INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS

The air thinned more when he found Lei and Skhy against the left wall of the tunnel. Lei was crouching in front of Skhy who had his hands around his left lower leg. Nate’s heart dropped when he saw blood pooling on the ground below his foot. But before he started panicking around Skhy, Lei revealed that Skhy’s foot fell into a small hole on the ground, injuring it. Lei, on the other hand, looked unharmed but the air was thin so both of them were having difficulty breathing. Lei refused to leave Skhy to find help and he was too heavy for her to carry. She helped Nate put Skhy on his back and they left the tunnel to find the others. They had to rest several times because Nate was also weak from the earlier training.

They were still inside the tunnel that connects it to the cavern where the two openings were, when their friends' voices reached them. Nate released a sigh of relief. Lei ran toward the exit to ask the others to help Nate with Skhy.

“They’re safe,” Skhy muttered on Nate’s back.

Lei returned with Clyne and Hunter. Clyne helped Skhy on Hunter’s back. When they emerged, Tessa ran to hug Lei. Aria raised a thumbs up at Nate which made him smile. The group didn’t waste any time and moved quietly toward the exit. Nate counted only three working flashlights and the lights weren’t enough to illuminate his friends’ faces but he knew that everyone was relieved that they found each other, anxious to leave the cave, and tired from all the running and hiding. Clyne, Nate, and Hunter were on shift to carry Skhy who started protesting when it was easier to breathe again.

“I can walk,” he insisted when they neared the entrance of the cave. Clyne let him go. The group didn’t talk about what they experienced in the cave. There was a silent agreement that they will talk about it once they were out of danger.

The group decided to rest in the forest. The moon was still high up in the sky and the forest was still as quiet. Everyone wanted to return to the manor soon but most of their legs were trembling. They didn’t make a fire so as not to attract attention.

“Let me see your wound, Skhy,” Tessa cut the silence. “We have to carry you to the infirmary.”

“What did you see there?” Clyne asked the group. There was a pause before Nate spoke. No one interrupted him, even Hunter, as he told him what Alyssa Roseshadow said. He emphasized that he doesn’t trust her but they had to talk to the knights.

“It feels like we’re being left in the dark again,” he ended his narration.

“Are we finally meeting all our allies?” Skhy asked, more to himself than the others.

“If we are, that means we are also going to meet more enemies,” Hunter added.

“We aren’t sure yet, Faz,” Tessa said.

“What? Did you learn something?” Aria asked. Nate couldn’t see Hunter’s entire face under the shadow of thick trees.

“Tessa and I entered a different tunnel,” he started. “We found a room.”

“It looked like a place where a group gathers,” Tessa continued. “There were maps and plans for ships. There were also letters.” She whispered the last sentence. Nate thought about what Alyssa said. A sickening feeling grew in him when he thought that she lied and the truth was the Rosein Army was gathering in the Noir. He felt a bit betrayed but he shouldn’t be because he didn’t trust her in the first place.

“Some said the number of casualties.” Hunter’s voice deepened. “It didn’t say where but the letters were recent.”

“30 sentries now. Some knights were being called. The legionnaires were informed but no news yet. They need you.” Tessa talked as if she was reading. It dawned on Nate that Hunter was getting suspicious of their mentors, the knights, not the Rosein Army.

“Maybe it’s because of the Mortemians?” Clyne guessed.

“There was a couple of letters like that, saying that the knights were needed.” Tessa’s voice was soft, conflicted.

“And some of the strongest knights won’t be called if the problem wasn’t serious,” Aria pointed out.

“So why are they still here?” Nate asked. No one answered. No one tried to guess.

That was the end of their conversation. The Seven return to the quiet manor. Nate had the urge to march to the knights’ rooms but he knew that it was disrespectful. He decided to wait for the morning.

The morning came with Nate feeling ache all over his body. Homer’s physical training was the first lesson, followed by Anika and Yuri’s group missions. The three knights refused to talk to the Seven about anything not related to their training. Every time one of the Seven tried to approach them, the knights threw them a dangerous stare. Even Yuri seemed to be on edge despite the smile playing on his face. The knights ran immediately after ending the training or lesson, leaving the students confused and frustrated. Among the knights, Neus and Forrest were the ones who rarely train them which angered Hunter more because he wanted to face the knight again like the first time the knights fought the Seven in Faymagnates.

The same behaviour – avoiding talking – continued every day until the students had enough after two weeks.

“We have to corner them,” Aria gritted her teeth.

“They can disappear, you know,” Clyne pointed out which made Aria glare at him. The Seven had just finished eating lunch in a meadow, sitting on the grass, waiting for their next mentors, Navi and Cora.

“They rarely teleport now,” Tessa observed. “They usually ran away or jump.”

“Maybe it’s exhausting,” Clyne guessed.

“Have you seen Neus or Forrest?” Nate asked. His friends thought for a moment. Everyone shook their heads.

“Missing for three days now,” Hunter mumbled. “I want to challenge him to a duel.”

“There’s no other choice.” Tessa stood up. “We have to talk to them.”

“Or we can force them to talk to us.” Clyne grinned. “If we’re in grave danger, they will save us.” Nate frowned at his friend.

“That’s a stupid idea.” Aria punched Clyne’s arm.

“We will find a way,” Skhy said. “Today.”

Navi and Cora arrived after a few minutes. The circles around their eyes appeared darker. There was a scowl on Cora’s face which she tried to hide. Navi, who usually appear bored and disinterested, looked anxious.

“We want to talk,” Skhy greeted. Cora waved her hand, dismissing whatever he wanted to say.

“Get into your positions,” Cora instructed.

“We won’t until you talk to us,” Tessa insisted. Navi sighed.

“We do the ordering,” Navi said.

“We saw your hideout.” Hunter stepped closer to the two mentors. He was larger and taller than the two. Navi and Cora glanced at each other; their expressions didn’t give anything away.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Cora moved away. Aria blocked her path, stopping her. Cora scowled.

“Don’t test our patience, kids,” Cora hissed.

“We are not.” Skhy was calmly watching the mentors. “You are hiding something from us.” Navi scoffed.

“Our mission was to train you.” Navi’s weary eyes gazed at the group. “Nothing more.”

“But we’re not prisoners,” Nate spoke up, making the two mentors turn to him. “We deserve to know what’s happening outside of the island.”

“There’s nothing to know.” Cora looked away. “Let’s start.”

“How many died? How did they die?” Hunter asked. Cora flinched while Navi glared at him.

“Neus and Forrest had been sneaking out. The two of you use a lot of power to transport them everywhere and to talk to them telepathically. Do the Elders know?” It was a guess but Nate was satisfied by the surprise and horror on the knights’ faces. He felt his friends’ burning stare but his eyes stayed on the knights.

“We are not children,” Lei said firmly after seconds of silence. “If you leave us in the dark, we won’t be able to help anyone.” Cora looked hesitant. Navi glanced at her. They communicated silently; their eyes glinted as they do. The Seven watched silently and patiently. Navi and Cora led them to the edge of the forest, just beside the meadow. The noon sun’s rays were blocked by the branches’ leaves. Navi leaned on a tree trunk while Cora sat on a thick root on the ground.

“The base was disturbed,” Cora started, “We thought it was her but you found your way again to the cave, huh.” She glanced at Hunter. Her? Is she talking about Alyssa?

“You’re right, Neus and Forrest had been travelling outside.” She sounded tired. “We figured they’re the strongest of us, but we plan to…” She ran her fingers on her wavy blonde hair.

“Nevermind.” She turned to Navi.

“Our mission stops us from leaving without finishing your training,” Navi continued for her, frowning. “But some of our knight brothers and sisters… were asking for help.” Nate glanced at his friends, most of them looked like they wanted to ask something. He also had a lot of questions but he let their mentor talk.

“The Elders’ Chamber will be furious if we broke our oath to finish our mission.” Navi massaged his temples. For the first time since the Seven met them, Nate saw the vulnerability in their eyes. He realized that he had seen it too in the other knights for days now.

“The problem outside,” Skhy asked softly, “How serious is it?” Cora shook her head.

“It’s not your problem to think about.” But her tone wasn’t as hard as Nate expected.

“Is it related to the Mortemians? Or the Rosein Army?” Tessa’s golden eyes appeared darker under the shadow.

“Both,” Navi replied. “Everyone’s confused on who are the enemies. Even some Concordians turned.” His voice broke at the last sentence. Nate drew his hands together. The Rosein Army is gathering more people. How many people wanted magic to disappear in Arconien? Even those who had it in the first place.

“You have to remember.” Cora interrupted his thoughts. “While the Rosein Army aims to remove the elementals’ power in Arconien, they also want to control our realm. Those who support them were promised riches and positions.” Nate grew pale.

“And the magic users who support them believe that their powers don’t help them in anything,” Skhy guessed. Navi nodded in response.

“The academy,” Hunter suddenly shouted.

“It’s safe.” Something hung in the air after Navi talked. For now.

“If you’re asking about the students,” Cora said. “Some of them are helping the sentries. The fortress knights are asking for our help because they are protecting large areas.” Nate thought about Hanne, worried.

“Do you know who among the students?” Skhy asked. Skhy and Hunter mirrored Skhy troubled expression. Tessa touched Hunter’s shoulder while Lei stared at Skhy.

Cora and Navi shook their heads. I’m sure the academy won’t order Hanne to fight; she’s not strong enough. Still, Nate couldn’t relax.

“How long had this been going?” Aria asked, looking anxious. Navi pushed himself from the trunk. He looked hesitant. Glancing at Cora who nodded, he was forced to reply.

“It worsened when you arrive here.”

“It’s because of us,” Tessa said after she gasped. “They want us.” Clyne laughed lightly without humour.

“Were they that afraid of us?”

“No,” Aria answered him, “They just want to remove any obstacle.”

“And to remove any hope that we will win,” Lei added grimly. Cora looked slightly surprised; she glanced at each of the Seven. Navi had his eyebrows up.

“Regalis or not, whether against the Mortemians or the Rosein Army, we are going to save our realm.” Skhy stood as he said this.

“We need your help and you need ours,” Nate added. “Should we go talk with the knights?”