys’ wing and six in girls’ wing.

“Yes, since you came with others,” Lucas answered then opened the door with a card. The electronic beeped.

“Wow,” Clyne marveled behind him. They entered and found themselves in an average size living room with a long cream sofa and two sofa chairs, a small fireplace, and a painting of mountains on every three walls. There were three doors on one wall and three on the other side. For Skhy, it was a pretty luxurious apartment.

“Now what’s the price for this?” Skhy murmured while looking around.

“Serving a hearty buffet before execution,” Faz commented with a scoff.

“I will leave you now. Use the phone to reach me.” Lucas walked towards Skhy then patted his shoulder. “You’ll be fine.” He placed five blue cards on the center table then left the room.

“The brown door is the kitchen. There’s a small bathroom in each room,” Skhy said.

“Wow,” Clyne exclaimed. He appeared at awe as he looked around.

“I’ll use this,” Storm informed then opened the door farthest door on the right wall.

“See you later.” Nate entered the door beside Storm’s room. Faz entered the room beside the kitchen without a word.

“That’s right. Farthest is the safest. See you!” Clyne waved at Skhy then disappeared in the room beside Faz. Skhy had no other choice but to use the room nearest to the main door.

He entered a single bed bedroom with a study table, chair, and built-in closets. The blue bed was pulled on one wall, two closets sat beside the door. After he closed the door, he immediately dropped his heavy bag then jumped on the bed. He released a contented sigh when his body hit the soft surface. He missed laying on the soft mattress and air-conditioned room. He felt the undeniable pain all over his body, which he didn’t feel earlier when he was talking with the three men. His consciousness was drifting to sleep when he remembered something. He groaned then sat up.

“Alright. Let’s do this,” he mumbled with half-close eyes. Within 20 minutes, he took a long-awaited bath and sorted his clothes in the closet and others in the laundry basket. He pulled the book from his bag then put it on the desk. Opening it in a page, he withdrew a folded white paper and a small note.

He unfolded the white paper and it revealed seven circles connected by chains. When he first found it, the designs of the circles were blurry. But now, they were revealed. Well, only three of them are.

Lei’s insignia, which was on her right hand. Nate’s insignia on his right arm. And Aria’s insignia on her back. Aria’s insignia shone when her cloth tore in the battle near the river. He wasn’t able to see everything but he was sure the insignia on the paper was hers.

Now, how to reveal the other four?

He inspected the piece of note with the letters T.F.A.M.C.W.N. He tried to fit the names of the three people but L for Lei is missing. Using their surnames…

“T of Thorneridge?” he murmured. He then remembered what Tessa said. Her mother wrote in her diary that ’…the children are descendants of the seven ancient leaders.’

“The descendants… So if T is for Thorneridge, the surname of one of the seven ancient leaders, the other six must be the same.” However, it would take a lot of time to research family names. The names on the records might not be the original ones due to renaming and marriages. And here we thought everything is in the library…

“Nate and Aria are also descendants but what’s the initial of their original family names?” He had a lot of questions. He also had no idea how to reveal the identity of the other three.

“It can only be Hanne, Tessa, and Storm.” Faz and Clyne only accompanied them here. They had other objectives. Hanne, Tessa, and Storm were instructed to seek shelter and go to the Academy.

Skhy had to know how the white paper operates. How it reveals the insignias. He had to go to the Grand Genesis and read more books. He also needed Tessa’s advice because she had read her mother’s diary. He grabbed a small notebook on the shelf and a pen. All school materials were already provided. So generous…

He started scribbling his to-do-list and instructions for the members of his team. Everything flowed naturally. But above everything, there is something bothering him. Tessa and Lei already knew about Lei’s mission but…

I haven’t told them that I found three Regalis. Will everyone accepts their mission?