INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

Nate was the next to fight. However, when he took his position in the arena, his opponent was nowhere in sight. A few minutes passed and the spokesperson announced a change of representative. The reason was the previous candidate was involved in an accident of some sort. The new opponent is from Ignis Department. His fire was able to melt all metals Nate launched at him. His arrows weren’t able to pass through his flames. Clyne was a bit anxious because Nate was exhausting himself until he had no more energy left while Aria watched calmly beside him. In the middle of the fight, Faz silently left the room. He met Clyne’s eyes but didn’t say anything. He was probably going to wait for the fight to end and wait for his turn. Nate’s fight concluded with him kneeling because of exhaustion and lack of energy.

Clyne respected him for fighting until he had nothing more to give, just like his sister. He was sent to the infirmary so Storm left the room again to check up on the brother and sister.

Skhy appeared anxious after the fight. They had four wins, one left in order to win the tournament. Clyne, on the other hand, didn’t mind the outcome. Faz was their last key. Clyne knew that his friend is going to win no matter what anyone says. He saw Faz fight before and he knew that that wasn’t his full potential.

“We still have Faz. Don’t worry,” he told Skhy when he saw his face after Nate’s fight. Skhy smiled but he didn’t look convinced. Clyne kept thinking about what he was thinking but he wasn’t able to ask him because Faz walked in the arena.

“I hope this ends well,” Lei muttered.

“Of course it will! He’s strong!” Clyne exclaimed. There were only him, Aria, Skhy, and Lei in the room. Tessa, Hanne, and Nate were in the infirmary. Storm was still checking on them.

“He is,” Skhy agreed. So there’s nothing to worry about!

Faz’s opponent entered the arena. Skhy visibly gasped. Clyne, Aria, and Lei turned to him.

“Why her?” Skhy whispered, dumbfound.

“Who?” Clyne turned his attention to the person who entered the arena. The girl in uniform had short wavy golden hair.

“She has light blue eyes,” Aria pointed out.

“Huh? You can see them from here?” Clyne asked. He could only see the body frames and hair colours but no the expressions and eyes of people in the arena. They were too far.

“No. I saw her when the spokesperson talked to us at the entrance,” Aria replied, still staring at the girl. Clyne nodded. His memory wasn’t that good. He had a hard time remembering people’s faces if he wasn’t interested in the person.

“Do you know her, Skhy? You look like it,” Lei said. Clyne couldn’t see Skhy’s face because he sits in front of him.

“Yes,” he replied after a moment of silence, “Fa- Hunter does too.” Eh? Clyne looked at Faz’s silhouette. What kind of expression is he making? When they came face-to-face with Skhy, Faz looked surprised at first but he immediately looked angry. It was a good first meeting. Faz and Skhy never explained why there was tension. It could be because of the bad rumours about Faz but Clyne knew there was more to it. But now that they are in the Academy where Faz lived three years ago, he was bound to meet people he knew before.

“Were they friends?” Clyne asked. His gaze didn’t leave Faz. He and his opponent weren’t moving at all.

“Were.” I see…

“But don’t worry, Faz is a professional,” Clyne assured everyone in the room. No one replied. He frowned a bit. I trust him.

The girl was the first one to make a move. Her weapon, a sword, appeared. Faz followed. He lifted his right arm and his insignia shone on his right shoulder. His swallow, a two-blade sword, materialized on his hand. Both fighters ran to engage.

“Wow. She’s good,” Clyne whispered as he watched the two in a sword fight. No one was above the other. The swordfight lasted for a while before the two separated from each other. They didn’t look tired at all.

“Don’t tell me she’s as strong as Faz?” he blurted.

“I don’t think so,” Aria suddenly spoke. Clyne turned to her.

“Huh?”

“She’s not as strong as him but she’s trying to get to his level,” Lei responded. The girl launched at Faz and they engaged in a sword fight again. Faz would dodge and she would continue striking at him. When the girl realized that she couldn’t beat Faz with her sword, she stopped. Suddenly, dark clouds formed above the colosseum, blocking the sun. It was so dark that it was hard to see Faz and the girl. Loud thunder was heard and consecutive lightning flashed. Then two streaks of lightning extended downward. They lifted something from the ground.

Faz was held by each arm.

“They have the same elemental,” Clyne whispered. But why is Faz not doing anything?

“Yes. We call it ‘Storm’ elemental under the Fulgur Department of this Academy,” Skhy replied. Clyne was still confused about the elementals and the departments but they were not important, for now.

The girl now stood on what appears to be a swing made of lighting. It lifted her until she was face-to-face with Faz’s unmoving form. Lighting continued to flash around them. It surprised Clyne every time he sees it. Then he felt his seat trembling. He quickly turned to Aria who had his head down and arms around her body. When he touched her, she quickly moved away.

“Aria…” he whispered. He didn’t know that she’s scared of storms.

“Skhy, Lei, I’m going to bring Aria in the infirmary.” Lei and Skhy turned around.

“What happened?” Skhy asked. Lei looked concerned.

“I’m… I’m fine…” Aria’s voice was trembling. “Don’t… don’t say anything… unnecessary.” Clyne’s frown deepened. Maybe she didn’t want to tell anyone about her weakness.

“She’s just tired,” Clyne told Skhy and Lei instead. The two nodded. Before he could help Aria stand, a loud and ear-piercing thunder broke. Clyne scanned the arena for Faz. His eyes widened when he saw smoke coming from his body. His clothes were burnt. What are you doing?!?!?

“Clyne, Aria doesn’t feel well,” Lei pointed out. He turned to Aria. She was still trembling.

“Why are not doing anything, Hunter?” Skhy exclaimed. Clyne found himself in a dilemma. This wasn’t supposed to be. Aria needed him so he put his arms around her and helped her stand up. Thunder and lightning continued in the background. Suddenly someone patted Clyne’s shoulder.

“I’ll bring her there.” Nate’s face was full of scratches. Storm stood behind him.

“Nate. How are you feeling?” Skhy asked. Nate smiled at him.

“I’m fine,” he replied then turned back to Clyne and Aria, “I’ll bring her.” Clyne shook his head.

“I can bring her,” he insisted. He hugged Aria’s shaking body tighter.

“We know you can. But also wanted to be there for Hunter,” Nate pointed out. Of course! However, Clyne knew Aria’s well-being is more important to him right now.

“Faz can do it without me watching him.” He was about to take a step when Aria spoke.

“Stay…here, idiot,” she said a little breathless, “Why are you fussing around me?”

“But-“ He cut off.

“I can bring myself there.” She lifted her face. She was pale but still glaring at Clyne and Nate.

“You can’t walk properly,” Nate insisted.

“Ok… Can you help me, Nate?” Clyne didn’t hide his surprise. Why not me? He sighed then slowly released her into Nate’s arms. Asking and insisting would make her more tired. He didn’t like leaving her side but she was being considerate with him. The thought made him a bit happy. He decided to think about that than feel jealous.

The moment they left he turned to see what’s happening with Faz. It wasn’t good. Three more lightning hit his body.

“Is he giving her a pass because they were friends? Is the fight done?” Clyne asked Skhy. He didn’t know their history but he knew Faz won’t turn down an important opportunity like this. The information he needed was inside the Academy.

“I… I don’t know,” Skhy responded in a nervous voice. The lightning swing where the girl stood moved towards Faz who was still being held by two streaks of lighting. She stood so close and moved her head beside his. What happened next should have made Clyne excited but it scared him instead.

The streak of lightning holding Faz’s right arm disappeared then he hit the girl’s head so hard that she fell from where she was standing.

“That… was a hard punch,” Lei whispered, surprised. The dark clouds and lightning stayed even though the girl fell. But the ground was cleared of the clouds so it was easy to see the girl lying on the ground. The flashes of light served as light. The other streak of lightning holding Faz’s left arm disappeared. He fell on his two feet as if he wasn't hit by lightning.

“A comeback?” Clyne said. A nervous laughed followed. He didn’t know why he was nervous. Maybe because Faz is fighting a girl? All Faz’s opponents before were males or monsters in the desert, swaps, and oceans. But he doesn’t torture people. Clyne knew that Faz won’t kill people who didn’t do anything morally wrong.

The girl moved and slowly stood up. She had her hand on her cheek. When she was able to stand up properly, lighting hit her. It wasn’t the type of lightning that hit Faz earlier. It hit her hard and slow, electrocuting her for a while before another lightning strike. Her body was smoking. After the second hit, she fell on her knees. As if it wasn’t enough, another lighting hit her body, electrocuting her longer than before.

“This…” Clyne couldn’t form a sentence as he watched the girl suffer. He looked at Faz who was just standing a few feet in front of the girl with his hands inside his pockets, watching her. Clyne didn’t know what to feel. It was good that Faz is going to win but the sight in front of him was torture.

“I have to stop him,” Skhy said as he stood up. Clyne stood up too.

“What are you talking about?” Skhy turned to him. His eyes were wide with anger.

“He’s going to kill her.” Clyne frowned at him.

“He won’t,” he insisted.

“Look at what’s happening there,” Skhy said calmly but he was just trying to keep anger in check. Clyne saw the girl still kneeling and Faz was walking slowly towards her.

“He won’t kill her,” Clyne said without any doubt. He’s going this for the whole team.

“It’s not just about this fight anymore, Clyne. Something snapped in him.” Confused, he turned to Skhy. Anger left his eyes and was replaced by disappointment and fear.

They stared at each other, trying to read their minds. They are Faz’s friends in different timelines. Who’s the real Faz? What made him change? Did he change into his worst self?

The door suddenly swung open, revealing Tessa holding on to the door frame.

“Tessa?” Lei exclaimed as she stood up. “What are you doing?”

“Later,” Tessa replied, breathless. She limped towards the glass that separates them from the outside. She clicked something below it and the glass slid open. You can do that? Since there was a magic barrier between the arena and the audience, no wind or clouds entered the room.

“What are you doing?” Lei grabbed her shoulders.

“Is it for Hunter?” Skhy asked her. She didn’t answer nor turn back. Clyne saw that Faz had reached the girl who was still kneeling. He crouched down. Clyne felt his heartbeats quickened. He won’t torture nor kill. This is not a war…

“I know you can hear me,” Tessa said in her normal tone and volume of voice What? They were too far up for Faz to hear them.

“He can’t-“ Clyne started to say but Skhy cut him off.

“He can. It’s another one of his abilities,” Skhy pointed. Clyne felt betrayed that he didn’t know. I have to ask Faz later. I will annoy the life out of him.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Tessa continued. Clyne unconsciously chuckled. Faz won’t like what she said. Clyne walked then stood beside her. If he can hear us then…

“I didn’t know this power of yours,” he said while looking at Faz who was now standing up in front of the kneeling girl. He wasn’t moving nor looking up.

“I still believe in you, my friend.” Clyne fist bumped in the air.

“You’re not alone in this team so think about us,” Tessa continued.

“You promised!” Then her body fell on her side. Clyne saw Faz stand up so quickly. Skhy and Lei were able to catch her body. She was breathing heavily with her eyes closed. They slowly assisted her to go back to the infirmary while Clyne watched Faz. After the three left, Faz began to move again. Faz moved on the girl’s side then crouched down. He put his arm around her and helped her stand up. Slowly, they walked towards the three people running towards them with a stretcher.

When Faz was left alone in the arena, he walked back to the door where he came from. He didn’t look at where Clyne was standing but Faz lifted a thumbs up to his direction. It was enough. But he kept thinking about Faz and Tessa’s interaction like when she gave him a lunch box.

What exactly did he promise to Tessa?