INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

Students started entering the Main Colosseum. Only a third of the bleachers were occupied. Not everyone in the Academy was permitted to watch the fight because it wasn’t exactly an important event. The Premier and the Consortium would not tell everyone in the school about the Seven Regalis prophesy and Skhy’s family involvement on it. Even if they wanted to use people in the Academy to stop his actions, they will not involve the whole student body. However, it is possible if they were able to find his parents’ comrades. Skhy knew how unpredictable the Premier and Consortium are. But he doesn’t think they will sacrifice the peace and order in the Academy in order to capture everyone who believes and supports the prophecy. For now, their attention was on them.

Skhy looked around. Anywhere he looked, memories flooded his mind. It was only after his parents died that he stopped having fun inside the school. But now, when he arrived with his friends, he remembered how important this place is for him. When he looked at the opposite booth, he noticed that there were already people sitting inside. The Premier and other school officials should be there. The Consortium, on the other hand, doesn’t let themselves be known. Never.

The sound of the blaring horn pierced the air. It’s starting. Tessa was already downstairs. She was trembling so he talked to her before she left the booth.

He turned toward Tessa, who was silently staring at the floor. He didn’t want her to be the first to fight. Why does it have to be her the first to fight? He kneeled near her feet then looked up to her. Her eyes blinked rapidly, surprised that he’s so close.

“It’s ok to be scared,” he told her. “This is our time to prove to them that we have what it takes to protect the people we want to protect. I know you can do it.”

“Do I really belong here?” she whispered but enough for him to hear.

“What do you think?”

She closed her eyes for a moment. When they opened, her golden eyes became darker. She nodded then stood up. The others comforted and encouraged her. She quickly left the booth after. No one said anything when she left. The atmosphere was thick with apprehension. Skhy suddenly realized that Faz was missing. He was about to leave the room when the person entered then quickly sat on a chair.

His thought was interrupted when he noticed the two opponents walking in the area. She stood unfazed in front of her opponent. You’ll be fine, Tessa. He looked at her opponent. He looked familiar, but he knew he’s not from his department.

“Good day, everyone. I am the Daphne Aurora Everlast, Spokesperson of the Student Council,” Aurora announced through the speakers. “I welcome everyone who is here to watch the special match between the Academy and the challengers.”

“There’s no welcome ceremony like parades or fireworks?” Clyne, who was sitting behind Skhy, asked.

“Why would there be?” Aria, who sits beside him, answered, annoyed. The Academy won’t spend their time and effort on a trivial event like this. They wanted to get on with and end it without any trouble. Skhy’s eyes never left Tessa’s figure. He couldn’t see her face because her back was facing them. She must be trembling there. His fists clenched.

“A two-hour limit is given to each battle. There is only one rule – don’t kill your opponent,” Aurora continued.

“Did they think that we planned to kill someone?” Lei asked no one in particular. She was on Skhy’s right.

“Are we rouges?” Aria muttered.

“Maybe because we’re not from here,” Nate answered calmly. He was on the last row with Storm and Hanne.

“The first opponents are Vladimir from Ignis Department against Tessa Morgan.” Skhy’s eyes narrowed. He heard of Vladimir. He couldn’t recognize him because they were from different departments and buildings. He’s one of the strongest in his department but Skhy stayed away from him. The boy always plays dirty every time he’s involved in battles. He sees battles as a way of torturing people. He likes making his opponents suffer. Why did has to be him?

He unconsciously glanced at Faz, who was standing in the corner. He was also intensely staring at Tessa and Vladimir. He didn’t know Vladimir because he was gone when the boy started going to school. But he looked angry for some reason.

“The match will now start.” A round of applause was heard after the loud horn.

For a few minutes, neither fighters move.

“What does Ignis Department mean?” Hanne asked.

“Igneous rock?” Clyne offered.

“Maybe like a course in college,” Nate added.

“It means fire,” Skhy answered without his eyes leaving Tessa.

Then Vladimir’s weapon materialized. He was now holding a long swallow. Both blades blazed with orange fires.

“Fire vs water? Woow,” Clyne exclaimed.

“Shut.Up.” Clyne didn’t say anything after Aria’s order. It was quiet after that. Everyone was waiting for Tessa to call her weapon. But Vladimir started attacking. He began swinging his swallow towards Tessa. She kept on dodging without attacking. Vladimir stopped attacking with his weapon then shot fireballs after fireballs towards her. She protected herself using a water barrier. Finally. She counterattacked with large water spheres. Vladimir copied her attack, making the spheres evaporated when they collided. She made a larger sphere above her head then threw it at him. He quickly created his own and threw it. When her sphere came near his, it separated into two to dodge the fire then merged again to become one. Tessa dodged the fireball, which hit the force field separating the audience. Surprised by what happened, Vladimir quickly tried to attack back but the water sphere hit his body. It enveloped him but only for a few seconds because his blazing fire burst it.

Tessa was already breathing heavily. It probably took a lot of her energy to make that sphere. Skhy clasped his hands together, getting nervous.

“She used a lot of energy without thinking of a plan,” Faz commented then snickered. Skhy was aware of that but he trusts Tessa, whatever’s on her mind right now.

Vladimir’s attacks continued. He was spinning and swinging his blazing swallow again, while Tessa kept on dodging it.

“She’ll be tired in no time,” Aria said softly.

Tessa started attacking with smaller water spheres but Vladimir’s fire extinguished them.

“Common, Tessa. You can do it,” Skhy chanted.

“Yeah. She can,” Clyne responded.

He didn’t know if Tessa heard them or not, but she confidently made a move. Water began to swirl around her then it shot towards Vladimir. He cut it in half but the particles joined again. The amount of water increased and it began to circle both fighters. Water moved on Tessa’s feet then raised her. Vladimir jumped to cut the circle but when he was on the air, the water moved below and above him.

“What a sight,” Storm commented.

Both fighters were inside the water sphere. Vladimir flew using his fire and tried to cut through the barrier but the water just swallowed his weapon. He stopped attacking and faced Tessa.

“She’s filling it with water!” Hanne exclaimed. She was right. Water continued pouring inside. This made Vladimir restart his attacks but the sphere was becoming thicker and thicker.

“She’s using all her energy. If she doesn’t succeed, it’s her last,” Faz whispered enough for Skhy to here. I know that.

Vladimir’s attack became sloppy and desperate. Skhy thought it’s the end but he unleashed his blue flames. When he swung his swallow, a white curved line flashed, cutting sphere in half. The water fell to the ground with Tessa’s body. She lay unmoving on the sand.

Skhy’s eyes bulged. He quickly stood up. No no no no.

“Oh my God,” Lei exclaimed.

“Is there an ambulance here?” Hanne asked frantically. Skhy was able to head to the door when he felt it. He looked back at her body. He gasped when he noticed the blades above. Her body moved then slowly, she stood up. She couldn’t stand straight anymore.

“What are those?” Aria asked. Swords? No. They were too short.

“Daggers,” Skhy answered.

The daggers shot towards the opponent. Vladimir used his blue flames to melt them but they cut through it. He spun his swallow, creating a blue flame shield. The daggers increased and cut through his shield. In a few seconds, Vladimir was on the ground with daggers sticking on the ground, outlining his figure. A circle of daggers floated above him. His swallow lay a few feet from him. He didn’t move for a minute.

“Is he dead?” Clyne whispered.

“Of course not,” Arias answered him. Vladimir raised his right hand, his insignia shone on his lower arm. He waited but no weapon emerged.

“They’re stopping him,” Skhy noticed.

“What?” Lei asked.

“The daggers act as a barrier to stop him from calling his weapon,” Storm replied.

“Wow,” Clyne exclaimed.

“And he’s too tired to use his blue flame,” Nate added.

Tessa said that she didn’t know how her weapon works. She didn’t even know if the dagger her grandfather left for her is something important.

They have their first winner.