INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS

Mortemian Mist. This was the reason why they didn’t sense the intruders’ location. The mist concealed the intruders’ energy. He wasn’t surprised that Mortemians used it. The mist was powerful enough to disguise one’s original power and insignia, suppress their enemies’ skills and manipulate their thoughts, and make the user transparent among the eyes of elemental and anti-elemental users. Mortemian Mist is stronger than Concordian Mist because of an experiment. However, Skhy was sure that the only ones who can use it were high-ranking Mortemians, particular families who experimented with their blood. The three who obstructed their path, while emitting powerful aura, were regular Sentries. The insignias on their necks showed that they were not of high status. This meant that what he saw behind them wasn’t his imagination. Someone higher and stronger is leading them.

However, what haunted his mind was the fact that he wasn’t strong enough to detect them. I let Lei and Tessa down.

When the man in the middle stepped towards him, he felt the unmistakable enchant of the mist. It covered his whole body and mind, peering into his deepest thoughts and memories. In a heartbeat, he found himself alone in front of one intruder.

“Shit!” he exclaimed as he glanced around them, trying to locate Lei and Tessa’s energies. But there were none. His gaze returned to the man, who just stared at Skhy without expression. The man’s dark eyes seemed to be looking through Skhy. He shuddered at the thought.

“Whatever you are planning, it won’t happen,” Skhy exclaimed. This brought a slow disturbing smile on the man’s face. He suddenly swung his sword. Skhy held his ground and moved his sword, but the man’s weapon disappeared. There was an angry voice inside his mind telling him that the man didn’t see him as an enemy worth fighting with.

“Of course,” the man said. Confused, Skhy frowned at him.

“You are weak so I won’t fight you,” he added. Skhy gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowed dangerously at his enemy. What do you know?

“I know enough,” he stated as if he was reading his mind.

“And I know what you truly are,” he added. Skhy’s thoughts were jumbled. Memories of his dead parents, her mother’s long lost sister, and house guards came flooding in.

“What are you talking about?” Skhy shouted despite his growing sorrow. The man laughed without humor. His stare never left Skhy’s face.

“Murderer.” His cold voice made the hairs on Skhy’s neck stand up. He felt fear, sadness, anger, and hatred at the same time that he thought he forgot to breathe. His parents’ dead bodies inside their car flashed before his eyes, followed by their burning house and dead bodies on their yard, then eight pale faces. Lei was one of them. He let go of his breath that he didn’t know he was holding. He lowered his head and stared at his feet. His legs lost their strength and his right hand felt so heavy, so he unconsciously smashed his sword on the ground to regain his balance.

“Did you think you can control me?” Skhy came back. The crash his sword made when it hit the pavement woke him from the enchantment. He gripped his sword and raised his face to glare at the man. His breathing was ragged but his mind was clearer.

Surprise was evident in the man’s face. He clearly didn’t expect this. The man clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes at Skhy.

“I am not the one who is controlling you. I just made you remember what you forgotten,” he said in his cold voice. Skhy chuckled without humour. He had regained his footing and normal breathing. When he felt a rushing energy from his crystal sword, he pulled it out of the cracked pavement.

“There was nothing to remember,” Skhy muttered. “Because there was nothing to forget.” How could I forget my parents and everyone who helped me get this far?

The man raised his hand and drew his black sword.

“You thought this is going to be easy, but it won’t. It never will,” Skhy said. The man smirked and stepped towards Skhy. Again, the mist tried to envelop his thoughts but he fought it. Skhy drew all the anger he felt toward those who hurt his loved ones. He thought about his mission and dreams for himself and his friends.

“Don’t fight your truth, Wright,” the man said. Skhy positioned his sword in front of him and held it with both hands.

“What’s my truth? That people died because of me?” he asked the man who was now ready to fight.

“Yes, they did,” Skhy added. He tighten his hold on his sword. He felt the same emotions earlier - fear, sadness, anger, and hatred – but they fuelled his determination to fight. The man smiled as if he won the battle.

“But you are wrong. They died for everyone who believe and hope for a peaceful future.” Skhy gritted his teeth. “Which makes me more determined to win.”

Skhy aimed at his opponent who blocked the blow with his sword. The sword fight continued as the sky became darker and the wind became agitated. Hit after hit, the sound his crystal sword made as it hit the enemy’s black sword was getting louder. Neither one was willing to give in or give up.

“You can’t win this, Wright,” the man said after he dodged another blow.

“Why? Because someone is backing you up?” Skhy replied. It must have triggered the man because he tried to hit Skhy’s head.

“I am one of the skilled swordsmen,” he said through gritted teeth. He swung his blade towards Skhy’s belly but Skhy blocked it quickly. Based on his technique and stance, Skhy deduced that the man was indeed skilled in fighting. He was also getting tired of dodging his opponent’s attacks. His swift movements made it hard for Skhy to do a surprise strike. Is he still reading my mind?

The man broke into a grin.

Yes.

Skhy clenched his jaw and decided to go all out. His movements became impulsive and quicker. He didn’t think about his next move and focused on his opponent’s eyes. He was able to make the man step back several times. Distress washed over his enemy’s face. Skhy continued until his opponent was forced to pause the sword fight. He jumped back and glared at Skhy. Both swordsmen were breathing heavily as sweat rolled down their faces and necks.

“You said you’re one of the skilled Mortemian swordsmen?” Skhy asked between breaths. The man didn’t respond and just stared at him.

“Then this is an honor, yes?” Skhy added. The man’s eyes narrowed at him. He gripped his sword, ready to fight again. As he stepped and raised his swords, Skhy did the same.

“Come,” Skhy whispered. As he ran towards his opponent, the wind rushed around his blade. Dark clouds continued to form above as branches of trees swayed violently. Wind coming from all direction concentrated around his blade. These happened within few seconds.

When he neared his enemy, Skhy shouted and swung his sword with all his might. The man did the same. A spark ignited as their swords collided. Both men held their ground to push the sword of the other. Skhy gritted his teeth and thrust his sword one last time then jumped back. He was breathing heavily when the man laughed menacingly.

“See? You can’t win,” he said after. Skhy glanced at the man’s sword without a word. Suddenly, a line formed in the middle and the upper half slid down and hit the pavement. The man raised the lower half, with mouth wide open.

Skhy was thankful that the wind heeded his call. He thought that he might not be able to control the wind while inside the mist. His opponent threw the lower half of the sword on the ground and the two pieces disappeared. It can return to its original form, all weapons do, but it will take time and energy for it to appear again. It can be restored after hours, days, or weeks. He will have to wait.

The man turned to Skhy and his eyes were red with furry and hatred. I expected as much.

“Now go. Tell your leader that I won’t back down,” Skhy said to him.

“Don’t think that this is the end. You’re just lucky today,” he replied, his voice full of venom.

“Your friends might not,” he added and stepped back. Mist surrounded him until he disappear completely. The sky slowly turned blue and the wind calmed. Skhy hid his sword.

“Skhy,” someone croaked behind him. He turned and rushed towards Lei who was slumped against a slanted pavement while Tessa tended to her wound. I never saw that inclined part earlier. He sat beside Lei and examined the cut on her lower left arm. Shredded leaves were placed on it.

“How bad is it?” he asked Tessa.

“Short but deep. I used her aunt’s medicine, don’t worry,” she explained and grabbed a blue handkerchief in her pocket. He sighed, relieved that Lei’s wound wasn’t serious.

“It that okay? You seem to like it,” Lei said. Skhy noticed her red puffy eyes but she was breathing fine. Tessa, on the other hand, seemed composed despite her torn shirt, which showed her left shoulder and stomach.

“Yes. It’s fine,” Tessa replied before Skhy can ask her if she was unharmed.

“Here.” She placed a bottled water on his lap. “I filled it before you returned.” He examined her face if there were cuts or bruises. There were a few marks on her forehead. His eyes wandered on her body and found no other cuts. Fortunately, she wasn’t hurt when her shirt was slashed.

“Are you okay? No wounds?” He stopped his survey when he heard her voice. He raised his eyes to her golden ones.

“Lei kept asking but you seem to be looking at my clothes so you didn’t hear it,” she added. Blood rushed on his cheeks, embarrassed that she caught him checking her. He turned to Lei and smiled.

“Sorry, I’m fine.” He glanced between Lei and Tessa to assure them that he was unharmed. Grabbing the bottled water, he watched as Tessa bandaged Lei’s wound. He was drinking when she poured water on her hand to clean the small cuts.

“I will get more water for you and Lei,” he offered. “Where is the river?”

“It’s okay,” Lei answered. “All bottles are full.”

“Yes, that’s true,” Tessa answered. His eyes gazed near her shoulder and noticed something glowing.

“Is that your insignia?” he asked her. It disappeared after a few seconds.

“Yes, near my heart,” she answered. He nodded in acknowledgement.

“They were using mist, but Mortemians with high status were the only ones who can use it,” he explained after minutes of silence. “Mortemian Mist conceals almost anything and controls thoughts and emotions.”

“They are ordered to get us, so their leaders could be helping them,” Tessa said. Lei fixed her shirt and removed her back from the concrete.

“Yes, but they should be present for other Mortemians to use it.”

“The shadow behind,” Lei stated matter-of-fact. Her eyes widen then glared at the ground.

“It could be.”

“Did that person hide his face with a hood and looks transparent?” Tessa asked and bit her lower lip. Her eyes showed fear.

“Yes, did you also see it too?” Skhy watched as she straightened her torn shirt. She released her lip and closed her eyes. When she opened them, there was no trace of fear.

“No, I was too focused on the…man in front of me. But before I met you, I encountered him,” she explained.

“Was this when four men tried to kill you?” Lei asked her. Tessa nodded. Skhy was sure now that the person will not stop until they are killed or marked as useless.

“Playing with our thoughts and emotions was their plot for us to give up on ourselves,” Tessa stated. Her hands were clenched and her golden eyes becoming darker. Skhy wondered what her dark thoughts and fears were earlier. Angry that he wasn’t there to protect both girls, he tossed his bottled water on the ground.

“A plot to make us feel useless,” Lei added. Her oceanic eyes turned dark green. He wanted to ask them what they saw and heard but it will bring back more bad memories. Without a doubt, Skhy’s opponent’s statement was true: Don’t think that this is the end. Frustrated, he brushed his hair with his hands then placed them on his thighs. He looked between Lei and Tessa.

“This is not the end. They are going to chase us until we get back in Academy.” He waited for their response but they only nodded.

“But thank you for fighting, for doing your best. For now, we won,” he added. He earned smiles and twinkling eyes. But he knew that behind those, they hid their fears. Whatever happened earlier inside the mist, they won’t be able to share them easily.

After resting, checking Lei’s wound, changing shirts, and eating their meal, they were ready to continue their journey. Skhy was closing his backpack when he noticed a small notepad on the ground. As he picked it up, a hand grabbed it from him. Golden eyes stared at him.

“Mom’s,” she explained. “Thank you.” She turned and asked Lei if she can carry her backpack. Lei flat out refused but thanked her.

Skhy remembered their conversation in Cornerstone. He had to talk to Tessa about the possibility of being one of the Seven. She could be but the paper didn’t show. If she really wasn’t, Skhy didn’t mind.

“But it feels like you are hiding something, Tessa,” he muttered to himself before walking towards the two girls.