INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS

The enemy stood above the still waters of the lake. His robe touched the surface. His long grey hair glistened under the hot noon sun. His dark eyes stared lovingly at Tessa who looked confused. A huge smile was plastered on his pale young face. Tessa wondered if it was his normal expression or if he was happy to see her struggling. The man could also control water but every time it’s in his control, the water turns purple. He attacked without moving a muscle. His creepy smile never faltered. He easily dodged her every attack without moving from his original position. Tessa could feel her energy decreasing every time the water she was controlling touched the purple water.

How do I defeat him?

“Are you done?” It was the first time he talked. He’s making me angry.

“Not yet.” Tessa raised her hands and a large ball of water slowly formed above her head. She quickly threw it toward him who made his own purple ball. The two attacks collided with each other. It created a gust of wind which made Tessa lost her balance but she quickly recovered.

Without waiting for the conclusion of the collision, she summoned ten daggers to surround the man. He looked surprised at first when the blades materialized around him but his smile remained. She channelled most of her energy to suppress his powers through the daggers, making the water ball lose its power. A huge explosion rocked the lake. Its water violently splashed over the trees on both sides. Tessa lost vision of the enemy for a few seconds but she kept the blades in their positions. When the shower finally stopped, her eyes widened. The ten daggers were circling floating water instead of the man.

“Too bad.” Tessa quickly turned toward the voice. She glared at him. A sudden gust of wind passed through them. The branches, leaves, and grass moved violently. It felt like Skhy but at the same time a different person. She could sense the anger and hatred even though she’s not a Wind elemental user. She was worried about her friends. The seven intruders appeared to be stronger than the enemies they had met before. Glancing in the direction of the forest, she tried to locate their positions through their energies. Before she could pinpoint their locations, the man spoke, startling her.

“Don’t take your eyes and attention from your opponents,” he said. He was no longer smiling. His eyes reflected a different emotion. Disappointment.

Tessa created several small water balls. She hurled it one after another. But something sliced each of them, even the ones she hadn’t thrown yet. Everything fell to the lake. She gasped.

“It’s kinda disappointing, right?” His tone seemed sympathetic but she knew that he was just mocking her. She stared at him, her breathing getting heavy, her vision darkened. Raising her trembling hands, she and the silhouette slowly rose with them. She didn’t stop until the man was looking up at her with wide eyes. Her hands continued to tremble as the water look into the shape she imagined. The wide wings dropped on four rows of trees before they were raised towards the sky. The long tail slithered back and forth and occasionally drummed on the ground. Its four thick and long feet trudged on the lake, splashing water everywhere. She was already gasping for air when she was finished. She was surrounded by the water taking the shape of a water dragon. It was the first time she attempted to create one. When she saw one during the school festival, she had been dying to form one. She figured that it could defeat the man, or give her a chance to run.

The man, after recovering from the shock, attacked but his purple water was just absorbed by the dragon. Tessa smiled despite the huge amount of energy flowing out of her. I just have to attack him once and then this is over.

The dragon with clear and sparkling skin opened its mouth and a ball of water formed in front of it. The ball encased a huge amount of energy. Tessa’s jaw tensed. I can’t miss. She could only do one shot. She lacked enough training to do the technique so she could only do it once, for now. Cold sweat ran down her brow.

She looked down and found the man looking worried. She wanted to take advantage of his confusion and fear.

“Now,” she whispered. The dragon released the ball and it sped toward the enemy. The man quickly raised his hand forward to stop the attack. He created a concave water barrier as the ball approached. When the ball hit the barrier, the man took a step back but continued to push. With Tessa raising one of her trembling hands, the water ball stretched to surround the man until he was inside the ball. The man tried to cut through it but his attacks were only absorbed. He stopped struggling and turned to Tessa. His eyes seemed to be asking her what her next step was.

She planned to trap him for a while until she and her friends escape. However, her plan didn’t last.

The ball exploded leaving the man floating in the air. As he sped towards her, the last of her energy left her body and the dragon fell to his death together with her. Her vision slowly darkened as her body waited for the impact of the ground. Memories she treasured flashed before her eyes.

On the day when the seven adventurers were scheduled to meet Ciar Lockhunts and get Hanne, Tessa decided to stay with Faz to check the surroundings. Faz jumped from branch to branch until he reached the top but made sure that the leaves conceal him. The wind blew slowly kissing Tessa’s cheek so she turned toward the direction that Skhy and the others went. She silently wished that they don’t have to fight today.

“Are you coming?” She looked up. She couldn’t see him but she could feel his eyes. Slowly, she made her way to the branch near where he stood. It was a long climb since the tree was almost 30 feet tall. Without waiting for his order, she looked around the area and felt for any suspicious energies. The small peaceful town consists of vacation houses near two hills and a narrow long river. It appeared to be peaceful but she knew better than to trust what she sees. She knew that it was dangerous to go meet Ciar on their own as if they trust his and Granstire’s words. The thought of being ambushed by Mortemians crossed her mind too many times that her head began to hurt every time she thinks about it.

“I don’t trust him nor Granstire,” Skhy told her before, “It’s also difficult to trust Aubree after everything. But we have to try to save Hanne.” She could imagine what Skhy felt after what she learnt about her dad. How about us? Will there be a time when we won’t be able to trust each other anymore?

“What are thinking about?” Faz interrupted her thoughts.

“Nothing,” she replied without looking at him. For the past few weeks, Faz stayed near her, a huge difference from before they saved Eloise and the others. She stopped herself every time she wanted to ask him why he was acting that way. She guessed that it was because he felt guilty for the way he has been treating her. The thought made her sad but at the same time glad that he seems to be opening up to her. I’m confused with myself…

“Whatever it is,” he stated, “I’ll listen.” This made her turn around. He was now sitting on the branch while staring at her. His silver eyes seemed to be trying to read her. He seemed to be an entirely different person since they rescued Eloise. Who’s the real you?

She turned around to avoid a confrontation. The group only has less than two months to train. She didn’t need any distraction if she wanted to live. And to not be left broken hearted.

“The others left to train,” she said, changing the topic, “I wonder where they are.”

“They’re safe.” Of course. You would make sure that Eloise is always safe. She silently sighed.

“Eloise is my blood cousin.” She turned so fast that she thought her neck would snap. Her wide golden eyes stared at him in disbelief. He didn’t appear to be lying.

“You’re the first to know.” She released the breath she didn’t know she was holding. Confused at the sudden revelation, there was still a part of her that didn’t want to believe. She had a lot of questions but she didn’t want to try her luck. Knowing Faz, he would clam up when he wants to. Eloise and Ellie are his cousins…

“Our family decided,” he started so she looked up, “for her safety since being connected to our bloodline is dangerous.”

“I’ll tell you. So, don’t think too much.”