INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

The hallway was filled with students staring at the five new students. Students were peeking from the windows and doors. The teachers were the same. They only went back to their business when they realized that the Premier was walking them to their classes. It has been three days after the tournament and it was their first day of class. Tessa pulled down her skirt as she walked behind the Premier because it was too short for her. She preferred to use pants. It wasn’t only her who didn’t like the short skirt. Aria and Lei didn’t like the idea but had to use them because there were no other options. It was only Hanne who like the school uniform.

The Premier stopped walking in front of two doors painted in dark green. He nodded with a smile at Lei. She looked at Tessa who gave her a smile for encouragement. Lei smiled back then went inside the door alone. The group continued to the next floor. The Premier insisted to bring Tessa, Lei, Storm, Skhy, and Hunter to their assigned building, the Laurels. Lei was in the Scrobis Department. Storm and Skhy were in the Ventus Deparment. Hunter in Fulgur Deparment. While Tessa was in Aqua Department. The other four, Aria, Hanne, Nate, and Clyne were assigned in the Aventurescence (Ave) Building. Aria was in the Ignis Department. Hanne and Nate in Mettalum. Clyne in Petram Department. Skhy, Storm, and Hunter weren’t too happy with the idea of being freshmen. Skhy was supposed to be a senior but the Consortium wanted him to start again.

“Here you are.” Her thoughts were interrupted by the Premier’s voice. He had a broad smile as he gestured toward the large double doors in ocean blue engraved with waves. She remembered the same waves engraved in her house’s stairs and her dagger, which disappeared after the fight. She was the last one in her group to be escorted to her class, which was on the top floor of the 6-floor building.

“Thank you, Mr. Knightwood,” she said to her escort, who nodded with a big smile. Isn’t he tired from smiling all the time?

“Go now,” he instructed. She smiled at him then opened the door. Given that that door was one of the three doors in the entire floor, it didn’t surprise her to see three hallways with closed classrooms inside. A young woman in suit approached her. She looked intimidating but not angry. That’s a good sign.

“Hi. Welcome to the department. Here is your schedule and the key to your locker,” she informed her. Tessa took the paper and key. “The locker is in the hallway to your right and your first class is near the end of that hallway.”

“Uh thank you,” Tessa replied, disoriented. The young woman smiled.

“You’re going to be fine,” she said. “After your second class is break. Go to my office in the left hallway.”

“Thank you again.” The young woman nodded. Tessa quickly looked for the room. She knocked twice on the door. When she heard someone telling her to come in, she went inside. There were only nine students, who whispered to each other when they saw her, inside with a middle aged teacher. The classroom was a small lecture hall with five rows and three columns. The teacher smiled at her then gestured for her to move in front. I wonder if all rooms are lecture halls…

“I’m Ms. Anna. Please introduce yourself,” Ms. Anna instructed. Tessa looked at her new classmates. They stopped whispering and silently waited for her to speak. I was put in a good class…

“Hi. Nice to meet you. I’m Tessa Morgan. Please treat me well.” Ms. Anna clapped. The students followed. They weren’t welcoming but they didn’t seem to hate her.

“You can sit now,” Ms. Anna said. Tessa climbed up and made her way to one the vacant row at the end. There was another one in front but she didn’t want to feel the students’ eyes on her back. The students’ eyes followed her movement. She figured that they were curious. About what?

Once she sat down, Ms. Anna started her class which is History of the Legions, the Concordian and Mortemian. It was an hour class. She was thankful that no one bothered her so she was able to focus. Tessa was amazed by the history of this world. I wish I knew about it earlier. She shook the thought away because images of her Dad and Steve resurfaced.

After Ms. Anna’s class, she tried to look for the room of her next class. One of her classmate saw her and pointed her to the right direction. This day is going well…I hope it ends well too.

She was wrong. The students in her next class, Elementals, weren’t as nice as the first one. The moment she stepped foot in the room, three girls shoot daggers with their eyes at her. They looked annoyed. She didn’t mind them and talked to the teacher. Unfortunately, she had to seat in the middle so she could feel the students’ eyes everywhere. The size and shape of the classroom were the same with the lecture hall of her first class.

“Why is she here?” one of the three mean girls mumbled.

“I don’t like her,” another one whispered. No one said that you should like me. And I can hear you.

“She look poor.” Tessa wanted to shake her head but she stopped herself. Their conversations were nonsense. She thought that they were going to criticize her fight but she was disappointed. One of them threw a crumbled paper at her. Tessa sighed silently. This is going to be a long day.

It was the first time she heard of the elementals Darkness and Space. The teacher didn’t elaborate because they were going to talk about each element in the next days. When she heard of the two elementals, Tessa suddenly remembered the dark blue smoke that surrounded the guy in hoody who left her with the Mortemians. If both Concordians and Mortemians have the same elementals, what kind of power does that guy have? And why did he also appear in front of Hanne and Nate?

When it was time for break, the three girls surrounded Tessa who was putting her things inside her bag.

“Is there something you want from me?” she politely asked. One of the girls flipped her long hair.

“We don’t want you here,” the girl said. I don’t why I’m a patient person.

“Let’s make this easy. Ask the teacher to put you in a different class,” the other girl said with a fake sweet smile.

“If you want that, please ask the teacher yourself or the Premier,” Tessa responded. The girls’ mouth hanged open at her statement. She stood up and lightly pushed one of the girls out of the way. She got out of the room in one piece so she went to the Department’s Office. She talked with the dean for few minutes before she looked for her next class. No one was inside because they were still on break. She sat down next to the window and watched the people outside. Then she grabbed a plain white paper and pen from her backpack. Tessa began to write in beautiful cursive.

The day passed with a lot of curious stares, glaring eyes, and threats. She felt like she’s back in high school. She had lunch break after the third class but she didn’t go out to eat. She had to finish the paper she’s writing earlier. After two more classes, the first day of class ended. She stared at the setting sun when she left the building. It was a long day but she wasn’t exhausted. Her life in her previous schools was more unbearable. The lies and fake friendships were more unbearable than the students perspiring her to change class or leave the Academy.

“I wonder if the others are done with their classes,” she whispered. They had different schedules so she wasn’t sure where they are. Also, she told the others that she planned to stop by the Grand Genesis to read so no one would wait for her. When she entered the main building, students were rushing to leave. Most of them didn’t mind her. It could be because they didn’t know her, or they wanted to go back to their dorms.

However, instead of going to the Grand Genesis, she turned toward a different door.

“Hi,” the guy who saw her opened the door exclaimed. “How may I help you?” She thought he’s going to change his attitude when he realized who she was but he remained cheerful. Tessa grabbed the paper inside her backpack and gave it to him.

“Where should I leave this? I saw the poster in our Department’s Office,” Tessa explained. When the guy started to read the content of the paper, his face fell a bit. He looked confused.

“You wanted to apply here?” he asked. “But this is your first day.”

“Yes. I think we need someone to represent my group because I don’t want them to be singled out or looked down on,” she started. The guy’s eyes widened, surprised.

“I think it will help my group if I work here. I kept thinking where I should go to help my group and then I remembered that your team. I always think how unbiased your team is,” Tessa continued. She remained eye contact with the guy, who was still surprised by her reasons. She smiled after.

“Well, I admire you, Ms. Morgan,” he replied with a smile. “But I have to talk to the President about this first. I will contact you after we decide.”

“Thank you so much.” The guy nodded then walked toward a door. Tessa looked again at his organization ID card hanging from his pocket. Vice President of Student Body Organization… Before he closed the door, Tessa had a glimpse of a girl behind a desk. She looked older than Tessa. The girl smiled at another girl, the Spokesperson in the tournament. I wonder if someone here is a member of the Consortium…