INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

The North Edgeburn didn’t look as modern as Highfort. The buildings weren’t as tall and were without much design. Everything seemed to be in white, grey, and cream. There were no statues or sculptures. Only a few cars were seen but the streets were full of pedestrians. The people’s robotic faces were terrifying. No groups of teenagers laughing with their friends were seen. It looked like a busy day with the number of people in suits walking but the sounds and noises heard only came from the cars passing by and the light footsteps. Nate felt like he entered a black and white film without a dialogue nor sound. It was his first time in Edgeburn so everything seemed strange to him. The place was really opposite to Hightfort where the noises are defining. Everyone seemed to be talking, laughing, or arguing.

“Don’t worry. It’s not like this every day,” Clyne commented as if he could hear Nate’s thoughts. They entered an empty narrow street.

“It’s like a tradition,” Clyne started. His voice was low and monotonous. Definitely out of character. But Nate reminded himself that he doesn’t really know him. “Today is one of the days of the Eschaton war. Most of the normal people believed it was an earthquake in South Edgeburn because of the mining. Only a few know what really happened. Mostly those who are elemental users.” Nate could hear the anguish in his voice.

“The thing is…” He stopped. He was walking beside Hunter and Skhy, leading everyone. “A lot perished from that earthquake. So we every year, we have a week of silence and grieving.”

“We are sorry to hear that, Clyne,” Tessa offered. He didn’t talk about it before. Nate wondered if Aria knew but he couldn’t see his expression because she was behind him. Skhy tapped Clyne’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry about it,” Clyne exclaimed. His voice returned to his normal cheery pitch as if trying to hide the pain of the memories.

“Why…can’t the people know about the- our world?” Lei asked after a moment of silence. Nate turned when he heard a scary hiss. A pair of neon green eyes stared at him under a dirty box.

“It’s safer for them,” Skhy replied. It seemed to take forever to exit the narrow street between two old white buildings.

“It would be safer for them if they know the danger,” Aria replied. It was the first statement Nate heard from her ever since they exited the bus. Nate still felt that it’s odd that Clyne and Aria weren’t walking together. Maybe Clyne just needs to lead them because this is his hometown.

No one replied to Aria’s statement but Nate agreed with what she said.

“There are more people who know about this world than we know of,” Hunter pointed out. “It’s impossible to conceal everything, every time.” Nate nodded in agreement. Just like the secrets of the Lux Signifer Academy.

“That bus will bring us where North Edgeburn and The Canopy meet.” Nate followed Clyne’s finger which was pointing to an open bus station behind a marketplace. Skhy and Hunter began talking about something but Nate was busy thinking about his home. In a few hours, they will arrive at The Canopy but their path was so far from their house. It doesn’t matter. No one’s there. His chest tightened. Their mom is safe. That’s what mattered to him.

The bus ride was longer than he expected so he decided to sleep again. They had been travelling for two days. He immediately entered a dreamless sleep after he closed his tired eyes. But woke up when he heard voices. At first, he didn’t know where he was, but upon seeing Hanne’s sleeping face, he looked around.

“I can’t believe you’re angry because of that.”

“I don’t want to talk right now.” They were whisper shouting but he recognized the voices.

“I also don’t want to pay you any attention but…”

“You’re already used to having my attention.” Silence. Nate thought Clyne was sitting with Hunter. He looked to his left. He raised his eyebrow when he saw Tessa’s head on Hunter’s shoulder. Both were sleeping. Hmm…So Lei is with Skhy. When did this happen?

“At least tell me why you’re angry,” Aria whispered. She sounded calmer than earlier. “You kept pestering me about what I’m thinking but you don’t want to spill secrets.” Nate reminded himself that it’s bad to eavesdrop so he closed his eyes to sleep.

“You said that my life is sunshine and rainbows so I don’t have the right to say that I understand you,” Clyne said. His voice was full of hurt and sadness. Sleep, Nate. Sleep. He continued to chant this.

“How could you understand? When I killed-” Aria emphasized every word.

“I killed my grandmother and uncle,” Clyne cut her off. Nate’s eyes abruptly opened and widened. Did I hear that correctly? Aria and Clyne killed someone? He assured himself that he was dreaming. His heart was drumming in his chest. As the silence continued, he slowly drifted to sleep. But this time, it wasn’t dreamless.

Two figures were running away from him, toward a huge hole, a size of a building, in the ground. He was above the ground. He didn’t know where but he could see what’s inside the whole. Black. Darkness. The two figures jumped inside. Two figured suddenly emerged beside him. One of them laid a round blanket near his feet. The two also jumped into the black hole.

“Nathan.”

He slowly woke up from his slumber. The sky was a mix of blue and yellow. It was silent inside the bus. His shoulder was silently screaming but he couldn’t wake Hanne. He looked in front and found Skhy’s blue eyes.

“We’re near,” he mouthed. Maybe because Nate just woke up but he only noticed the dark circles around Skhy’s eyes when he slowly looked away. Nate knew that he had a nightmare but he couldn’t remember. He looked outside and found nothing but trees as the bus passed by. After half an hour, the bus stopped and the team exited the bus. There was no building around. The bus quickly left. Nate couldn’t recognize the place but he knew they were already in The Canopy because of the 30-feet green welcome arc sign made of concrete.

“Beyond that forest is the South Edgeburn,” Hunter said while pointing to their right. “Beyond that is the Three Rivers.” He pointed to their left. The Three Rivers was the deepest river in the country, surrounded by North and South Edgeburn, Westward, The Canopy, and Wyvernshore. Nate suddenly wondered if Hunter had been to all regions in the country. He seemed to know a lot of places.

He walked toward the forest beside the South Edgeburn and everyone followed. He seemed to be in a rush. Nate understood how he wanted to save his friends immediately. But Nate was glad that he seemed to slowly open himself up to the team.

Clyne, who was walking beside Hunter, adapted his serious expression. He was silent and tense while they walk inside the forest. Nate also noticed Aria’s frustrated look. She wasn’t calm like she often is. Nate remembered their conversation. While it bothered him a lot, it’s Aria and Clyne’s business. He won’t bother to ask them. For now, that is.

“I wonder what’s wrong,” he heard Tessa whisper. She was on his right, Hanne on his left. Concern was evident on her face.

“Why?” he asked. Tessa was startled. She looked up with an awkward smile.

“Nothing. It’s just…Lei is acting differently,” she hesitantly said. He looked in front. Aria and Lei were walking side by side, while Hunter, Skhy, and Clyne were leading.

“Did you ask her?” Nate asked. Tessa shook her head. Maybe she’s not feeling well… He was about to say something to Tessa when a sensation hit him. It was cold. And familiar. All too familiar. The others must have noticed it too because everyone stopped walking. Nate felt a chill on the back of his neck. He slowly turned.

The person’s smile confused him before, but now, the person’s intention was clear as day.

Nate instinctively pushed Hanne behind him. Skhy and Hunter’s backs came into view. They didn’t sense him.

“I’m not surprised anymore,” Nate said. “That we’re being watched in the Academy.”

The man smiled. It was a mischievous one. Anyone would say that it’s a genuine smile. That’s what makes it disturbing. He was wearing a white shirt, a pair of dark blue trousers, and a black trench coat. His Academy pin gleam when the sunray hit it. The nerve of the guy…!

“What do you want?” Skhy shouted. Nate noticed that he and Hunter had summoned their weapons.

“Hanne, keep some distance,” he said without looking at her. He summoned his bow and arrow within a few seconds.

The man raised both of his hand near his torso as if he was surrendering. He still had that annoying smile on his face.

“I mean no harm, students,” he said.

“We’re not in the Academy,” Hunter asserted. The man sighed.

“You’re right,” he said. “Nevertheless, I need to do my job.”

“What job?” Skhy asked with his sword pointing toward him. Nate surveyed their surroundings. He didn’t sense other threats but they could be hiding their presence. They won’t know for sure if Mr. Darius Grandspire had backups. If that is even his real name…

The teacher lowered his hands. His smile disappeared. He stared at them for a few seconds.

“I’m warning you. You should stop sniffing around. Trying to uncover everything on your own without knowing anything will only endanger both legions.” Nate frowned. Why both legions?

“What are you talking about? Don’t play with us, spy,” Hunter bellowed. Mr. Grandspire shook his head.

“Don’t go to that place.” Is he threatening us? His tone didn’t seem like he was. But Nate wasn’t sure.

“The enemies you perceived aren’t the real enemies,” he said emphasizing the word ‘real.’ Hunter scoffed. Nate didn’t trust his words. He’s also an enemy, a Mortemian who was spying on them.

“I already warned you.” He took a step back. Nate gripped the bow and arrow, expecting an attack. “It’s an order by Ciar. My job here is done.” He jumped on a branch and ran away.

“What was that?” Clyne exclaimed.

“Ciar…Is he talking about Storm?” Hanne asked. Her pleading eyes were staring right at him.

He’s trying to confuse us.

Before they could recover from the intrusion, Nate felt another presence behind the trees.