INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

The room was not a room at all but a huge apartment with a lounge, five rooms, an average looking kitchen, and a laundry area. The sofas and chandelier looked expensive. Everyone, except Aria, was curiously looking around their new place. According to Denise, it’s one of the largest rooms in the dormitory. She figured that the group would want to stay near each other but at the same time, has their privacy.

For Hanne, it wasn’t near as her old house but she was glad that they won’t have to run, hide, and sleep like wild animals in the forests. They finally achieved what they promised to their mom. But however glad she was, she knew that staying in the Academy has a lot of consequences. The fear of danger, secrets getting revealed, and getting caught up in this Regalis mission increased as they neared the place. There was also the fear of being useless. Especially when the Academy officials revealed about the tournament in order to stay in the school. They probably had to fight someone in that tournament and Hanne already knew how badly her results will be. If it’s a one to one, it’s not a fight she’s going to win. Even though she can use her power, she still couldn’t control the intensity. She didn’t even know how to summon her weapon! Or if she had one! But mom said that this is where it’s safe and Nate asked her to trust him.

She kept thinking about what she should do. She thought that she won’t be able to rest when she entered her room. But when her body hit the mattress, she was gone in seconds. Unknown to her, the situation was getting worse. The list of her fears lengthened after hearing Skhy’s revelation in their meeting. He flipped his notebook in another page and unfolded an old piece of paper. The paper revealed a drawing of seven circles linked by chains. Most of the markings on the circles were blurry. Except for three. One of them was very familiar to her.

“My insignia? Did you draw it?” Nate asked him. What is that for? Why is Nate’s insignia there?

“You already know of the Seven Regalis, their mission. My mission was to find them,” she heard Skhy say but her eyes were glued to the paper. “Before I met Lei, all images were blurry. Until I met her. The initial of her family name was also in the other paper.” A magical paper? Wait. Those seven circles represent…

“And the paper recently showed two more.” The Seven Regalis. Nate? He couldn’t be.

Her heartbeat quickened and her mind wandered. She felt Nate’s intense gaze but she couldn’t bear to look at him in the eye. After minutes of silence, Aria spoke but her words didn’t register in Hanne’s mind.

“This must be a joke,” she murmured then lifted her face, looking directly at Skhy, who looked apologetic.

“It isn’t. I’m sorry,” he carefully replied. There was a burning fury inside of her. She was scared and angry at the same time. She left their mom to keep her safe and to find a safe place for Nate and her. Skhy, Tessa, and Lei talked a lot about the Seven Regalis in their trip so Hanne knew how dangerous that mission is. She didn’t even know if she believes them or not. The only thing in her mind was her and Nate’s safety, and support her brother on his quest to know about the world of magic.

“Your bases of who’s a Regali are pieces of papers?” Her question earned a chuckle from the guy with raven hair. He wanted to be called Hunter but Skhy kept calling him Faz. Whatever.

“I understand your concern,” Skhy started. “I haven’t mastered how this paper shows the insignias-“ Another chuckle.

“But I believe Tessa’s mother’s diary showed a key to understand it.”

“So these papers might or might not be accurate,” Hanne probed.

“Hanne,” Nate whispered then squeezed her right hand under the table. She looked at him dead in the eye. We couldn’t just trust everything everyone says. She hoped the message got across.

“The diary said that you have to reveal the true you,” Tessa announced.

“I thought about it. It means showing your true powers and being true to yourself,” she added. True self?

“It seems simple-“ Aria started.

“But it’s complicated at the same time,” Storm added. Hanne glanced at him and found him staring at Tessa. What is with him? He did this before with Aria. What’s the reason this time?

“It’s likely that you are one of them too, Hanne,” she heard Skhy said.

“Wait, what?” She looked at him, confused but still angry. His apologetic eyes gazed between her and Nate.

“You said before that you couldn’t control your powers and summoned your weapon only once. The first time we saw each other near the river was the first and last time your weapon appeared, right?” His light blue eyes suddenly seemed determined, as if he reached a conclusion.

“Are you saying that my insignia will appear there if I solve those problems?” Hanne asked. Fear and shame took over her mind. Now everyone knew how useless and helpless she was.

This is insane. She couldn’t see herself fighting hundreds – or even thousands – of Mortemians. She wanted nothing but to be somewhere safe.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. And I’m sorry for not revealing it slowly,” Skhy said as he looked at each person in the room. “But we have to train before the tournament.” Oh no. We are not yet done with our conversation. She was about to refute but Nate squeezing her hand made her stop. She bit her lips and sat upright. Her eyes wandered in front of her as Skhy continued his speech.

Storm’s eyes were glued to her. She suddenly felt embarrassed. His stare was intense and calculating. What are you trying to find out? Then as if he finally realized that she’s staring back, his gaze became soft. She turned away because she didn’t want to accept pity. Even from him. Especially him. She directed her attention to Skhy to forget Storm’s soft gaze.

“Carefully examine the instruction I gave you,” Skhy stated. “Rest tonight and we will start training tomorrow. Use the phones given to you but not for our secret meetings.”

“Why? How are we going to communicate?” Aria asked.

“A smaller phone will be left in your desk,” Skhy answered. “The phones given by the Academy were bugged.”

“Where do the new phones come from?” Clyne asked.

“From allies,” Skhy said simply. He didn’t want to reveal everything. Everyone seemed to know this fact but didn’t question it. Besides, everyone here had secrets of their own. Except for me. She’s an open book.

“As for the place-“

“I will send you the location later tonight,” Hunter cut him. He didn’t look at anyone. He looks arrogant.

After five minutes, everyone vacated the conference room. She was about to follow Tessa, Aria, and Lei to the left side of the building but a hand grabbed her arm.

“Wait,” Nate said. She was debating what to do and say. She squeezed her eyes shut for a few seconds, then turned to him with watery eyes. His sad eyes searched hers.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“It’s not your fault or Mom’s. There are people who are playing with us, with all of us.” Her voice broke at the end. “You won’t do it, right? If we pass this tournament, we can stay here without doing that mission.”

Nate smiled sadly then hugged her.

“Of course. I don’t want to put us in danger.” Thank God.

“Everyone’s waiting.” He released her from his grasp. “I will get your phone numbers from Skhy.” She nodded reluctantly. She felt a bit better after what Nate told her. He won’t fight.

She joined the girls and exited the adjoining hall. When the elevator door closed, she grabbed the paper in her pocket and studied Skhy’s writing.

The Student Council knows a lot of things.

And the instruction was clear.