INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS
CHAPTER IV: TESSA

Steve regarded her with sympathy and uncertainty. But Tessa’s stare didn’t waver. She didn’t want to be in the dark anymore; especially if it’s about her mother. Steve’s eyes seemed to be looking for something on her face. When he found it, his expression softened but there was determination in his eyes.

“Margarette was a Concordian, like me. We fight the evil warriors and monsters,” he started without taking his eyes off her.

“The first generations of Concordians and Mortemians lived thousand years ago. They trained their soldiers to destroy evil from eating the planet. Seven warriors were chosen to lead them. However, as the balance of good and evil broke, Mortemians carried the poison of sins. In short, they were possessed by the evil that they suppressed for a long time. The two legions have been in constant war since then.” Tessa looked at him like he was insane. Warriors? Possessed? What is happening here?

But Steve eyes showed that he was serious. He pursed his lips as he turned his gaze to his father who was looking down. So my life was a lie? No, they did not lie. They only kept the truth.

“If what you’re saying is true, I take it that I have powers too?” The two men nodded. Should I believe them?

“Margarette’s Elemental was Water. She was a strong fighter. But she died in the war three years ago.” Tessa looked down. She was not able to meet her mom before she passed away. Tears started flowing again. Her life sucks. Then she felt her father arms hugging her.

“She was a lovely woman. It must have hurt her to leave you, Tessa. She always said that you’re her angel,” her father whispered. She heard Steve leave his chair and sat again. He was holding his father’s briefcase.

“Before she left, I was introduced to your father to help him care for you. She left something for you.” Steve gave the case to her father. After opening the box, there were only two items inside: a brown book and a knife inside a grey pouch.

“This was her diary.” Her father gave her the notebook. Shuffling through the pages, she noticed her mother’s clean cursive writing. There were pictures and other articles written in an unknown language.

“This is from your grandfather. We don’t know if it’s your weapon, but you’re going to find out. A weapon only listens to its master.” Steve removed the dagger from its pouch, revealing a well-crafted Obsidian blade engraved with unknown symbols. Obsidians are deep black volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. She recognized one of the symbols: a crescent moon that looks like a wave. The design on the staircase. Tessa touched the blade; it was smooth and cold. The symbols must have been carved on the inside.

“Every warrior has his own weapon - designed according to his Elemental,” Steve continued.

“Are you one of them?”

“Yes, Tessa. My Elemental is Earth.” Steve smiled at her.

“But I don’t know how. There’s nothing unusual about me.” Her father was silent but would pat her back once in a while.

“You’ll learn”, Steve replied, putting the dagger back to its pouch.

“Does it have something to do with the mark on my chest?” The skin was still throbbing. She should put some ice on it. Nodding, Steve pushed his left sleeve up, revealing a brown thunder-like tattoo.

“It’s not a tattoo.” He must have read her mind. “This is my insignia, my symbol. Yours is changing to its real form.”

“So it’s happening,” her father said, looking at Steve. “When?”

“What are you talking about, Dad?” Are there any more secrets yet to be revealed?

“I don’t know. But it’s near, I could feel them,” Steve replied. Tessa started to protest when they heard multiple gunshots followed by running footsteps and crashing woods. The house started to shake uncontrollably. Earthquake?

The two men stood up and went to her window.

“What’s happening?” Standing up, she felt the pain in her chest increasing like wildfire. “Dad, it hurts again.”

Her father looked at her, and she saw fear in his eyes. She does not know if it was because of the pain she felt or the strange noises outside.

“You need to go,” Steve said, still looking outside.

“What the heck is happening, Dad, Steve?” Panic washed over her as another explosion shook the whole home. Her father hugged her, whispering I love you. Another explosion followed shoving them towards the floor.

“Dad!” Her father was still hugging her and she could hear him crying. She was scared. Her fast heartbeat hammered on her chest.

“Eric, it’s time.” Steve, now holding a huge silver sword, went to the door. Where did it come from? It must be his weapon. When he opened the door, a wounded guard ran towards them.

“We’re under attack. The house will not last. It’s not protected by Elementals,” he said.

“What do you mean we’re under attack? By who?” Her voice trembled as she asked them.

“Tessa look at me”, her father said. She could hear the fear in his voice. And sadness? Looking at her father, she tried to memorize his features - his dark chestnut eyes that always show how much he loves her, the light brown hair she used to comb when he has no time to do it and his smile that comforts her every day. Tessa knew that something bad was going to happen.

“I love you. No matter what happens, I love you. And your mom loves you too. So much.”

“I’m Eliot. Good luck, princess.” Steve, or Eliot, bowed and started to walk out of her room. Her father smiled and kissed her forehead, before running out her room locking the door from the outside.

“Dad, no!” She tried to open the door but to no avail.

“Don’t leave me!” She didn’t know what was happening outside but she knew it has something to do with what they revealed to her.

“Go to the farthest forest in the east. Someone is waiting there. Go!” She heard Steve, or Eliot, say, followed by clashing of swords. Someone or something wanted to kill them. Or just her.

“But I don’t even know how to use my powers!” What if the bad guys found me before I could find someone to help me?

“Go Tessa. Please.” That was the last thing she heard from her father before another explosion from outside her door. Shoving the diary, the dagger and a few things in her backpack, she ran towards her bathroom and locked the door. Opening a small wooden closet, she located the compass and her other inventions and thrust them in the bag. She removed a tile below the sink and pushed the button inside it. The sink moved, exposing the wooden door. She opened it and rushed inside, closing the hatch behind her. She could hear her heartbeats like a drum roll.

The walls trembled furiously after the multiple explosions above her. Whoever was out there won’t stop until they burn the house down. Running towards the end of the tunnel, she remembered her father and Steve; they sacrificed their lives for her. Why did it have to end like this? Why did they have to take my parents away? She even forgot to tell her father she loves him too. She wanted to go back but she cannot protect them.

“Mom. Dad.” Tears were still flowing while she continued to walk through the tunnel. Her father told her about this path before her 17th birthday. He said they could use it as an emergency exit. She used it several times whenever she felt like going out to the forest; it was her escape from loneliness. But she never imagined she was going to use it for this reason, especially alone.

She saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Opening the door, she found herself in the forest beside their subdivision. It was 12 midnight in her watch. Looking around, she saw the full moon illuminating the woods. She had been on camping trips several times and she could use the skills she learned to survive until she reaches her destination. She did not even know where to go and who to find, but she had to try. For her dad and Steve. And for her mom.

Looking back to the tunnel, she whispered, “I love you too, Dad.” She searched the stars for the right constellations, and then walked towards the East.

She noticed that her chest does not hurt anymore. She looked at the new mark just below her left collar bone: her insignia.

Her journey was just starting.

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