INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

The Premier opened the Halloween festival with a huge fire banner in the sky saying ‘Lux Signifer Academy’s Halloween Festival’. The day wasn’t only a celebration of supernatural and horror stories but a showcase of magic skills. Most of the festivals and events in the Academy involved assessments of the students’ talents in arts, magic, weaponry, and combat so it wasn’t a surprise when the Premier announced that the club or organization with the highest good reviews will be given a reward. Storm thought that it’s absurd to make a contest out of an event where students should enjoy it. There were already a lot of tests and examinations in each department. He never understood school. Maybe because I have never been in one.

Most of the booths were located Laurels and Aventurescence (Ave) Buildings but there were a few booths outside such as the food stands, Painting club, Cheerleading club, and sports club. Storm’s Astronomy club had a room in the Laurels Building. They set up a Halloween-themed café, which he didn’t enjoy because he was a waiter and he didn’t like greeting a lot of people.

“Even though you don’t smile, they’re still fawning over you,” one of the girls in his club said when he returned to the kitchen. He was tired of handling customers.

“Doesn’t matter! We’re packed!” Andy exclaimed while making sandwiches. Storm didn’t reply to them. He looked at his watch then removed his black tie and apron.

“Break,” he simply said then left without waiting for their reply. He did his job so he figured it was fine to leave. The hallway was filled with dark and scary decorations, and groups of students walking around. Storm saw that the Media club occupied two rooms for a multimedia horror house. After he passed the horror house, he was surprised when a group of girls suddenly surrounded him. They were smiling broadly and fluttering their eyes at him. He frowned at them.

“What is it?” he asked. All three girls talked at the same time so he couldn’t understand them but he figured they wanted him to come with them to tour around.

“I’m busy,” he plainly said then pushed through the group. He didn’t look at their reactions but they must be surprised by his rudeness.

“He’s so cool!” he heard one of the girls screamed. He sighed. He heard people whispering about him and what just happened as he walked.

“He’s handsome and cool!” He scoffed when he heard this.

“His coldness is cool.” What?

“People noticed him more because he’s mature.” No. I just don’t want to talk to people.

“He’s cold but sweet too!” Wait. Sweet? When? To who? He racked his brain for any situation where he was sweet to anyone.

“That girl from Mettalum Department is his girlfriend?” someone shouted. Someone might have seen his interactions with Hanne and created a rumour. But he didn’t care as long as it doesn’t bother Hanne.

He exited the building and was greeted by flying students, fireballs, fireworks near the ground, ice statues, moving vines, and shadowed people. He instantly tensed when he saw the shadows but he realized they weren’t the same shadows they saw and sensed in the woods. Mortemians and Concordians have the same elementals…

He left the students’ buildings ground and walked toward the area where the two roads leading to the two buildings meet. Hanne’s booth was set up there. He was going to watch the Cheerleading club’s performance with the Theatre club. When he arrived at the location, he saw Tessa, Lei, Aria, Nate, and Clyne.

“Hey!” Clyne shouted at him while waving. Too loud that everyone near him looked at him then Storm. Storm just shook his head.

“I’m not late, am I?” he asked.

“No. Just on time,” Nate replied. Storm searched for the missing members in the crowd.

“Skhy has something to do,” Tessa explained, “I don’t know about Hunter.” She looked sad when she said this. Suddenly, a water dragon flew way too close to the ground so everyone ducked. It was 20 feet long. Its transparent figure glittered under the bright sun. Storm realized that there were other types of dragons in the air such as fire and earth. But Earth dragons were still connected to the ground with thin roots.

“You can only control it if it’s alive,” Lei said. Everyone nodded in understanding.

“I want to make something big like that,” Tessa whispered, enchanted by the water dragons.

“I’m sorry! I hope no one got hurt! ” someone shouted. It must be the one controlling the water dragon earlier.

“I will! You can it, Tessy!” Clyne exclaimed to cheer Tessa up. She laughed at his statement.

“I told you several times, Clyne. I don’t like that nickname.” But she was still grinning.

“Good day ladies and gentlemen!” Everyone turned toward the stage. The host was wearing a white shirt and pants and a long blue coat. He had a dark blue bow and white long rabbit ears with a black magician hat. Alice in Wonderland?

“So what are they going to perform?” Clyne asked. Someone sighed. Maybe Aria.

“It’s Alice in Wonderland,” Lei replied. The host said a few words then the show started. Storm smiled when Hanne entered the stage as Alice. It was a musical-theatrical performance but instead of singing, they just danced. Storm kept his eyes on Hanne who looked like she was enjoying herself. This is where you belong…

He didn’t know where the thought came from.

After 30 minutes, the show ended. Everyone clapped and the actors bowed in the stage. Hanne quickly ran towards them after the crew left the stage. She had a big smile on her face.

“How was it?” she asked as she looked at them.

“Amazing,” Tessa commented.

“Perfecto!” Clyne exclaimed.

“We love it, Hanne,” Lei said. Aria responded with a thumb’s up.

“You were amazing,” Nate told her then hugged her tightly. After he released her, Hanne looked at Storm expectantly.

“Good performance,” Storm said. Hanne pouted. He tried not to grin but she noticed.

“You’re teasing me,” she pointed out but she was still pouting. Clyne laughed heartily. Storm put his hand on her head and patted it lightly.

“Good job.” He smiled at her. Her pout turned into a smile but she quickly masked it with a scowl. When she turned to her brother, she was smiling sweetly again.

“The next show is in 15 minutes. I’ll be behind the curtain this time,” she said.

“Okay. Have fun!” Nate exclaimed. Everyone except Storm bid their goodbye. She ran behind the stage.

“Okay! Where should we go, Aria?” Clyne said while looking around. He looked like an excited kid going to his first festival.

“I’m not going with you,” Aria flatly replied. Clyne turned to her pouting. Aria started walking away and Clyne followed her. She glanced at them then waved. The four waved back.

“Aria’s in the Swordfighting club while Clyne is in the Media Club. But her club opted out this Halloween while Clyne is on break, I think,” Tessa explained.

“I see. How about you two?” Nate asked them.

“The Gardening Club also isn’t included,” Lei replied.

“I’m on ground patrol for Student Council,” Tessa said. Everyone seemed to be blending in the Academy.

“We’re going to the Ave Building. How about you?” Tessa asked Nate and Storm.

“I’m good,” Storm answered.

“I’ll be with him. Have fun!” Nate told them. Tessa nodded and the two walked away. Nate suggested going to the Laurels Building. He explained that his club, Technology and Innovation club, only need to lend equipment, tools, and materials to the other clubs so most members were free. His club opted out of the festival because most members are seniors so they could enjoy the festival.

“When are you going to tell Hanne?” Storm asked when they reached the building. Nate glanced at him but didn’t stop walking.

“What?” he asked.

“That you still plan to do the mission,” Storm replied. This time Nate stopped in his track. They were in the ground floor hallway and it was packed with students. They were blocking the flow so they moved near the wall.

Nate looked at Storm with a serious face.

“Let’s go to the canteen instead,” he suggested. Storm nodded in response.

The canteen building, which the students call Grey House, was located at the centre of the students’ buildings ground, surrounded by the Ave, Laurels, Tempus Locus, and Armoury Building 2. This area occupied 35% of the west side of the campus.

“She won’t like it,” Nate expressed when they found a table outside. Students laughed, howled, chattered, and used magic everywhere. But the table was away from most of the commotion.

“Of course she won’t,” Storm agreed. Nate sighed. He looked troubled and sleepless.

“It won’t be long until Skhy the other members are revealed so you need to tell her,” Storm pointed out. This made Nate more frustrated.

“I had this feeling that you’re one,” Nate confessed. Storm scoffed.

“Like you saw something in me that cause that.” He was still confused about this whole Regalis thing. He didn’t even know anything about his family or what happened to his guardian. I don’t know anything!

“I have to know something for me to fight,” he continued.

“But whether you find something or not, you’ll still fight.” Nate gave him a knowing look.

“Why do you think so?” Storm probed. Nate shrugged.

“I don’t know. I just have this feeling.” Storm chuckled and Nate grinned.

“Seriously. You have to tell her quickly,” Storm insisted. Nate’s grin disappeared. “I know you’re trying to protect her but it’ll hurt her if she heard if from someone else.”

“You’re right. I want to fight because I want to protect her,” Nate said with a determined look. “You have to tell her too.”

“What?” Storm asked. But he already knew what Nate was talking about.

“That you’re one of the Seven.” It shouldn’t be hard to tell Hanne about it. He’s not her brother so it won’t affect her as much. He kept it for a while because it didn’t seem important to tell her.

“Maybe in the next meeting,” he replied. He stared at his intertwined hands on the table. “We don’t even know what we’re up against.”

“That’s true.” Nate nodded. “But Skhy is doing everything. He’s not even asking for help for most things. I’m afraid that he’s pushing himself to his limits.” Storm noticed that too. Skhy was carrying a heavy burden alone.

A gush of wind passed when large fire butterflies flew by.

“So how’s your task? Did you find anything?” Storm asked. Nate sipped his soda before answering.

“A lot. But confusing, nonetheless.” Storm waited for him to continue. Nate’s jaw tensed. His eyes turned serious.

“The missing magical equipment wasn’t taken by force. Some books in the library were also altered,” Nate added. “We have moles. And they have been here for a long time.” It’s not impossible.

“But do you know who?” he asked. Nate looked around. A few students were chatting near them but no one seemed to be listening to them.

“A few. Mr. Jaque Laccquare, our librarian. Ms. Charlotte Luxemburg and three other teachers. These are just speculations though,” Nate whispered. “But we know there are more. We also think that a few in the Consortium are inside agents.” Storm remembered Ms. Luxemburg in one of his classes. She was strict and straightforward.

“Why do you think these Concordians are teaming with Mortemians? Who are they against?” Stop the Regalis from forming? Destroy the Academy? Whatever their purpose is, there will be destruction.

Nate sighed before answering. He had been running around to find information.

“Maybe to make Concordians fall and then rule this world.”