INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS

The hall was smaller than Aria expected. It was without furniture except for the large crystal chandelier hanging from a high ceiling; no windows on bare white walls. Cora and Navi, who still looked weary but their bodies were tensed, led them to the farthest wall, through a brown door. The door opened to a squared room with a long table with 12 chairs around it. The walls were bare white; the chairs faded black; the dim fluorescent light casted shadows on the knights’ already fatigued face, except for Neus and Forrest who were still absent. Aria figured that Cora and Navi informed them about what the Seven knew before the group arrived in the manor.

Anika, Yuri, and Homer eyed the students warily but the anxiety and sleepless nights became more evident in their eyes. She noticed Anika’s hard look at Cora who looked away, looking guilty. A small sad smile replaced Yuri’s wide cheerful smile. His gaze lingered at Tessa. The Seven had become used to it but they still had no idea why he particularly like her. Homer shifted his cold stare at the table.

“Seven,” Anika started when everyone took their seats. She sat at the end of the table with Yuri while Skhy and Nate sat on the other end. “I know you’re concerned but you shouldn’t worry.”

“It’s not as bad it sounds,” Yuri added. “Your friends and families are safe.” Aria had a hard time believing his words. She couldn’t help worry about her relatives. She also left the house to keep them safe despite the bad memories and relationships she had with her aunts, uncles, and cousins.

“For now,” Nate said.

“You knowing what’s happening won’t make a difference,” Homer countered. “You have to stay here until we finish training.”

“While people continue to die.” Tessa frowned.

“It won’t make a difference if you leave the island and fight now,” Navi said a matter-of-fact. “We are preparing for a different fight.”

“The next war.” Aria tapped her long fingers on the table. “How many will still be alive by that time? Is the war really going to happen? Are we not in war already? Are you telling us not to do anything?” She was getting impatient each second. She felt his friends’ stares at her but her burning glare was directed at the knights.

“You can’t expect us not to do anything,” Skhy said after a moment of silence. “While our friends from the academy are fighting. They are as young as us; most are younger.”

“We are honoured that you’re training us here,” Tessa added. Her golden eyes darkened. “It’s true that we’re not strong but a war is usually won not by a few men. We wish that the same people fighting now will also be by our side in the next war to win it.” Aria couldn’t help but smile. She glanced at her other friends and found them beaming at Tessa.

“Leave us for now.” Anika glanced at her comrades who nodded. Aria figured that the knights had to talk to decide what to do with the Seven.

“Ah. We forgot to ask about Alyssa Roseshadow,” Nate said. The knights didn’t appear surprised or troubled. They looked too calm.

“Is she really working for the Elders’ Chamber?”

“Yes,” Yuri replied. “A Discoverer – that’s what they call them – from Westeros. We thought the Consortium already told you.”

The Seven glanced at each other. After the knights dismissed them, they decided to hang out in the backyard.

“Do you think they will allow us to leave?” Lei asked once they sat on grass. The wind was warm under the yearly afternoon sun but nothing seemed to comfort Aria. Glancing at her friends, she knew that they feel as anxious as she was.

“And if they do, where are we going?” Clyne sniffed.

“First,” Nate started, “they have to tell us what’s really happening outside.”

“If they don’t let us, I will still go.” Hunter was standing with his back against a small tree. His glare was directed at the blue manor, his fists clenched in his sides.

Aria was not able to have close friends in the Academy. Most of her classmates were polite; some wanted nothing to do with her. But she didn’t want the students to fight in a war while they were still learning how to become warriors and soldiers. And even though she only met Eloise, Ice, and Levvy a few times, they are still important to Skhy and Hunter. The fact that people were fighting while the Seven are hiding in the Shadow Islands frustrated her. She felt useless.

“Is there any way to contact anyone outside?” Tessa asked. She shifted closer to Hunter who was now sitting beside her. “And…what more are people hiding from us?” Her voice came as a whisper near the end.

“We should wait.” Skhy didn’t answer her questions. He closed his eyes for a few seconds. “I’m sure Karl and the others will protect the Academy and our families.”

“Even then, it won’t be anyone’s fault,” he added. “All of us are soldiers who fight our enemies and protect the legion.” Aria’s jaw clenched. Skhy forgot that Aria’s dad’s family doesn’t use elementals. Her grandparents might be rich but she doubted that whatever weapons and security they have are enough to protect them. She doubted any of her relatives know how to fight.

When she felt Clyne’s warm hand on her own, she glanced at him. He gave her a sad smile. She had a hard time returning it.

“I agree with Faz, Skhy.” Clyne didn’t remove his hand. “I will leave whether they allow us or not.” Aria wasn’t surprised. Despite his goofy personality, Clyne had adapted Hunter’s stubbornness. It was evident even when they travelled with Hunter and Clyne for the first time when everyone met in Highport.

Skhy was about to respond when they noticed the knight’s presence. Navi was walking toward them. His expressionless face gave nothing away. His blonde hair looked dishevelled than earlier. The Seven quickly stood up to face him.

“You are as stubborn as your father.” He was looking at Hunter. “I expected nothing less.”

“He wasn’t.” Hunter’s voice was dangerously low. “He had always been a coward. You don’t know him.” Aria noticed Tessa staring curiously at him but remained silent. Navi shook his head lightly.

“If you know our parents that much, why is no one telling us what the knights know about them?” Tessa asked. Navi’s gaze swept at the rest of the group.

“We only know Margarette, Silver, Catherine, Theodore, Eliot, and Arthur.” He placed his hands inside his pocket. “We met the others once.” Aria had wondered several times why her mother, Clyne’s parents, and Nate’s parents didn’t study in the Academy. She knew that fortresses also train Concordians but she wondered if there were some other reasons that connect the parents who weren’t Luxian students.

When she looked up, she saw Navi staring at her. She frowned.

“They didn’t tell you.” What?

“What are you talking about?” Aria asked. He looked away, looking uncomfortable and guilty.

“Nothing.” It didn’t look like nothing. “I meant about how the Luxian parents met the others outside the Academy.”

“Karl- the Consortium didn’t know,” Skhy informed him. “What we know is that our parents saved Aria’s mother, and met Clyne’s father and Nate’s father outside.”

“My mother’s diary didn’t say how they met,” Tessa added. “She started when they know each other already.”

“Is that important?” Nate asked, looking curious and suspicious like Aria was.

“If you know anything, please tell us,” Lei said. Navi stared at them with careful eyes as if weighing how his words would affect the Seven.

“Can you at least tell us if you know where my mother, Clyne’s father, and Nate’s father studied or trained before meeting the others?” Aria asked, her brown eyes watched Navi’s every movement. She caught a twitch of his eye. He looked away.

“The knights want to talk to you now.” Dodging the question…

“Are they really Concordians?” Aria finally asked the question haunting her mind for a month now.

“What do you mean, Aria?” Clyne whispered beside her. She refused to look at her friends before receiving the answer to her question. Navi slowly turned to her. He had returned to his expressionless self.

“Of course, they are,” Lei exclaimed.

“Why would you ask that?” Nate asked. Aria’s gaze didn’t left Navi’s.

“It matters,” she said. “A lot. But it won’t change the fact that we’re the Seven, right?” She tried to hide the tremble of her voice near the end of the sentence. Navi nodded. She could hear the loud beating of her heart in her ears. Her palms started sweating.

“No, they weren’t. They were Mortemians.”