INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS

The ground was painted with blood red and starless night, a stark contrast to the sky of countless stars and silver strokes of clouds. It is littered with dark and dead crystals and other debris from the black boxes of destruction. Black smokes obscured the visions but the damage was evident. The sounds of blades hitting each other, heavy footstep running, heavy breathing, and people grunting and shouting their mission and alliance formed a battlefield chorus. These heavy sounds drowned the agonizing cries of those who are about to fall and the last breaths of the fallen.

But Skhy heard them. He heard the Rosein Army professing their vision of Arconien without elementals to stop the Concordians and Mortemians from killing each other and non-magic users. He heard the Rosein Army begging for him to reconsider and join their side, begging him to let them live. Yet when he turned his back, they tried to stab him. He heard their cries, ragged breathing, names of people they utterred before dying. Names of family and loved ones. But Skhy didn't stop. He couldn't even stop if he wanted to. He huffed as images of the Eschaton war overwhelmed him again, his mind zeroed on Carol's raven hair, dark unblinking eyes and pale face. Panic took over and his gaze quickly swept the battle ground. The black smokes coming from the large Nexusses made it difficult for him to see.

"I'm here." Faz's voice made Skhy jump a little. Faz looked at him strangely.

"How's she?" Skhy tried to breath calmly, reminding himself that they needed to fight this battle.

"Fine. Kage's with her." A Rosein swung his sword at them but Faz deflected it easily, pushing the enemy off balance.

"Don't think about it." Faz grunted as he fought the enemy. "Just fight."

Before Skhy could say anything, he noticed two Roseins coming toward him. He positioned himself to fight. Both raised their weapons at the same time but Skhy gave his sword energy to hit both of them. With a wide swipe, his wind cut through their blade and hammer. This angered the two Roseins whose hands blazed with yellow fires. Two more men accompanied them.

"Need a hand?" Clyne appeared beside him gripping his weapon.

"Sure."

The fire users threw balls of fire at him which he stopped with his wind. A sudden downpour made them lose their focus. But Skhy got close and without hesitation, struck them both with his sword. Clyne managed to defeat one and was fighting the other. Skhy looked for his other companions while no one was attacking him. The black smokes cleared out because of the rain. Was it Faz?

He saw Ciar in the center of Daimon Ground surrounded by eight Roseins who suddenly fell on their knees before hitting the ground. They lay motionless. Ciar didn't even lift a finger. Skhy involuntarily winced. He couldn't fathom how strong Ciar is. Someone shouting took his attention from Ciar. Raven stood atop a destroyed Nexus, seven Roseins were trying to get him without damaging the weapon. It's destroyed anyway. Raven appeared amused of them and not in dire need of help. Skhy turned toward the direction of a small cave where Aria was resting. It was sealed and concealed by Kage who was fending off two enemies at the foot of the mountain using his battle axe. Skhy found Faz near a pile of Roseins. He was glaring at their unmoving forms as if waiting for them to rise again. The smell of dead filled the air which made Skhy nauseous and dizzy. He gripped his sword tighter to stay focus.

He had no time to get use to the feeling because a group of five Roseins were coming his way. Since the black smokes cleared out, it was easier to track the enemies. Skhy was on his last Rosein when he heard Raven's voice in his head. He still wasn't used to it and the intrusion made a mess of his thoughts. The headache kicked in before Raven spoke. He concentrated on defeating his enemy before relaxing his thoughts for Raven to interfere.

"We have to leave."

"A huge number of them is coming," Ciar added which made the headache worse. Skhy grimaced. Ciar and Faz defeated the remaining Roseins before the group gathered. Skhy's gaze swept what remains of the Daimon Ground. He couldn't look at the bodies longer than three seconds. He knew that it must be done but his heart ached knowing that some of the Roseins are Concordians, some are non-magic users, who believed a cause. A cause without elementals. Maybe some of them are innocent who are just following orders. Fighting in Eschaton wasn't easy but Skhy held himself together better than fighting the Roseins.

"Where do we plan to go?" Ciar immediately asked.

"Maybe we should stay and defeat the others," Faz offered, "That will decrease their number." Skhy watched each of his companions' faces. Sweat dripped from their foreheads, alert but weary eyes watched the surroundings, ragged breaths synchronized with his own.

"We can't," Skhy said, "too many. And we're tired." Everyone except Faz nodded their agreement.

"We will get the girl." Kage didn't wait for a response and hiked the slope. Raven followed

"What's the safest route?" Skhy pondered.

"The way we came," Ciar replied. Skhy hated the idea but they were cornered. The wind was silent. Too silent. He could feel the Rosein Army now. They were still far but they could find a way to travel faster.

"Through the South Edgeburne?" Faz asked quietly, looking distracted. Skhy followed his gaze toward the direction of the Rosein Army's fortress. Lei, Tessa, Nate, Clyne, please be safe.

"Don't worry." Skhy turned toward Ciar. "They're fine."

"The others told you?" Faz asked. Ciar nodded.

"Last communication was they were about to leave the fotress." Skhy breathed a sigh of relief. He heard footsteps so he looked up. Kage and Raven were standing outside the cave with Aria. She looked much better than earlier but she was still tired and drained.

"Let's leave now," Skhy suggested, "We'll try to find another way around South Edgeburne while we walk."

Skhy, Faz and Ciar climbed the slope until they reached the others.

"How are you feeling?" Skhy asked Aria. Her left arm was wrapped around bandages made of Kage's cloth. Blood seeped through the yellow cloth. Purple bruises lined her right arm and face. Her eyes bloodshot. Her breathing still ragged. They had no healer with them. Ciar transfered a bit of his energy to her but it couldn't heal serious wounds. Skhy worried that she had no energy to travel.

"Better," she breathed out.

"Are you sure you're well enough to travel?" Ciar asked, eyeing her bruises. Aria glanced at him with unreadable expression but the displeasure lessened.

"Yes." She climbed the slope. "Let's go. We don't have much time." Skhy and the others followed her.

"The others?" she asked softly.

"Eclipse is with them," Ciar answered, curtly.

"They will follow Ciar's order to keep your friends safe," Kage added. Aria didn't reply. The climb took longer than they expected. Everyone was tired, hungry and sleepless. Skhy felt the distance between them and the Rosein Army stretched but his worry never left. He turned his head toward the opposite mountain which hid the Rosein Army's fortress from view. He remembered Clyne hugging Aria tightly, Kol shaking hands with Ciar and the others, Nate patting Skhy and Faz's shoulders. He remembered Tessa's comforting hug and Lei's deep green eyes.

"It's happening." Raven's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"What?" Faz asked. Raven shook his head before answering.

"Fights, battles everywhere in Arconien," he answered grimly. Skhy's jaw clenched.

"L.S.A.?" he asked.

"No attack yet." Skhy released a shaky breath.

"Everyone's fighting," he started without looking at his companions, "We should trust that they are going to give their all."

"We are all warriors," Aria agreed, "We should focus on our own battles."

After hours of silent climbing, they reached the cave where they initially rested. Skhy told everyone to catch sleep for an hour but everyone shook their heads.

"Don't have time," Faz said.

"Where to now?" Aria asked.

"Going through the South Edgeburne again is another suicide," Faz grumbled.

"The Slithering Mountain then?" Ciar was helping Aria make a campfire.

"But where do we plan to go?" Raven interrupted. "Back to our base? L.S.A?"

Where are we needed?

"We're going to wait for the others, right?" Aria asked softly. Her red hair brightened under the fire's light. Her hazel eyes stared at Skhy expectantly.

"Of course," Faz answered, frowning.

"The prophecy," Ciar started. Everyone turned to him. "Does it say if all seven of you must be together to win?" Skhy had no answer. Faz and Aria also looked lost.

"I don't believe in this prophecy." Faz stood. "I never believed it."

"I believe more in working together," Aria added. Skhy felt everyone's eyes on him.

"When the Concordians and Mortemians entered the first war against each other," he qouted, "the magic world in Arconien was brought into a terrible fate. In order to return the balance, the Seven Regalis must be found."

"Balance. Hmmm," Raven pondered. "It's more like the Regalis worsen the growing rifts among Concordians, Mortemians and non-magic users." Aria threw him a glare.

"Where does the Rosein Army fits?" Kage asked.

"I don't know." Skhy's parents didn't mention anything about the Rosien Army. He felt lost and useless.

Ciar stood up, his whole body rigid and tense. It hit Skhy a few seconds later.

"We have to decide where we're going. We don't have much time."

Skhy stood up. The soft wind touched his cheeks.

"They are gathering there," he revealed. Faz chuckled without humour.

"South Edgeburne it is," he said.