INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS

The edge of the golden sands met a dark, murky wide body of water. Spikes of tall dark rocks stood in it like razor-sharp teeth of a huge whale, opening its mouth to swallow its preys. The fog thickened; the grey smoke crawled and twisted on the surface of the water and extended to the starless and moonless night. The fog shone like it swallowed the moonlight, casting both light and shadows. The sands nearest to the water looked as black as coals but smooth as glass. The dark beach and water stretched far to the left and right, while the fog conceled what was on the other side.

Nate watched with both curiousity and caution as he tried to catch his breath after the long run. He remembered the first time they travelled to The Mort. He expected a beautiful beach hiding a dark side after going through the barrier. Yet the image in front of him was so different from last time but not unexpected.

“What are you doing?” Ciar shouted behind him. Nate blinked and looked back. He could make out a bright glint of green from the horizon, rising from the golden of the sands towards the blue sky and majestic sun.

Nate flinched. He had forgotten that they were being chased by a gigantic green serpent. It bursted from the ground beside the oasis where they were resting, stratling the Seven and Eclipse who just woke up. The group had been running for hours but managed to stay on the right track toward The Mort. They avoid fighting the giant serpent but whenever they were too tired to run, they had no choice but to fight. There were no hiding places except for tunnels running underground toward the mazes. And no one wanted to barter their lives to giant spiders.

“Go!” His gaze shifted to Ciar who looked pissed.

“How are we going to cross?” Lei asked in between deep breaths.

“Swim?” Aria asked, glaring at the approaching serpent. “What if there are monsters in there?”

“There.” Skhy pointed to two 7-feet rocks standing near each other. Without wasting time, the group ran towards it.

“What is on the other side?” Tessa whispered beside Nate as they stood between the rocks. He understood her doubt. He thought several times about the possibility that they are walking to a trap. He feared that the Rosein Army were waiting on the other side, cornering them. Giant green serpent or Rosein Army?

“We will find out,” Hunter replied. He glanced at Tessa who was staring in front. Nate noticed the fear in his grey eyes which he rarely shows. He marvelled how the two changed from two persons who couldn’t stand each other to persons who couldn’t stay away from each other.

“Now,” Skhy commanded. The Seven raised their hands; the Eclipse watched. Nate took a step forward toward the water, expecting for his feet to feel the cold. When his sight adjusted to the bright light, his gaze slowly trailed the length of the mountain in front of him.

“Tall,” Lei muttered. The mountain was as tall as the tallest mountain in Arconien but torn-like edges decorated its slopes. No trees or plants decorated it. Its dusky color darkened toward the top. The ground where Nate and his companions stood was also barren, its color a mix of charcoal and iron.

“Are we in The Mort?” Nate asked, confused.

“Yes,” Kol answered.

“We only saw the black castle before,” Clyne said.

“The Mort is large,” Hunter explained. He started walking and everyone followed.

“You have been here?” Tessa walked between Hunter and Skhy.

“I’ve heard of it.” There was a suspicious glint in her stare directed at Hunter.

“Where are we going now?” Nate asked. The cold wind made him shiver. It hit him when they passed the barrier but he was too focused to check the new place to notice it. He rubbed his hands together to keep himself warm.

“Somewhere safe,” Skhy answered.

“Do we know where?” Aria asked.

“We’re looking.” They walked between the edge of the murky water and slope of the mountain in silence. Nate knew that his companions were tired and weak but everyone’s shoulders were tensed, their movements cautious, their senses alert.

Hunter and Ciar stopped and started climbing a slope. When Nate’s gaze fell on Ciar, he couldn’t help but remember what happened the night before. Ciar’s apology hit him more than he expected. He realized only after he laid on the ground beside Skhy that he had been wanting Ciar to face him and apologize. It took him a long time to sleep but couldn’t find the answer to his question.

“We can stay here for now.” Hunter’s voice stopped Nate’s thoughts.

Hunter and Ciar were standing in front of the mouth of a cave. The entrance was narrow but the inside was wide and warm. The walls and floor were clean and smooth. Everyone quietly took their place to rest their weary bodies. Nate chose to sit near the mouth of the cave. Aria made a fire in the center of the floor.

“Where are we going from here?” Aria broke the silence. Despite the dark circles around her eyes, her gaze remained sharp. Nate sensed her impatience.

“We’re not going to that black castle, aren’t we?” She looked from Skhy and Hunter to Ciar.

“We are,” Skhy answered but he looked hesistant. Nate glanced at Kol, Raven, and Kage who were crowded in one corner, whispering among each other. Their brows furrowed; lips pursed. Kol was pointing to a wall while Raven was gesturing to another direction.

“Are we going to split up?” Nate asked and turned to Skhy.

“Are we?” Clyne emphasized. Skhy nodded, jaw clenched.

“Tell us everything,” Lei said, her gaze hard on Skhy.

“There’s another place in The Mort where the Rosein Army may gather aside from that black castle,” Hunter started.

“Where?” Tessa scooted closer to Lei.

“It’s called Daimon Ground,” Ciar replied.

“Is it far from here?” Nate kept glancing at the Eclipse in the corner. They looked troubled and frustrated.

“Just down the mountain, on the other side.”

“And the castle?” Lei’s gaze didn’t stray from Skhy.

“A bit far from here,” Skhy responded.

“I will go to the castle.” Nate knew that the group had to split again at some point. Skhy nodded.

“Me too.” Tessa placed her hands near the fire. “It’s better to choose a familiar place.”

“I’m coming with you,” Hunter quickly added. His gaze on Tessa was so soft; Skhy’s gaze on both of them was also soft. Nate was reminded of the time in the SBCO when sadness and disappointment were evident on Skhy’s face while looking at Hunter and Tessa unlike now.

It didn’t take long before the others choose. After they talked about the plans, the three members of Eclipse joined the circle.

“Did you hear anything?” Nate asked, clenching his fists on his laps. He remembered Alyssa’s promise. And he wondered about her whereabout and safety.

“The… girl from Westeros,” Kol started, “said that the people in the LSA are safe.” Nate released the breath he didn’t know he was holding.

“Even the Consortium?” Skhy asked. Kol glanced at Ciar for a second.

“She doesn’t know where they are,” Raven continued. “They left the school.” Skhy clenched his fists.

“Only my uncle is holding the academy together.” Lei placed her hand on his arm, comforting him.

“They are warriors,” Hunter interrupted, “They will go where they need to be, where they are needed.” His voice firm but Nate knew it was his way of comforting his friends.

“And the Chamber’s knights?” Aria asked.

“She couldn’t find them,” Kol replied.

“They are probably assisting the fortresses’ knights. We also need to do our part.” Clyne gave everyone a strained smile.

“Where…where is she now?” Nate asked the Eclipse. He waited patiently as they communited silently through their eyes.

“She’s still here,” Raven replied. Nate noticed that they were hiding something but before he could ask, Ciar spoke.

“She’s probably finishing her mission.”

“What?” Nate frowned. Something clicked inside his head. “She’s back with the Rosein Army?”

“We’re not sure,” Kol said slowly, “She only said that she had to see the end.” Several scenarios run in Nate’s head. Whose side is she on?

Silence followed. Everyone seemed to be deep in thoughts. Nate couldn’t blame them. They were running toward the enemies. After eating the fruits they carried from the oasis, the Seven and the Eclipse found their places to sleep. Nate stared at the cave’s ceiling, watching the shadows of the fire dance. It’s near.

The prophesized war was coming. He knew that he could die; his friends could die. He wanted to have more years with Hanne and their mom, with his friends which he now considered a family. He wanted to learn more in L.S.A., to learn more about Mortemians, his blood. But, he also wanted to honor his parents, the Seven’s parents. He didn’t want their sacrifices to go into nothing.

He closed his eyes firmly. He tried to imagine what Skhy and Tessa said in the academy. I was imagining our parents in our age. I wonder if their friendship was like ours… I wondered if they also imagined us all together like this.

Nate could see it. He could see a group of teenagers sitting around a campfire in the middle of a forest. He could see them talking, smiling and laughing. He could see life, happiness, and contentment in their eyes. He drifted to sleep with that image in his mind.

Morning was dim in The Mort. The light coming from the grey sky was the only indication that it was morning. The wind was cold and dry. The air heavy.

The group silently walked together for an hour before it was time to separate. They silently stared at each other, waiting for anyone to say goodbye. Nate sensed that it wasn’t only him who fears that it might be the last time the two groups see each other.

“Fight,” Skhy firmly said. He stood straighter; he raised his head. Nate’s lips curled into a small smile. He respected Skhy from the very start even though their groups clashed on their first meeting.

“For Arconien,” Nate added. No more words were exchanged because the feelings they conveyed through their eyes were enough.

The group divided into two and went to different paths. Fight. For the people we love. For the future we want them to see.