INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY
CHAPTER XXVII: ARIA

After the group divided into four, Aria came together with Skhy and Tessa. Their group was the one to lure the enemies out. Skhy, Lei, and Hunter didn’t Tessa to be included in the group who’s going to face the enemies first but Tessa didn’t back down. In the end, she won but the three weren’t happy. Aria understood her feelings. If it happened to her, if she sees her father or mother alive, she would want to follow and confront them. She expected Skhy and Lei to argue with Tessa but it came as a surprise that Hunter scolded her. She sensed something happened between them. Clyne also protested to be with Aria but she wasn’t having it. The other three groups were: Ellie, Nate, and Hanne; Aubree, Lei, and Savvier and; Hunter, Clyne, and Aurora. Storm was the lookout.

They got into positions. Aria noticed how agitated Tessa is. Her whole body was tense. When Aria heard that Tessa’s father was being controlled by the Mortemians, she remembered her tragic past. She was furious at the Mortemians and everyone who made them suffer. They were supposed to be enjoying their normal college lives, getting phone calls from their parents, and doing what most teenagers do. But they couldn’t. What a great life!

She couldn’t care less before but she now has friends that she want to protect.

“Let’s do it,” Skhy suddenly instructed. Aria nodded. She moved in front of Skhy then raised both of her hands. She inhaled deeply then exhaled slowly. Don’t remember. The mark on the back of her palm became hot. A small ball of fire above her quickly expanded until it became the size of a car. She felt Skhy’s energy increased. Then a gush of wind pushed the fireball forward. Fire and wind mixed. It sped up until it hit the force field loudly. Game on.

After a minute, the force field distorted and a person walked out of it. Aria heard Tessa gasped. Aria also didn’t expect him to be the first to face them. Skhy came out of hiding. Aria followed behind him. Tessa’s father smiled coldly at them.

“I didn’t expect visitors,” he said. “I suggest all of you go back home.” Aria couldn’t see Tessa’s expressions because she was behind her and Skhy.

“Not happening,” Skhy said. The man tilted his head as if listening to something.

“This isn’t a fight you’ll win.”

“There are only three of you here,” Aria pointed out. The man chuckled. What’s funny? She didn’t like it when grownups look at her like she’s a child.

“Quality not quantity, my dear.” His weapon materialized. In a blink of an eye, he charged toward them. Aria called out her katana while Skhy stopped his attack with his sword. The three were engaged in a sword fight. The man looked like he was having fun fighting them which irritated Aria more. Then a burst of energy coming from the man knocked Aria down. She quickly stood up to attack the man who was now surrounded by cracks on the ground. She gripped her sword tighter and the blade started burning. She swung her sword in his direction but a wall of earth rose to block her flames. It didn’t do much damage to the wall. He’s stronger than I thought.

“Be careful. He’s only using 20% of his power,” Skhy said while glaring at the wall. That’s 20%? Aria could sense the energies of people and if they’re weak or strong but she still wasn’t used to calculating if they’re showing their full capacity.

“We have to use him to enter thought the barrier,” he said.

Suddenly Aria could hear the sound of a rushing waterfall. She looked up and surely a huge tube of water was coming down at them. Before Aria could react, it swerved toward the wall and collided with it in full force. Within seconds, the wall cracked into several pieces. The water broke into two and elevated above them. Aria turned around and found Tessa clenching her fists.

“Never thought I’ll see you this strong, Tessa,” Aria heard the man said. She turned around to glare at him. She was closed to cursing at him when he smiled proudly at Tessa. Without a second thought, she attacked him. How could you do this to your daughter?!? She was devastated when she thought you died!

The man continued to block her attacks with his weapon. She didn’t give him the chance to attack her. Skhy started attacking him too. After what felt like an hour, they stopped to catch their breath. Aria was tired and her right arm was trembling. The man was gasping for air then kneeled because of exhaustion. He might be powerful but his body isn’t young anymore.

“Tessa, I’m still your father,” he said between intakes of breaths. Shameless… “Don’t kill me.” He looked at Tessa with watery eyes and a pleading face. Aria glanced at her. She was blinking away the tears but she wasn’t looking at him. She didn’t answer. Aria could hear the other teams fighting. The ground was shaking a bit. Clyne…

“Who is it?” Skhy asked. “The person you dragged from the village.”

“Don’t you want to know the truth?” The man ignored Skhy’s question and continued to look at Tessa.

“The person is inside, right?” Skhy pressed.

“Tessa-”

“Answer him truthfully,” Tessa said with a low voice. “Then we’ll spare you.” Aria turned to look at Skhy then frowned. There was no way that Aria will let the man go. Skhy shook his head.

“Don’t try to know more than this. You’ll get hurt more,” the man said. So the person they kidnapped has some important information.

“That is up to us,” Skhy pointed out. The man laughed quietly then looked his way. Skhy turned to look at Tessa who nodded at him. Tessa raised her right hand and five daggers appeared in front of her. They flew toward the now terrified man. They surrounded him with the blades pointing at him. He looked confused. Aria walked toward him.

“Go,” she instructed.

“What is this for?” he asked. So he doesn’t know his daughter’s abilities, huh. He led them toward the force field. Aria noticed that he intended to run inside without waiting for them. When he tried to, he suddenly screamed like he was in pain. She heard a gasp behind her then a cough.

“Why can’t I use my powers?” he exclaimed. “What’s this?” He was looking at the flame cuff around his ankle. He stepped forward and the barrier twisted. The reflection of the background appeared like its dancing. A shadow-like space appeared beside him. Skhy entered first, followed by Tessa and Aria. The man groaned when Aria pulled the fire chain connected to his ankle cuff. Her eyes widened at the sight of the 100-feet black castle in front of her. Dark smoke surrounded the infrastructure. There was nothing than that.

“Are you sure there’s no other Mortemians here?” Tessa asked Skhy.

“It appears so,” he replied.

“Hey, where are the others?” Aria asked the man who was watching the daggers around him. He probably figured that they suppress his abilities.

“You just need that person,” he replied. They were gathering.

“They’re gathering somewhere,” Aria told Skhy and Tessa who nodded in understanding.

“I didn’t say-”

“So where is the person?” Aria cut him off. “Why can’t we sense him or her?” The man scoffed at them then looked at the castle.

“This is protected by several types of magic and traps. It won’t be easy to find what you’re looking for,” he explained.

“What types?” Skhy asked. The man remained silent. Skhy kept asking but he won’t budge. He doesn’t know, huh.

“That’s why you’re confident that there’s only three of you,” Skhy said. Suddenly they heard a whirling sound so Aria looked at Skhy who looked confused as well.

“Hey!” They turned toward the sound and found Ellie, Nate, Hanne, Aubree, Lei, Savvier, Hunter, Clyne, and Aurora jogging toward them. Aria looked around for Storm but he wasn’t with them. He’ll probably wait for them outside.

“You found the person?” Aubree asked. Skhy pointed at the black castle. He explained what the man earlier said.

“So who’s going?” Aurora asked. “Mortemians might come so we can’t all be stuck inside.” She looked at each of them. Aria didn’t mind going inside or waiting outside. She looked at Hanne who was nervously talking to Nate. She kept glancing at the force field. She must be worried about Storm.

“So this is really your old man?” she heard Savvier say. He chuckled. “Cool.” He was grinning at the man who looked uninterested with the children around him. No one paid Savvier attention. Skhy, Aubree, Aurora, Ellie, and Lei were quietly talking about who’s going inside.

“So he’s a Mortemian. Where’s your mother?” Savvier continued. Aria was getting irritated. Someone walked behind Aria then pulled Savvier away using his shirt collar. Savvier complained but Hunter didn’t acknowledge it.

“Alright, we’re decided,” Skhy exclaimed.

“We’re not sure what types of magic were used as traps inside, but if you don’t want to go, just say so,” Aurora explained.

“Aria, Hunter, Lei, and Nate will go,” Skhy said. Aria looked at the castle and tried to remember the visible exits. “Is that okay Hanne?” Everyone turned to the brother and sister. Hanne and Nate nodded.

“Ellie and I will too,” Aubree said. The rest would wait outside the castle in case Mortemian forces come.

“How about the stolen equipment?” Savvier suddenly asked.

“What?” Skhy asked. Confused, Aria looked at Savvier for an explanation. His whole demeanour changed.

“The stolen weapons three years ago,” he started with his hands on his pockets. “Are kept here.” What the. Is he bluffing? Aria rolled her eyes. This isn’t the time for games.

“Savvier,” Aubree warned him. She looked angry. She glared at him. Aria was confused by Savvier and Aubree’s behaviour.

“Is he telling the truth, Aubree?” Aria asked. Aubree coughed then smiled at her. She shook her head then said that Savvier is just messing around.

“Where did you hear that, Savvier?” Hunter asked.

“Let’s stop this. We don’t have time to talk about unnecce-” Aubree was cut off.

“Where?” Hunter pressed. Savvier’s attention shifted to Tessa’s father. Aria turned to him. He looked nervous.

“Tell them, Aubree. We’re already here. Might as well do what we should do,” Savvier said while still staring at the man. What’s going on? Everyone except Ellie and Aurora turned to Aubree who was glaring at him.

“That’s up to Skhy, right?” she pointed out. Everyone turned to Skhy who sighed.

“What’s with this atmosphere,” he said. “It’s just that like Ellie, Aurora, Aubree, and Savvier are also my allies in the Academy.”

“Okay. So what’s with this stolen equipment thing?” Hanne asked.

“A different mission for them,” he answered.

“Why is it hard to tell us?” Tessa asked. Savvier was still staring at Tessa’s father like he knows something.

“We have a Mortemian spy in the team,” he replied. Aria knew he wasn’t talking about the man.

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