INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS

After the meeting, Ciar informed everyone that he was leaving to talk to the Immortal Court. His companions looked anxious and appeared to not want him to leave. Kol later accompanied Skhy to the library where he can use a magical instrument to contact the Consortium and the Premier. The library wasn’t as big as the Genesis back at the Lux Signifer Academy but it was something to behold. Unlike the other hallways, halls and room in the Mortemian fortress, all Skhy saw inside was white, gold and red– the walls, the ceiling, the tiled floor, the shelves, the tables and chairs. Two stories of shelves full of books lined near the walls and ten long tables greeted Skhy as he stepped inside. Colourful paintings were drawn on two walls. He was drawn toward one which showed two groups of warriors in armours back to back facing ogres. One group were in blue with a white winged sword on their shields and chest plate, the other in red with black winged sword on their shields and chest plate. Skhy had never seen a painting or drawing of Concordians and Mortemians together. They were only described in books, but he knew there were some in the archive rooms of the Genesis, hidden from the young learning Concordians.

“Interesting, huh?” Skhy turned toward Kol’s voice.

“This is one of the oldest Mortemian fortresses,” he continued, “And the only one with remnants of the old ways.” Because this was abandoned.

“How long ago?” Skhy asked. He followed Kol to the back of the library.

“Almost 20 years ago.”

“Here.” Kol stopped at a desk full of open books. It was wedged between two tall book shelves. Kol grabbed an old squared standing mirror. The mirror had black stains and its gold frame started fading. Skhy wondered how long the Eclipse had been using it.

“We don’t usually use it,” Kol said as if he heard Skhy’s thoughts.

“We have a lot of members who can teleport and use telepathy.”

“Not much use in the battlefield though.” He shrugged as he said this. Skhy noticed his solemn expression but he hid it quickly.

“The line is secure but better put another if I were you.” Skhy took the mirror from Kol’s hand.

“Thank you,” Skhy said, which made Kol smile brightly. The Mortemain left after showing him the desk against the farthest wall from the doors.

Skhy breathed a long sigh. He massaged his brow, keeping his eyes closed for a few seconds. His mind backtracked from the Seven’s days of journey, the training in the Shadows Islands, the Northern Lux battle, to everything they learnt about the Rosein Army. This is bigger than everything I know, mom, dad. I’m not prepared for this.

He realized that he was never prepared. He was never prepared to gather the Seven, to guide them, to fight the Mortemians, to join forces with the Eclipse, to fight the Rosein Army. He never knew enough to be prepared.

“What am I doing?” he whispered to himself.

“Leading.” Skhy quickly turned toward the voice.

“More like shouldering everything.” A scoff.

“Fighting together with us.”

“Lei, Faz, Tessa.” Skhy watched his friends took a seat.

“You’re cheating,” Tessa said, “We told you to rely on us like how we rely on you.” Lei nodded vigorously. Skhy chuckled, his chest felt warm.

“Thank you.”

Faz grabbed the mirror and stared at it.

“It’s safe, but put another field just in case.” He placed it in front of Skhy. Skhy raised an eyebrow at him.

“I don’t feel their darkness,” Faz explained, shrugging. His words made Skhy, Lei, and Tessa confused but no one asked more. Skhy concentrated on the air around him, around him and his friends, around the library. He created a thick field around the mirror. It wasn’t hard than he thought. The mirror had been used several times but the connections were always closed and secured. There was no cracks or breaks that can be used to listen to the conversation nor to teleport.

Lei slid a paper and a pen to him. Skhy wrote Mr. Laccquare and Karl’s names. Then he stilled. He realized that he didn’t have a magical fire.

“Got it.” Faz grabbed the paper. He stared at it for a second and it burst into flames.

“Thanks.” He placed it behind the mirror. Skhy smiled at his friends before staring at the mirror, waiting for their allies to appear.

The talk with Karl and, Mr. Laccquare and Andy was short but meaningful. Faz and Skhy breathed a sigh of relief when they heard that Eloise, Ellie, Aurora, Ice and Levy were back safely in L.S.A with Mr. Laccquare and Andy. Karl, on the other hand, had been meeting the heads of the Concordian fortresses. Aubree and Savvier were with the Elders’ Knights. Karl was hesitant to ask for Mortemians’ help, even if it’s only the Eclipse. Mr. Laccquare and Andy appeared anxious too. But Andy put his foot down and advice the remaining Consortium members to trust Skhy.

“We will hold the Academy,” Andy said, his face devoid of mirth that Skhy adored, “So don’t go back here.” Skhy swallowed the rising fear in his throat.

“I will remain outside,” Karl said, “I will be leading the fortresses knights.”

“Aubree and Savvier?” Skhy asked.

“They volunteered to assist the Elders’ Knights,” Mr. Laccquare replied.

“You and the Seven,” Andy started but paused, “and the Eclipse, should do what you have to do.” Skhy watched a small smile appear on his uncle’s face. He couldn’t help but see his father in the mirror.

“I- We will fight.” Skhy glanced at his three friends who nodded.

“For Arconien,” Andy said before the link was cut. Skhy stared at his reflection.

“What happened?” Lei asked.

When they heard a door opening and the loud footsteps, they simultaneously stood up. Kol appeared from the corner, breathing heavily.

“What’s wrong?” Tessa asked.

“They got him.” Kol’s glossy eyes were quivering.

“The Immortal Court captured Ciar,” he explained. Tessa gasped.

Skhy, Faz, Tessa, and Lei followed Kol to the ballroom. The others were already there.

“Are you sure?” Skhy immediately asked when they reached the table. He didn’t bother to sit down.

“We’re not,” Raven replied.

“Then?” Faz asked.

“He’s not responding to my calls,” Kol said. Telepathy.

“I knew him going back is dangerous.” Kage started pacing back and forth. “They usually leave him alone, but he went in by himself.”

“And you allowed him to go alone because?” Faz taunted.

“Faz, enough.” Tessa glared at him.

“Ciar is part of the Court,” Raven replied patiently, “We’re not. We will be killed the moment a guard sees us.”

“Because you’re members of Eclipse?” Tessa asked.

“Because we believe in unification.” Kage stopped pacing.

“When did he say he’ll be back?” Alyssa stood up and grabbed Kage’s arm to stop him from pacing again. Her act surprised everyone except Kol who was still a nervous wreck.

“By tonight,” Kol replied.

“Then we wait.”

“He might be dead by then,” Kol insisted. Alyssa narrowed her eyes at him.

“Ciar is the only son, though the youngest, and the most powerful Mortemian who had been born after 400 years.” Skhy’s eyes widened because of the new information. Kol, Kage, and Raven stared at her as if she was a ghost.

“What does that mean?” Clyne interrupted the long silence.

“His power is beyond any Mortemian,” Alyssa explained, “The last one with the same power was his great great great grandfather.”

“How… How did you know these?” Kol had recovered.

“I’m a Discoverer,” she replied simply as if it was enough to explain everything she knows. Alyssa turned to Skhy.

“You heard from the others?”

Skhy nodded. He narrated what Karl, Mr. Laccqaure and Andy informed him.

“The Concordians are moving.” Nate stood up. “We have to trust Karl and the others.”

“Just like we have to trust your leader.” Tessa glanced at Kol, Raven and Kage.

“But know this,” Skhy started, “If anything goes wrong, we will rescue Ciar.” His statement earned a grunt from Faz but he didn’t say anything.

“We wait,” Lei said. Kol and the others nodded solemnly.

The group dispersed afterwards with Faz, Clyne and Aria going to the armoury and Tessa, Lei, Nate and Alyssa to the kitchen. Only Skhy and Ciar’s companions remained.

“Did this happen before?” Skhy asked. “Ciar not responding.” Kol nodded.

“Kol and Kage are just worried that the Immortal Court won’t let him go,” Raven explained. “He’s a valuable asset.” He was hinting at what Alyssa said earlier.

“Is there any way to know? Do you have spies in the Court?” Raven raised his eyebrow at Skhy.

“Well, I was told that there are spies everywhere,” Skhy explained.

The day passed by quickly. Skhy knew this despite the weather not changing. He could still feel the air outside the Mortemian lair and outside its protection field. Faz and Clyne stayed in the armoury the whole day. Lei and Tessa read in the library. Nate and Alyssa kept the kitchen to themselves but Lei and Tessa helped for dinner. Aria went out with the Eclipse to check the entrances. By the time it was nightfall, everyone gathered in the dining area.

“We baked cakes,” Nate announced.

“What?” Kol gawked at the two chocolate cakes, one carried by Nate, one by Alyssa.

“Err how?” Raven asked.

“You have all the ingredients,” Alyssa replied. Kage looked anything but pleased. Skhy knew what he was thinking. Their leader was in a dangerous place and strangers baked cakes as if there’s something to celebrate about.

“I’m sorry-”

“We never had cakes before,” Raven cut whatever Skhy was about to say.

Everyone felt it at the same time. A presence. The feeling was instant.

“I smell cake.” It wasn’t a shout but Skhy heard it.

“Ciar!” Kol raced toward the door.

“Told you.” Alyssa took her seat and started slicing a piece of cake.