INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

They burnt the midnight oil for six days now. It’s their last day of training but everyone didn’t seem to rest for tomorrow’s big day. After days of training, the underground arena was full of rock and earth debris. The floor had several large cracks. But the place seemed to withstand most of their powers and abilities. Skhy said that most of the underground tunnels and arenas were protected by magic. Whose magic? Skhy didn’t know. Does that mean the Academy official knows where we are training?

This thought entered Clyne’s mind as he lay on the hard and cold floor of the arena. He was huffing aloud and sweating so much. He could hear the loud drumming of his heart and feel the extensive pain all over his body. I wonder if the lights are also powered by magic… He thought as he stared on the ceiling.

Magic is simple, you just need to control it with your heart. His grandmother taught him this. But after his long and tiresome journey with Faz, then with seven new companions, he realized that magic is also complicated and unpredictable. But it doesn’t matter. Clyne just wanted to experience this world. He wanted to see and do the things in his grandmother’s stories. He wanted to enjoy this world and the things normal humans can’t do. Aria and the others seemed to notice that he’s too laid back but it’s who he is. He wanted to keep his promise to his beloved grandmothers. He doesn’t want negativities to stop him from living. Besides, he only has one life.

“Come eat lunch!” he heard Tessa shout.

“Oh yes! Foods!” he exclaimed and quickly got up but he immediately groaned in pain. He forgot that his body was bruised all over. He couldn’t move from a siting position.

“Stand slowly.” Looking up, he found Lei examining his wounds. He tried to smile widely but the pain made him wince. He still gave her a thumbs up.

“This is nothing,” he croaked. Lei sighed then shook her head.

“Speak for yourself. You can’t even stand up,” she noted. He scratched his head, embarrassed.

“I’ll help him up.” He turned to Faz who was now crouching beside him. Clyne fake sniffled.

“My hero~” he cooed. He knew it will irritate Faz but Clyne liked his friends’ reactions. He hadn’t seen him smile but other reactions are better than nothing.

As he predicted, Faz glared menacingly at him but he still helped Clyne stand up. Actually, he roughly pulled Clyne up.

“Ow ow ow,” Clyne complained. That’s what I get when I tease him. He chuckled despite the pain and let his friend take him to the stairs where the rest had already gathered to eat and rest.

“I really thought that we have classes like what the cheery dude – the Prelier? – said a week ago,” Clyne said once he and Faz reached the others. His friend roughly let him go. Aww. That’s how he shows me his love.

“The ‘Premier’,” Skhy corrected. “He was talking about our training.” Everyone except Skhy, Nate, and Faz was sitting down and munching on their packed lunch. Nate and Skhy always cook the boys’ portion. Clyne noticed that most of his teammates were in the same situation as him. The girls had dark circles around their weary eyes. The boys’ clothes were tattered and there were bruises on their bodies. Even Blondie who kept on complaining on the first two days of their training was fired up. Clyne returned to eating his fried rice, egg, and bacon.

“That’s too bad. I want to see how students here look like.”

“We can’t interact with them. And if they see us, we might cause a stir,” Nate replied as he massaged his right hand. Clyne couldn’t agree more. The commotion might disrupt their training if the students knew of the underground arenas. I wonder if everyone already knew of the upcoming tournament. There is a possibility that only the players and officials knew of this.

“Ahhhh I’m so full!” He rubbed his bulging stomach after his meal.

“Skhy, you said that you studied here. Why do you still need to fight?” Clyne asked. He looked at Skhy, waiting for an answer but noticed that the others were looking at him dumbfounded.

“What?” What did I do wrong? Skhy chuckled slightly.

“That was before I left. They won’t consider me as a student if I don’t follow their commands,” he replied. Ohhh. That made sense.

“How about our opponents. Do you have any idea?” Nate asked. Clyne was also really curious, like everyone else. It took a while before Skhy answered. He was looking away.

“I don’t know who they are,” he answered. Clyne was disappointed. He thought that Skhy’s allies in the Academy had told him anything. If they know who they are against, it will help them find their weaknesses. If they have one…

“But you know ‘what’ they are, right?” Faz probed. Really? Skhy was now facing them. He nodded in response to Faz’s statement.

“They are strong.”

“Ehhhh. Of course they are. We’ll look like a joke if they send their weakest team,” Clyne exclaimed. He didn’t want that. He didn’t want to win nor lose like that. He stood up to move his body. Most of the pain had subsided. He hadn’t used his full potential.

“You don’t understand. This team might consist of the few of the strongest Concordian students here.” Curses were heard after Skhy’s statement. Clyne’s was one of them.

“But they are students so maybe they’re not that strong?” Blondie asked. “It won’t be a fight to death kind of thing, right?”

“No. Maybe.” The situation was worse than Clyne thought.

“Please explain,” Tessa said. “This is the first time we heard of this.” Everyone nodded. Except for Faz. Clyne remembered that he studied here before so must have known this. He didn’t look surprised.

“This is also the first time I heard of this. An hour ago, to be exact. Usually, teachers face the students but not like a serious fight. There’s a certain level of power the teachers use for students who want to enter the Academy,” he explained. “It seems that the Consortium became secretive than before.”

“Does that mean they acknowledge that we are powerful?” Clyne asked. He was grinning but Skhy wasn’t amused. His grin faltered. It’s the opposite, isn’t it?

“It’s a test,” Tessa said in a really low voice but Clyne heard it because she was seating near him.

“I haven’t fought a Concordian before,” Nate confessed. Some mumbled a ‘me too.’ Clyne peeked at Faz who looked uninterested and unfazed. They both fought Concordians before. Most of the time, they ran away from the fight to not cause a commotion. The thought triggered a memory. A large hole in the black ground. Shadows falling. Half of his body underground. A person walking towards him…

“Hey!” Someone was shaking his shoulder. He blinked several times and smiled widely when he recognized Aria’s twinkling hazel eyes, glaring face, and long deep hair. You always look beautiful.

“Compliments won’t get you anywhere,” she said then turned. He found that everyone had left to train again. How long was I daydreaming? He turned to look for Faz. He was surprised to see him idling near him.

“I’m going,” he stated without looking at him. Did you…

“Hey, you didn’t eat!” He didn’t look back but just waved his hand. “You’re such a kid sometimes!” I’ll remind him later then.

He went to his corner where there’s much damage on the floor. He was surprised that the underground arena wasn’t destroyed yet with nine people unleashing their powers. But it’s just that. According to Skhy, it’s using their powers to protect itself. It was amazing. Maybe the whole Academy is like that. After 2 hours, he unclenched his fists and let go of the force. It was easier to control it than before. There were still flashes of images whenever he uses it but it’s bearable. Concentrate…Next, he needed to strengthen his weapon. But before that, water…

“Uh my throat is dry,” he mumbled then coughed. He walked towards the stairs where they ate earlier and found two people standing near each other. He stopped, surprised and curious. They didn’t seem to notice him.

The girl was holding a lunch box. She pushed it towards the guy until it hit his torso. The guy grabbed the box but also grabbed her hand holding it.

“Eat,” he heard her say.

Interesting...