INSIGNIAS: THE LUX SIGNIFER ACADEMY
CHAPTER VI: HANNE

Day 1 after they arrived in the Academy. The individual rooms don’t have windows so everyone set up an alarm on their new phone. Just like what Skhy said, another phone was left on their desks after their conference room meeting. It was identical to the phone provided by the Academy but has a screen lock. When Hanne heard the familiar pop song at 2 am, her hand groggily grabbed the phone to turn the alarm off. She sat up looking around, sighing that yesterday and the weeks before that weren’t a long and ridiculous dream. She stood up and grab fresh clothes in the closet. Thankfully, yesterday, the girls were able to wash and dry their dirty and smelly clothes in their backpack. Entering the shower, she stared at the lack of scented body wash and shampoo. She knew better than to complain about it.

After leaving the shower, she noticed that someone called her private phone. Mom. Last night, after days of no contact, Hanne messaged their mom. She was out of the country. Their mom figured that it’s safest for her and for Hanne and Nate.

At 3am, she opened her room door and found that Tessa, Lei, and Aria are waiting for her. She felt her cheeks flush.

“This is all we can prepare. Eat,” Lei said with a smile. A sandwich and orange juice were placed on the table.

“Are you done?” Hanne asked.

“Yes,” Tessa and Lei replied while Aria just nodded while reading a book. She got more embarrassed.

“S-sorry. I’m not used to waking up early,” she blurted.

“It’s fine. I was awake most of the night. Terrible dream,” Tessa confessed.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Lei mumbled. Hanne looked at each of the girls. They looked fresh but tired at the same time. While nibbling on the sandwich, a ham sandwich, she felt that she had a dream but couldn’t remember it.

“How are you?” Tessa asked. “Sorry. Terrible question, I know.” She blushed slightly. Hanne realized that she hadn’t talked much to anyone Nate, Storm, and Aria. Even when they were traveling together, she only replied to their questions and nothing more.

“Aside from the hard mattress, I’m fine,” she answered. This earned a laugh from Tessa and Lei. It wasn’t that terrible, right Hanne? She always had a hard time opening to new people. But this isn’t the time to consider anyone a friend. She looked at Aria and found her trying to hide a smile while two laughed. This is fine, right?

After eating her share, she washed the dishes then went back to her room to grab a smaller backpack.

“Half past three. We’re right on time,” Tessa announced as Hanne closed her room door. Her backpack felt heavier when she remembered that they have to start their training today. What if my weapon won’t come out?

“Hey.” Someone tapped her shoulder. Tessa’s eyes were full of worry. “Whatever it is, we’ll work together.” It didn’t help Hanne’s anxiety but it made her relaxed a bit. She nodded in response. Aria stood beside her and also tapped her back.

“Doesn’t this scare you?” Hanne whispered enough for her to hear. She felt closer to Aria even though she’s usually quiet during their whole journey. Besides, she also helped her and Nate to stay alive. It took a while before Aria answered.

“Everything is new to me but I have a goal,” she responded without looking at Hanne. Right, everyone has different objectives and goals in coming here.

“Let’s go,” she heard Lei said. The crescent moon was brightly hanging in the sky with countless stars, but dense clouds sometimes blocked the moonlight. The four girls quietly left the building. It was too early for anyone to wake up. Even if someone saw, no one would recognize them.

“Go to the Armoury Building 1. Behind it is an underground passage,” Tessa softly read the instruction in her phone when they reached the dormitory’s backyard.

Hanne looked around. The large dormitory building is located in the middle west of the territory, just behind the Main Colosseum or School Arena. She was never good with maps but last night, she studied that map of the Academy. She won’t always be in a group and she didn’t want to be seen as helpless. The group started walking towards the south end of the territory. After almost 8 minutes, they saw a three-floored squared building. Light posts seemed to surround the buildings here but not the streets. The building was facing east.

“Aren’t there Legionnaires here? Won’t we get caught?” Hanne whispered.

“It seems that they are changing shift at this time,” Lei answered.

“They only guard borders and entrances of buildings,” Tessa added. “With the dormitory as an exception.”

“Why?” Hanne asked.

“No idea.”

“Students here aren’t brave than you think so no one would expect students to wander around,” Aira mumbled. What does she mean why that?

They were able to dodge security cameras. They neared the back of the building when a small figure emerged from the shadow. The girls quickly hid behind the large trash bins.

“Clear,” Aria said.

“Our energies must be too low to recognise,” Hanne said to herself.

“Yes. And we’re too far from him,” Tessa added. They reached the back of the building and started to search for the hidden entrance using their phone flashlights. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Find_Nøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Found it,” Hanne whisper shouted. Below the strings of thick vines was a three-foot cemented cave. It was small enough to hide a door on the ground. They started pulling the vines then pushed open the door. Chills ran down her body when Hanne saw nothing but darkness below the few flights of stairs. She gulped.

Aria volunteered to go first. Hanne followed with Lei and Tessa behind her. When the door closed, it got colder. Spiders crawled on the dark walls full of spider webs. Please no scorpions. After what seemed forever, Aria stopped. Everyone looked between the three tunnels ahead. Tessa motioned towards the right tunnel. The tunnel seemed cleaner than earlier. It was wider too with a higher ceiling. Hanne heard Tessa and Lei talking behind but didn’t care. She kept looking around for scorpions or mice.

“We’re here,” Tessa exclaimed.

“I hope there are no more tunnels behind that,” Hanne complained. She breathed a sigh of relief when light sipped in when Aria opened the door.

“WOW,” Lei exclaimed.

“Amazing,” Tessa whispered.

“Not bad,” Aria said then chuckled. It took Hanne’s eyes longer to adjust to the light. When they did, they widened. The place looked like a wide underground arena but with only a few flights of stairs around it. There were lights on the ceiling. Though it smells like earth…

“Took you long enough.” She found the boys standing already holding their weapons.

“Hanne!” She was quickly enveloped in her brother’s hug. He had a big smile when he released her.

“You seem excited,” she noted.

“Of course. I will be able to train with all my heart,” he exclaimed. She was happy for him. Really.

“Hanne?” His smile dropped. I guess my feelings really show in my face.

“I’m a bit nervous,” she told him honestly, “but I will try my best.” She gave him a small smile.

“If you need help, I’m here.” He patted her head but she dodged it.

“Hey. Don’t always treat me like I’m a kid.” She laughed and he followed. “Remember that I fought beside you in those horrible forests.” This made him laugh more.

“I know and you were great,” he said then winked. She scoffed at this. She was about to reply but she noticed that he was glancing at the others.

“Talk to them. If you don’t tear away from me, they’ll notice your sister complex.”

“Hey!” She gave him a face that said ‘it’s true, isn’t it?’ He chuckled, patted her head, and then left her. He began talking to Tessa and Lei.

“You look lonely.”

She shrieked and jumped. She quickly turned to glare at him.

“Don’t.Do.That.” Storm shrugged.

“Hiya, blondie,” Clyne greeted when he reached them. He had a wide smile as if he won the lottery. She hated that nickname.

“Don’t call me that,” she said.

“You like saying ‘don’t’,” Storm pointed out. ARRGGHH. Storm’s quiet most of the time, but when he teases her, it irritates her a lot.

“That’s a bad habit.” And it frustrates her when Clyne adds gasoline to the fire.

“You too go well together,” she mumbled.

“Only when you need teasing,” Storm said without any feelings. WHAT!?!?!

“Agree.” Clyne’s smile widened.

“When did the two of you become such good friends?” They just shrugged at her. She scoffed then left the two idiots.

“I don’t NEED teasing!” she shouted without looking bath. This group is messed up. Sometimes they bicker like they’re going to fight to death, sometimes they’re too laid back like they don’t care about the world. Days ago when Tessa and she were fixing the campfire, Tessa told her what she thought is each member’s personality.

Lei is calm, sensitive, brave, and always worries about her teammates but often show her feelings on her face and have trouble sorting her thoughts. Clyne is too noisy, always mind people’s business, and teases people all the time but always try to lift people’s spirit and doesn’t shy away from battles. Hunter is a mystery. He looks strong, unafraid, and scary but he seems to be carrying a heavy burden too. Aria is quiet, super strong, and independent but always keeps what she feels to herself. Tessa also noticed that Aria, despite not saying anything, always try to comfort Hanne. Nate is cheerful, protective, the mediator, and honest but he often put his life on the line for others. Skhy is the leader, intelligent, strong, and brave but he’s carrying a lot of burden and loads that he doesn’t want to share with others. Storm looked strong and unafraid but Tessa hadn’t observed him long enough to know him.

For Hanne, Storm is a fighter and protector. He’s usually quiet because he only talks when he needed to and when he teases her. The last statement made Hanne chuckled. Since the first time she saw him until now, there’s something in his eyes that fascinates and scares her. He must have seen something horrific but she didn’t have the guts to ask him.

When asked what Tessa thought of Hanne, she replied with this:

“Among us, you seem to be a normal high school girl. But I think, behind your straight-forward attitude and quirky sides, you wanted to be someone who’s brave and strong to help and protect your brother. I admire that. Before, I started off as someone who closes herself off from others, but now, I want to support this team,” Tessa said with a smile.

Hanne didn’t know why she’s remembering these. You’re smart, observant, and super nice, Tessa…

“Let’s train!!!” Her voice echoed in the large arena. Everyone looked at her. Some of them smile, some nodded, but everyone was ready.

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