INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

The lobbies were bustling with students in groups talking about the upcoming Halloween festival at the end week of October. It has been 2 months since the nine new students entered the Lux Signifer Academy and four days before Halloween. Students had started to approach the newcomers. They were still hesitant to talk to them but they were usually polite except for the mean girls and bullies. Caspar Storm’s boy haters increased when the girls started to approach him as a love interest. Both actions annoyed him a lot. He didn’t like being in the spotlight or getting people’s attention. He lived all his life far from people’s eyes. He lived just to survive every day. He didn’t complain to his guardian because he said that for Storm to survive, he needed to hide from the world. He got used to it. However, no one knew how much he hated that kind of life. No one knew how much he hated his guardian for keeping him in the dark. He kept asking his guardian what’s his purpose for being born but he didn’t answer that question. However, he knew that the answers to all his questions are within the Lux Signifer Academy.

He ignored both the girls who are showing interest and the boys who hate him for having girls around him. I don’t care about any of them.

Storm was on his way to his club, the astronomy club, to help the other members prepare their Halloween booth. He didn’t want to join any club or organization but it’s mandatory. He was supposed to help Hanne with her task but the cheerleading club didn’t want someone who couldn’t dance. Not all organizations and clubs are given booths for Halloween. It also wasn’t mandatory. Only those who have great ideas that the Student Council approved to are given their respective rooms or booths. Magic is allowed as long as it doesn’t endanger anyone or anything nor go outside their areas.

He arrived in front of the Astronomy club’s organization room longer than he expected. Several groups of girls swarmed around him so he had to look for another path without many people. He didn’t even know why the girls like him.

“Caspar!” the Astronomy club president greeted him once he’s inside. The president is a tall lanky boy with huge round glasses and neatly combed hair. Most of the members had the same appearance. Storm was clearly out of place. He wasn’t smart nor interested in Astronomy. But this is the least active club so…

“Hey, Andy,” Storm replied. The president looked anxious.

“We have less than 4 days to prepare! Everyone and everything is there but I think we missed something!” Andy exclaimed while nervously looking around. Sigh... I hope Halloween passes quickly. He wanted to sleep under the shade without any disturbance and help Hanne with her task.

“You have a list right?” Andy nodded vigorously. He grabbed his planner and showed it to Storm. He read the list carefully. Everything had a checkmark except for the banner they have to put outside the room.

“Did anyone get the banner?” Andy gasped loudly and his eyes widened.

“I’ll get it,” Storm offered. Andy said many ‘thank yous’ before Storm shut the door. Most of the club and organization rooms were located on the 2nd floor of the Student Council, Boards, and Organizations (Org) Building which is the back of the Main Building, five minute-walk from the students’ buildings. The printing press where the banners are made is located on the 1st floor while the Student Council occupied the whole third and four floors. However, the Student Council has their main office in the Main Building.

He was walking in the lobby when he noticed someone standing in the hallway to his left. He stopped and grabbed his phone.

“What?” he asked while scrolling through his phone. “The Consortium isn’t so subtle when keeping eyes on us.”

“Or is it because you want to tell me something?” he continued when the person didn’t say anything.”

“I know your guardian.” Storm’s finger stopped scrolling. His jaw tensed.

“And?”

“I can tell you everything you want to know about him and your family.” Storm looked in front of him when he heard students busy laughing and chattering. He kept his eyes on the group of students holding flyers and banners walking towards him. They didn’t seem to notice him standing silently in the middle of the corridor.

“What do you need?” he asked the person.

“Report to me everything Skhy and the rest are doing.” Storm didn’t say anything for a few seconds then he scoffed.

“I will know even without a deal,” he replied with a smirk.

“What?” The person seemed startled by Storm’s statement.

“I suggest that you don’t let me know your presence when you’re around us,” Storm threatened. His voice became dangerously deep. He turned toward the person hiding in the shadow but only looked at his shoes.

“I’ll make you talk quickly,” he added. The person silently walked away deeper into the shadow. He turned off his phone then put it in his pocket. The group of students he saw earlier walked past him. They stopped talking and laughing. Fear suddenly masked their faces when they noticed Storm just standing there with a furious look. The students quickened their pace.

“There’s no good day here,” Storm mumbled to himself. He was about to walk toward the Printing Press when someone sharply tapped his shoulder. Now what? He turned without masking his annoyed look because he wasn’t having a good day.

His anger diminished when his eyes met a pair of light green orbs. Her face was full of concern. She was biting her lips, trying to stop herself from talking. She was wearing her cheerleading outfit. It was the first time he sees her in it.

“Who was that?” she blurted because she couldn’t stop herself from meddling. Despite his hate toward people who meddle in his business, he didn’t feel the same way toward Hanne. Only sometimes. Or most of the time?

“Who?” he asked then turned. He started walking.

“You were talking to someone,” she said as she followed him. I know. You’ve been following me.

“I’ll report it to Skhy later,” he replied instead. If he told her he knew, she might get embarrassed. I like seeing you embarrassed… But he likes it more when she’s frustrated and curious.

“But…” Then she stopped talking. He glanced at her. She was looking down.

“Stopping now?” he asked.

“You’re not in a good mood. I’ll ask later,” she answered without looking at him.

“You realized that you’ve been pestering me a lot,” he said a matter-of-factly. Hanne gasped then glared at him.

“I- I- I’m not pestering you. It- It’s a normal question.” Her voice raised a bit. Storm smiled inside. It was really easy to get a reaction from her. They didn’t notice that they have arrived in front of the Printing Press.

“Do you need something here?” he asked her. Hanne shook her head.

“So you were following me?” Her eyes widened a bit. He could see a faint blush on her cheek. He couldn’t stop himself from smirking a little.

“I… actually… want to see if my friend is there,” she stuttered. The door suddenly opened. Four students existed. One of them is another cheerleader. The three boys are in their varsity jackets.

“Hanne! What are you doing here?” the girl exclaimed when they saw her. The girl looked nice and friendly. Storm was glad that Hanne has a friend now.

Then the boys also called her name. They surrounded Hanne and started talking to her. Hanne looked relaxed with them. But Storm became irritated when the boys started touching her subtly. But he hid his irritation. Hanne introduced Storm to her friends. The girl, Lovie, was fascinated with him.

“I finally meet one of Hanne’s good looking friends!” Lovie exclaimed then fluttered her eyes at him. Hanne quickly stood beside him when she noticed this. She stood so close that their shoulders touch. Lovie gave her a knowing smile. The boys greeted him but appeared annoyed when Hanne got closer to him.

When the four students left, Hanne still looked unimpressed but he didn’t acknowledge this because he was preoccupied with his feelings. Storm still felt annoyed. He hadn’t been to Hanne’s cheerleading practice so he didn’t know who she interacts with or watches her. How many guys are there?

“You should get inside,” Hanne said. “I’ll go.” She was about to leave but he caught her arm.

“What?” she exclaimed. She was glaring at him.

“When is your next practice?” he asked. Her glare faltered. It was replaced by confusion.

“Tomorrow afternoon.” Storm nodded.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he told her then opened the door. He left Hanne in the corridor with a huge smile on her face. After he got the banner, he left it in their booth. Andy and everyone else was there. He focused on his task and didn’t talk to anyone. The Astronomy club respected his space, most of the time. When it’s time to go home, he used his private phone to contact Skhy.

“Hey,” Skhy exclaimed when Storm arrived in their meeting place. They were in an abandoned building near the underground arena where they trained before. It’s outside the Academy premises. Skhy and Storm got there through the underground tunnels. No one from outside can get to the abandoned building because it’s on the property of the Academy. The actual area owned by the Academy is thrice larger so Legionnaires roam around. There were no lights but the light of the moon.

“There are Legionnaires around us,” Storm pointed out as he sat down on a chair opposite Skhy. Most of the furniture is broken.

“They’re far,” Skhy explained.

“I still can’t believe you gave me a separate task unknown to others.” Skhy looked outside the shattered glass windows. The moon was peeking from the clouds.

“I realized that we have the same age.” Are you saying that we’re closer because of our age?

“What’s your purpose? What do you want?” Skhy asked then turned to look directly at Storm. He was confused at first. After all they had been through, he asked him those questions which should be asked in the beginning. But Storm thought hard about his answers.

“Aside from knowing the truth,” Storm began, “I… want people to depend on me.” Way to go, Storm. You said you hate people’s attention.

“It doesn’t mean I like people. But I lived for myself throughout my life until I met Hanne and Nate,” he explained. He didn’t know why he said these things to Skhy. He suddenly became emotional. Skhy didn’t say anything for a while. It made Storm feel pathetic.

“Now, I am your guardian,” Skhy said. Wait. What?

“What do you mean?” He heard scratching sound coming from Skhy’s direction. It was too dark to see what he’s holding.

“Just like Aria, Lei, and Nate, I’ll be your guardian,” Skhy repeated. This confused Storm more. Skhy stood up then walked toward him. He placed a paper on his lap. The pattern was familiar. When the moonlight eliminated on the paper, he saw seven circles. Four of which had drawings. One of the circle had his insignia, swirls shape like a dragon.

He’s one of the seven Regalis.