INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY

The Lux Signifer Academy Student Council’s (ASC) response arrived the day after she gave the letter to the Vice President. The interview was conducted by the President herself together with the Spokesperson. It turns out, the President, Dandelion Aubree, is Daphne Aurora Everlast’s older sister. However, President Aubree is the exact opposite of Aurora. She was friendly, easy- going, and funny. Tessa kept wondering why the ASC immediately accepted her application as a student representative. She guessed that the members thought her being close will help them spy on her team, particularly the infamous Faz Hunter. It had been two weeks since the nine new students started going to classes. Skhy met with everyone separately to receive reports about their respective tasks. The team tried to be invincible as possible but eyes and rumours always seem to follow them. It was hard for Tessa to make new friends. Some students were polite but never tried to be closer to her. I guess this is better than having people pretend to be your friends…

Tessa thought there was nothing that can surprise her about Hunter but the rumours she heard from the students were beyond her imagination. Skhy only told her that Hunter wanted to find the truth behind their friends’ disappearance three years ago. He had been looking for clues around the country. To some degree, she knew that despite Skhy’s doubt, he believed Hunter’s words. She, on the other hand, couldn’t trust him. It’s probably because he’s impulsive and doesn’t care about who might get hurt because of his actions. It happened several times when the group met him and Clyne in Hightfort and when they travelled together to Northern Lux where Lux Signifer Academy is located. She couldn’t remember how many times she tried to stop him from fighting when it’s clear that their enemies couldn’t fight anymore. As for the rumours she heard, students talked about Hunter killing both Mortemians and Concordians because he went crazy when his whole family and close friends died in the war.

“That’s strange. He hasn’t tried to get the journal this week,” Tessa whispered while walking toward the dormitory. It was eight in the evening. She had been reading in the Grand Genesis for three hours when she realized how late it was.

Ever since Hunter found out that her mother was present in the Eschaton war, he wanted to read her mother’s journal. Tessa read everything in that diary and it didn’t say anything that will help Hunter and Skhy to find their missing friends. When she realized that she could control his behaviour using the journal, she decided to hide this fact. It will help Skhy… Skhy also knew this. However, she grew scared by the days. If he found out about their lies, he might explode of anger.

“AH!” Someone harshly and painfully grabbed her arms then dragged her somewhere. Before she could attack her assaulter, she was harshly pushed on a wall. It was dark where she was dragged to so it was hard to see who the person in front of her was.

“Who are you?” she shouted as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and as she rubbed her arm.

“Give me the journal,” the person snarled. Tessa glared at him when she realized who it was. Her blood quickly boiled.

“What the heck? Why did you grab me and drag me-“

“Give me the journal!” he shouted. She didn’t like that he cut her but she felt a bit scared when the moonlight shone on his face. He was furious and impatient. His usual silver coloured eyes turned dangerously darker. What ticked him this time?

“Tell me why you’re angry first,” she calmly said. His anger masked his sadness. She could see it in his eyes. Hunter looked confused for a second after her statement but he masked this with a dangerous glare.

“I’m not here to play, princess.” He clicked her anger button. She hated being called ‘princess’ but she tried to hide her anger. It’s easier to give him what he wants but wanted none of that. If she wanted to protect the team, she had to make sure that Hunter didn’t and doesn’t make mistakes.

“I’m also not here to play,” she said instead, “Tell what why you’re angry.” He scoffed.

“Isn’t it clear that I became impatient? You tried to control my actions to protect ‘your’ Skhy but I’m done listening to you,” he explained without taking his eyes off hers.

“Liar,” she whispered.

“You really have the knack for making me furious,” he said after he gritted his teeth.

“What-“ She cut off again but this time, not because of his words but by his right fist. She held her breath when his fist hit the wall a few inches from her face. His face was dangerously close to hers. She could clearly see the streaks of silver and grey in his eyes. She released the breath she was holding as she stared at his murderous orbs.

“Tell me,” she softly said, “then I will tell you what I know.” Are you stupid? If he found out that you were lying, you’re dead!

He didn’t move but his eyes became softer.

“I don’t need your help nor Skhy’s,” he said using a really low voice. Normally, she wouldn’t care to talk some sense with Hunter as long as he doesn’t endanger the team. But she got curious.

“Why are you stubborn?” He was still glaring at her. She accepted the challenge and stared back for a few seconds. When he realized that she won’t budge even if he threatens her, he moved back.

“Stay away from my business,” he said. He was calmer than earlier but he was still angry. Suddenly, she realized something.

“You’re not really angry at me,” she observed, “Did…you find something?” He looked away.

“Did Skhy returned your handkerchief?” Don’t change the subject!

“Yes. What did you find?” she asked again.

“Why do I have to tell you? You lied about the journal.” She gasped. How did he know? She tried to think of a good excuse.

“I’m surprised you haven’t found the hidden messages in that journal. Are you sure you’re her daughter?” he said before she could say anything. Tessa got confused. She was sure that there were none in her mother’s journal. She kept thinking about it that she realized too late that Hunter insulted her in his statement.

“There was nothing there,” she defended. He scoffed then untied his tie and removed the first two buttons of his shirt.

“Bring me the journal. I will show you how.” He didn’t look angry anymore. It was her turn to get angry. He kept dodging her question. She also felt humiliated that she missed something in her mother’s journal.

“Tell me why you’re angry first,” she insisted.

“So stubborn,” he whispered. “You aren’t like this with Skhy, right?” It wasn’t a question. You sound like you’re jealous that everyone respects Skhy.

“Bring the journal. Behind the Armoury Building 1 after 15 minutes. Don’t tell anyone,” he said after a minute.

“Why should I keep it a secret?” She didn’t like the idea of keeping a secret from the team, especially Skhy and Lei.

“We’ll tell them after we find something important,” he explained. Then he left Tessa without waiting for her reply. She sighed, irritated by Hunter’s attitude.

When she arrived in their dormitory room, the girls had eaten dinner. Everyone was waiting for her on the couch. Tessa explained that she didn’t realize how late it was while studying in the Grand Genesis. She didn’t have an appetite to eat anything so she went to her room. She quickly changed into a comfortable shirt and a pair of jeans. She put on a leather jacket with a large pocket inside where she hid the journal. At first, she didn’t want for Hunter to get his way but she wanted to believe that there was something more in the journal than what she knew. She was curious about what he found out. She just hoped that it’s worth the trouble.

She silently peeked outside her room. When she saw no one on the couch or kitchen, she slowly and silently left the apartment. She felt like a rebellious teenager leaving the house at midnight without her parents knowing. It was easy to get to the Armoury Building 1 because there weren’t Legionnaires around. They usually patrol the outside premises.

“Your curiosity might kill you one day.” She jumped a little when he suddenly spoke in the shadow. She thought that her heart skipped a beat. They got down the business and used their phone lights.

“Use your power,” he plainly said.

“How?” she asked, confused. Hunter raised one of his eyebrows at her. “You’re not a good teacher.” He chuckled without humour.

“Wet the papers,” he instructed.

“What?” she whisper-shouted. Is he out of his mind?

“That’s the only way. Water users hide messages like that,” he explained without care. She stared at the journal with a gloomy heart. She didn’t want to destroy the letters her mother left. Tessa felt closer to her whenever she read her earlier entries.

“Do I have to soak everything?” she whispered. Hunter didn’t answer her question. After a moment of silence, he spoke but it’s not the exact answer to her question.

“The students who went missing three years ago,” he started, “were handed to the Mortemians by someone from the Academy.” Tessa’s eyes widened because of the revelation. She quickly turned to him. He was glaring at the ground.

“What- what do you mean by ‘handed’?” Concordians handing over students to Mortemians? That’s insane.

“They weren’t kidnapped, they were left by their legion,” he explained. The sound of voice had so much hatred that she shivered against her will.

“Are- are you sure? Who said that? How did you find out about it? Why would the Academy do that? Use them as a sacrifice?” Questions flowed from her mouth with much thought. The last question made Hunter turn to her. His eyes were dangerously dark again.

“Sacrifice to end the war? I don’t think so.”

“Then? Do you think they are… alive?” She said the last word softly. His eyes blazed.

“I know she is,” he said the words with so much conviction. She? Who?

“Now get on with it. I told you what I know,” he added. She nodded. She placed her right hand above the first page of the journal. She took a deep breath then let it go slowly. Suddenly, she felt the heat of her insignia near her heart. Water materialized around her right hand. She was about to place her hand on the surface of the page when Hunter spoke.

“Wait. Slowly.” He gentle held her wrist. He made sure not to touch the clear water around her hand. Tessa kept her eyes on him. You can be gentle. She didn’t know about the others but he already showed his gentle side to her several times. Four times. This is the fifth.

“Now control it.” His statement interrupted her thoughts.

“Okay.”

“Use only your fingertips,” he instructed. With Hunter’s help, Tessa slowly touched the surface with her fingertips then moved them from left to right. The water highlighted the blank ink, turning the surface into swirls of black. Her heart fell but she tried to focus on her task. When the whole page was wet enough, they stopped but his gentle hand was still around her wrist. She felt warmth in her stomach. She suddenly forgot the sadness that came after her mother’s words in the journal disappeared. What is this?

Then the words in white appeared. There were names in the text.

“Eloise,” he softly read one of the names.

Then he let go of her wrist.