INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS

The Immortal Court wasn’t thrilled by Ciar’s request. Ciar emphasized this as he watched his companions devour the cakes. But he had other news. Half of the members of the Immortal Court sided with the Rosein Army together with half of their subordinates and soldiers. While the Court hated the idea of fighting alongside the Concordians, the remaining members said that they would think about it. Ciar believed that the Court would eventually give in because if the Rosein Army wins, the Mortemians who sided with them would bring down the current Immortal Court. The Lockhunts clan.

While listening to Ciar, Skhy wondered why not the whole Immortal Court sided with the Rosein Army. He knew that it would guarantee the fall of Concordians and survival of the Mortemians in Arconien. He also wondered if Ciar’s family was among those who left or stayed. A huge part of him regretted the moments when he thought that every Mortemian was evil, that every fight, battle, and war were because of the legion.

“Your family?” Faz asked the question that no one had the courage to ask. Ciar’s companions stared at Ciar with anticipation, Faz appeared disinterested, the other Regalis looked curious, while Alyssa was in her own world.

“There’s only Argo, Layla and Ernesh.” He took a bite of the cake. “Dimitri, Alvah, Colvin and Ashley left.” Skhy was only familiar with Dimitri and Ashley Levvi. He would never forget those two when Ashley tried to kill Lei twice. He had no idea who among the others were Ciar’s father and mother. Kol breathed a sigh of relief, Raven and Kage slumped against their seats.

“Argo. Your father stayed. Why?” Skhy noticed Tessa frowning at Faz for asking the question.

“Ask him yourself.” A flash of electricity materialized in the air between Faz and Ciar. Argo. The current head of the Court. His father.

“Your sisters?” Alyssa asked without looking at anyone. The atmosphere turned icy. Ciar dropped his gaze on the cake.

“Left.” His tone of voice was also cold, uncaring. The cold and awkward silence stretched.

“I think we have to start soon,” Skhy said.

“I agree,” Ciar replied.

“When?” Faz asked.

“Tomorrow,” Skhy and Ciar said at the same time.

Skhy tossed and turned that night. It was always dark outside but their bodies knew when night came. Exhaustion took the last of their energies but Skhy’s mind and body didn’t want to rest. He had his eyes closed for 30 minutes before he gave up trying to sleep. Glancing at the still forms of his friends on their beds in the darkness, he slowly and quietly rose from his bed and out of the room. He found himself wandering the long hallways until he reached a familiar door. The library’s bright lights made him squint when he opened the door. He made his way toward the wall with the paintings he saw earlier.

A dream was blossoming inside him. He wanted to see Concordians and Mortemians fighting together just like hundreds of years ago. He wanted to be there.

“It’s Eclipse’s goal, isn’t?” he said.

“Yeah.” Ciar’s voice reached him from behind a book shelf. He emerged from the shadows on his dark blue pajamas and sat on the nearest chair.

“You said you spied on us.” Skhy sat opposite him. “But you were already in Eclipse at that time?” Ciar nodded.

“You can say that I have a goal of my own.” Skhy stared hard at Ciar’s face. He was looking for Storm in him. When the Seven came to Cornerstone to pick up Hanne, despite Skhy’s anger and disappointment, he noticed Storm in Ciar. Skhy saw his concern over Hanne and Nate, his fear and uncertainity when he explained his side to Skhy, and his silent determination to achieve his goals. But meeting him again, Ciar hid Storm inside him. Skhy didn’t know if he created a thick wall between himself and the Seven, or Storm never existed at all. This made Skhy worry about Nate who treated Storm like a brother. Nate rarely showed emotions when the Seven met Ciar and while they stayed in the Mortemian fortress. Skhy wondered if the two got to talk. I hope they did.

He suddenly remembered London Knightwood, the ex-Premier’s brother, one of Skhy’s trusted friends. When Mr. Leon Knightwood’s real intention was uncovered, Skhy had a lot in his plate so he failed to inquire about his friend in the north fortress. He tried to contact the fortress but he was refused access. Karl also refused to say anything. It was only when Andy came to the Academy as the new Premier that he was informed about London. Andy said that London was under investigation but was cleared before Andy left the fortress. Skhy wanted to talk to his friend, comfort him. He was probably devastated, confused and lost for losing his older brother.

His thoughts were interrupted by library’s door opening. Both he and Ciar turned.

“Huh. I thought you had other plans.” Faz sat on the chair between Skhy and Ciar.

“Like what?” Skhy raised his eyebrow.

“You’re an overthinker, I forgot.” Faz hissed at Ciar.

“Careful.” Faz’s tone turned dangerously low.

“Let’s not start anything,” Skhy warned the two. His attention shifted to the paintings again. “We should try to get along for the sake of everyone.” The silence stretched for a minute.

“I can’t believe my father was friends with Mortemians when he was young,” Skhy confessed softly, “My grandparents told me he hated them since he was a kid.” He offered an apologetic smile to Ciar who didn’t look affected at all.

“I wonder if meeting Aria’s mother and Nate and Clyne’s fathers changed that,” he added.

“I can’t believe that my father was a brave person,” Faz muttered. “I always knew him to be a coward.” Skhy knew that it took everything in Faz to confess that, especially with a former friend who turned out to be a Mortemian. But Skhy was so proud of him.

“I can’t believe my parents stayed when almost everyone sided with the Rosein Army.” Ciar’s whisper carried more emotion than any of the words he uttered since he met the Seven and Alyssa days ago.

The silence enveloped them. Skhy was thankful that it wasn’t a cold and tense silence. It was the first comfortable atmosphere they had with Ciar after the truth was revealved. Skhy held in a chuckle. He thought that it was ironic considering that Faz and Ciar were together.

“We need rest.” Ciar stood up, his jaw tensed, eyes hooded. He left the library without any other words.

“He’s right, unfortunately,” Faz mumbled after the door closed behind Ciar.

“Yeah.” Skhy followed Faz to the door. “After all, we are going back to where everything started.”

The dense forest between Wyvernshore and the Canopy had been green and full of life. It was surrounded by vast emerald-green grass and beds of flowers. The trees weren’t as tall as the other forests they had been to but they were strong, thick and had thick branches of leaves. These were told by Aria who lived in Wyvernshore and Nate who lived in the Canopy their entire lives. But what greeted the Seven, Alyssa, and the Eclipse were hills of dug out ground and half of the forest without standing trees. The fallen trees were either cut down, smashed or whacked. The ground had no trace of grass; there were only huge cracks and holes. The wind was still, the air was cold, no animal made a sound.

“It’s starting,” Lei whispered, her pale face stared at the destruction and the almost lifeless forest.

The group advanced in solemn silence but stayed alert and focus. The Rosein Army had invaded Arconien and they knew that anyone could be a member of it. As they continued walking, Skhy had flashbacks of the Eschaton war. He stilled when he remembered the ear piercing explosion that rocked the ground for a whole minute. Despite the loudness of it, he could still hear the screams and the shouts of people from all directions. Skhy tasted blood in his mouth when the images of bloodied lifeless bodies on the dry land flashed before his eyes. Their unmoving eyes stared at him. He saw the huge cracks on the earth, the huge boulders rolling, the abandoned citadels, the whirls of dust against his legs.

“Skhy?” He blinked thrice before turning toward the voice.

“What’s wrong?” Lei asked, concerned. Skhy was a few steps behind Tessa and Lei who also stopped walking. The rest of the group, with Faz and Ciar leading, failed to notice the three who were long way behind them.

“Nothing.” Skhy gulped. “I remembered something.” The three caught up with the rest. Skhy could feel someone’s eyes on him but he didn’t turn. He didn’t want to worry her.

“Should we try contacting them again?” Clyne asked once they crossed the town in The Canopy nearest to the South Edgeburn.

“We tried thrice,” Kage answered, “It’s not connecting.”

“It’s either blocked or the lines are open all the time but they accept important connections only,” Kol added. Skhy tried to contact the Concordian fortress stationed at the Canopy the day before the group’s started travelling. He tried again when they crossed the border.

During their strategy meeting, Nate and Clyne suggested to travel in the Canopy through the Slithering Mountains with the help of the fortresses’ knights. The Eclipse, on the other hand, believed that it wasn’t a good idea since they weren’t Concordians as well as Alyssa. Skhy suggested to contact the fortress first before planning. The knights didn’t answer which worried Clyne.

“What if the Rosein Army got them?” he whispered, wide eyed. No one answered him. Skhy silently hoped that it wasn’t the case.

“Do you think Karl placed more knights in there now? Faz asked.

“Probably,” Skhy answered, unsure.

“There should be two or three fortresses there.” Clyne was frowning. Skhy noticed the Eclipse glancing at each other, silently communicating. He could read it.

In the end, the group decided to use the same path the Seven used before to reach the Mort without setting foot in the South Edgeburn’s dry land. No one had any idea if the black castle was the Rosein Army’s base but the Seven and the Eclipse decided to protect the surrounding places since the south west of Arconien has the weakest Concordian defense, having only two small Concordian fortresses, one in the Canopy and one in North Edgeburn. It will change if the Court allow the remaining Mortemians to help.

“I hope there’s no reason for us to set foot on South Edgeburn,” Clyne murmured after Kol’s response.