INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

The ride in the elevator was comfortably silent. Even Faz wasn’t tensed and agitated. The rest of the group seemed fresh and full of life. Skhy, on the other hand, didn’t get to sleep or rest. He gripped the notebook he was carrying as they get out of the elevator. The familiar lobby came into view. Lucas wasn’t in his usual seat. He might be in his office. Skhy looked at the glass doors opposite where the group entered hours ago. The path leads to the road that goes towards the buildings of the school. It made his heart ached and feel heavy. He tried to shake the feelings away. He needed to focus on the upcoming entry tournament.

The elevator going underground on their side of the boys’ dormitory was under maintenance so Skhy led the boys to the other one. Upon entering the elevator and pushing the LG3 button, Skhy closed his weary eyes to chase the sleepiness and tiredness away. The notebook he was carrying felt heavier than usual. I’m scared… He doubted that the members of his team knew that. He didn’t want to show that he’s scared or they might doubt his leadership.

“Skhy, are you listening?” Clyne’s voice made him open his eyes. He looked at the most energetic person in the group. He was always thankful that he came with them because he’s the only one who can tolerate Faz.

“Sorry. What is it?” Clyne smiled widely at him.

“This place is enormous.” He stretched the word ‘enormous.’ Skhy chuckled.

“It is,” he replied.

“So the conference rooms are on lower ground three?” Nate asked.

“Yes. And the students’ study area. It’s like a library but without the books,” Skhy informed. He turned around, facing them. Faz was already in the same position. “The door is that way.” Everyone followed. The elevator tinged and the door opened.

In front of the elevator was a well-lit long hallway with a light blue wall on one side and thick glass in the other. On their right was another hallway but longer with several doors on them. Skhy turned left towards the glass wall. There was a security access control system machine on it. He grabbed his room key card in his jacket pocket.

“All facilities in the dormitory are divided except this area. It has exclusive conference rooms. Those who have permission from the dorm masters can go inside,” Skhy informed the others.

“We can use our room cards? That’s so cool,” Clyne exclaimed.

“No. Only my card key has access,” Skhy explained. Clyne pouted.

“Get on with it,” Faz murmured. Skhy tapped his key card and the door slid opened. There were only four large conference rooms labeled 3, 6, 9, and 12. He had no idea why they were named such. They stopped walking in front of PR9 room. I wonder if they’re here… He knocked.

“Skhy?” It was Tessa’s voice. He smiled a little. He pushed the door opened, revealing an average size room with a rectangular table, on every wall, and 10 chairs. Tessa and Lei sat on one side and Aria and Hanne on the other side.

“Hi. I hope you had a good rest,” he told them with a smile then proceed to the chair near the whiteboard. Clyne sat between Aria and Hanne while Nate sat beside his sister. Aria looked pissed. Storm reluctantly sat beside Lei while staring at the brother and sister in front of him. Hanne kept glancing back. What’s going on? It came as a surprise when Faz sat beside Tessa instead of the opposite side of Skhy. Tessa seemed to not like it.

“Alright. I’m sorry I had to jump into our agenda hours after we arrive,” he started.

“We understand. We don’t have time to spare anyway,” Tessa comforted him. He replied with a smile. She had always been his ally.

“The tournament isn’t a usual event in the Academy. There are regular entrance exams – pen and paper, duels, and exhibitions. But…”

“Since they wanted to make it harder to us, they decided to have the tournament,” Faz completed his statement.

“Right,” Skhy quickly took over. “You will have to show the student body and every one your capabilities - elemental, weapons. It will be a week from today.”

“A week? Is it enough to prepare?” Hanne exclaimed. Her wide eyes looked at him with helplessness. The others, aside from Faz and Aria, seemed to mirror her feelings.

“It depends on you. But we will train,” he honestly replied. “The tournament is basically a battle against students in the Academy. These students are skilled and smart.”

“You really didn’t sugarcoat anything,” Storm commented.

“That’s better,” he looked at him and said. Then he looked at each of the members of the group. “You have to prove to them that you are strong.”

“Strong enough to study here?” Lei asked.

“No. Strong enough for them to see you as an asset,” he firmly said. Everyone’s eyes became serious. If the Consortium sees their power and strength, they would want to monitor and control them inside the walls of the Academy. If they put them somewhere else, the Mortemians might try to take them and the Concordians won’t be able to know where the rumors of prophesy came from.

“They know that we won’t talk so they would tail us. We have to find another way or place to communicate.”

“Leave that to me,” Faz offered. Skhy was surprised that he would actively help the group. He thought he just wanted to go with the flow, as long as it gives him an advantage.

“I hope it’s not a trap,” Tessa murmured low enough for Skhy to hear. Others heard him but Faz didn’t comment on it.

“How can we trust you?” Aria asked, her piercing eyes didn’t waver when Faz glared back.

“You need to,” Faz replied. “I was from here.” Gasps were heard.

“Okay.” Skhy wanted to cut the tension. “I will show you the gym where you can train. It’s separated from the ones used the majority of the students. Also, don’t say anything to the students and faculties here.”

“We cannot trust anyone from inside,” Tessa added. She looked around the table. “The enemies are from both teams.” Mortemians and Condordians…

“That’s true,” Skhy agreed.

“Wow. That’s messed up,” Clyne said as he shook his head.

“Tessa said that we have to look for something,” Lei inquired.

“Yes.” Skhy opened his notebook and gave each of a ¼ size white coupon with their names.

“Ehhh what about me?” Clyne pouted. Skhy realized that he didn’t comb his strawberry blonde hair.

“I actually don’t know what I should ask you to do.” This was his honest answer. He excluded Faz and Clyne because of the fact that he didn’t know how they will help the group.

“You excluded us because we are not originally in your team,” Faz commented with grim expression. Skhy didn’t reply because he was half right.

“Hey. It’s not entirely because of that-“ Tessa tried to reason out.

“And you always justify his wrong actions,” Faz argued back.

“It was my fault. But I really don’t know what to write before.” Skhy didn’t want them to fight in this crucial moment. “Thank you Faz for offering to find a secret place for us.”

The two were still engaging in a staring contest. He didn’t expect this side of Tessa but he welcomed it.

“As for Clyne, I want you to help Aria.” He looked between Clyne and Aria.

“What?” Aria exclaimed, glaring at Skhy. Clyne looked pleased.

“This is better. He can make diversions if something goes wrong,” Skhy added. “Besides, everyone except Faz and I should be in a group so you won’t be suspicious.”

“He’s always suspicious everywhere he goes,” Clyne chuckled as he pointed at Faz, who just glared at him. Clyne continued laughing. Nate followed. Lei and Tessa tried to hide their smiles. Aria and Storm’s expression lightened. Skhy didn’t want to cut the moment but he had too.

“I’m going to personally talk to each of the group later. But we have another thing to talk about.” They might have noticed the uncertainty in his voice because everyone became serious again. He opened his notebook in another page and unfolded an old piece of paper. It revealed the seven circles linked by chains.

“That’s…” Lei didn’t finish her statement. She must have noticed the two other insignias.

“My insignia? Did you draw it?” Nate asked him.

“What is this?” Aria stared at the paper.

“You already know of the Seven Regalis, their mission. My mission was to find them,” Skhy started. Everyone, except Faz, nodded. He knew of it but didn’t seem to care. “You don’t know everything. This, along with another paper with initials and an old book, was left by my dad.”

“Before I met Lei, all images were blurry. Until I met her. The initial of her family name was also in the other paper.” He looked around. Everyone except Tessa, Lei, and Faz was trying to figure out the situation.

“And the paper recently showed two more.” He looked between Aria and Nate, fearing their response. But Aria easily got over the shock. Her eyes showed determination.

“I don’t know if everything you believe in is true. But if it’s fighting bad guys who killed my dad, I don’t care,” she said with an unwavering gaze. Skhy felt someone patting his left hand on his lap. Thank you, Tessa. He nodded at Aria, thankful for her positive response.

“You are so cool,” Clyne commented. He was beaming at her.

He turned to Nate, who was staring at his sister. Fear was evident in his eyes. Hanne mirrored his expression but kept her gaze on the table. He understood their fear.

He probably didn’t want to leave his sister behind. But what would he feel when he realized that his sister has the same path as him.

They were brother and sister. There is a big probability that they will fight alongside each other as Regalis.