INSIGNIAS: THE REGALIS
CHAPTER XIV: ARIA

Nine individuals appeared to be running inside a huge and dense forest. They were running as if they were being chased. Soon enough, balls of fire sped toward them, hitting the trunks of the trees and setting everything on fire. Within a few seconds, gigantic rocks were thrown toward them. The loud dropping of the rocks violently shook the ground. Thousands of black feathers covered the yellow and blue sky. The scene zeroed in the shadows of the individuals. Some of them had stopped in the middle of a blazing forest. Another rock was approaching fast.

Aria woke up with a start. Cold sweat rolled down her forehead as her heart drummed fast beats and as she tried to catch her breath. Her tired eyes adjusted to the darkness in her room. She raised her knees near her chest and hugged them. She closed her eyes.

Despite expecting nightmares, she was glad that it wasn’t about her mom or dad’s death. This time, her mind kept remembering her conversations with her friends hours ago.

The group decided to talk in the wide plane beside the academy. Luxian students were usually not allowed to go outside the premises when classes are ongoing. However, Skhy talked to Karl and asked to give them permission just for today. Karl was hesitant at first. Aria wondered if it’s because of the possibility that they will try to leave the academy. If we wanted to, we’ve done that long ago…

Walking out from the academy’s cemented roads and towering buildings into the soft green grass and waving branches of trees made her remember their days in the woods. It wasn’t the most comfortable place to sleep nor most comforting at first, not only because of the cold and darkness but also because of the tense atmosphere surrounding some of their companions. Hunter and Storm would find every opportunity to fight. Clyne and Hanne bickered while blaming each other whenever Hunter and Storm fight. Tessa started putting Hunter in place while Skhy and Nate tried to separate the two men every time. She just watched the same situation unfold every other day.

“While I love sleeping on a bed,” Clyne started, “But why do I miss the forest?”

“You’re also thinking about the days before we arrive here?” Nate asked. He looked better and more relaxed, knowing that Hanne is alive. But unlike him, Aria still hated Storm or Ciar.

“I don’t miss those days,” Tessa confessed. She was the first to sit on the grass between two trees under the shade. The cold wind touched Aria’s skin and she shudder a bit.

“Why?” Hunter asked. Aria noticed that he was talking more after the Northern Lux battle. She sat beside Lei.

“Because you always start fights,” Tessa answered by the time everyone was comfortable on their seats. They formed a circle. Skhy chuckled. No one talked afterward. The silence continued as the cold wind of January embraced them. Aria wondered if they didn’t want to ruin the moment of reminiscing.

“I lied.” But she wanted to get something out of her chest. She felt their stares so she looked up.

“When Nate and Hanne found me, I told them that I was attached and got saved by someone. The truth is I was the one who got rid of him. I’m sorry.” She was surprised that it wasn’t hard to tell them. Why? But an emotion was bubbling inside her. Fear. Fear of disappointment. A warm large hand lightly patted her back.

“We understand,” Lei said with a comforting smile. Aria glanced at her friends. Their eyes didn’t show disappointment, anger, or hate. Clyne’s smile seemed to say ‘I told you so.’

“We met because of different circumstances,” Tessa said, “But we’re looking for the same thing, right?” Family. Aria nodded.

“Our families probably imagined this too,” Nate said while looking up at the sky.

“What?” Lei asked.

“We being together here like a family,” Clyne replied. Blurry memories of her mom flashed before Aria’s eyes. Please don’t let me forget her. But she knew that more than her, her dad suffered over letting go and losing her mom. He had to raise a daughter who didn’t know why her mother left her.

“But I wonder,” Tessa’s voice pulled her from her thoughts, “Was it worth it? Them sacrificing their lives.” Her voice broke at the end. If Aria’s being honest, when she found out that her mom fought and sacrificed herself not only for her daughter but for the whole Arconien, anger was the first emotion. Why my mom? There are a lot of people in this realm. She wanted revenge. The feelings slowly diminished when she stayed with her new friends. Now, knowing that her mom had friends who meant a lot to her during her struggles made her want to cry. She was loved not only by me and dad.

“My grandma told me the story.” Aria turned to Clyne who smiled sadly at her. “She told me that my parents died with their friend with red hair.”

Aria bit her lower lip to stop it from quivering.

“I didn’t want to believe, so I tried to find them during the Eschaton war,” he added. “You know what happened after.” He said the words without looking away from her eyes. She could see the brown specs in his green orbs. She didn’t know how long they stared at each other but she quickly looked away when she realized.

“What I hate is we’re bound by this prophecy.” She tried to hide her embarrassment.

“Yeah.” Surprised by Hunter agreeing, her eyes widened a bit. She noticed that the others were also looking at him after breaking his silence since they were in the Premier’s office.

“We don’t know who prophesized it nor if it’s true,” he added, his brow deeply furrowed.

“But our parents wouldn’t fight if it’s something trivial,” Lei said with a sad voice. There was another silence. Aria glanced at Skhy who, like Hunter, silently listened to them. He was staring at the grassy ground. She wondered if he was thinking about the right words to say. Skhy always felt that all the burdens belong to him alone because he gathered the Regalis.

“What do you think, Skhy?” Hunter acknowledged and urged him to speak his mind.

“I was imagining,” he paused, “our parents in our age. I wonder if their friendship was like ours.” This surprised Aria a bit. She thought he was going to comfort them and tell them information about the prophecy. She expected a calm Skhy.

“I was also thinking the same thing,” Tessa revealed, “I wondered if they also imagined us all together like this.”

“I’m sure they did,” Nate responded. Aria rested her back on the tree trunk behind her. It felt like something heavy was lifted off her shoulder.

“Still,” Skhy started, “we have to make sure that their sacrifice isn’t for nothing.” He looked at each of his friends. His eyes showed determination Aria didn’t see earlier.

Hunter sighed and then stood up.

“When are we going to start?” he asked. Confused, Aria frowned between Hunter and Skhy.

“We’re going to start training soon,” Skhy replied. Reality hit her hard. The date of the prophesized war was near. Shivers started on her arms and spread all over her body. The next war would be far horrific, bloody, violent, and soul-wrenching than the recent Northern Lux battle. She couldn’t imagine how Skhy and Hunter and their friends in their early teens fought in the Eschaton war where thousands died, Concordians, Mortemians, and non-magic users alike. Are we going to be alright?

She glanced at her friends who seemed to be thinking the same thing. Lei and Tessa looked scared. Nate seemed worried while Clyne’s body was tense. She knew that she promised to fight but she couldn’t believe how little they have left before they might end up dead. Slightly shaking her head, she tried to chase the dark thought away. We have to survive it.

“Where are we going to train?” Clyne was the first to break the heavy silence.

“Not here,” Skhy replied. Lei gasped. Aria turned to the gate of L.S.A., her heart was heavy. The beginning wasn’t easy but the academy had been their home for almost four months. For the second time, she and her friends had to leave a home.

“I’m sorry.” She looked at Skhy, waiting for him to explain. “I know everyone wants to live peacefully than to fight.” He gave a bitter smile.

“I gave my word from the very beginning,” Aria replied, “I won’t take it back.”

“Me too.” Le’s unwavering eyes stared at him. “I promised to support you.”

“Don’t apologize, Skhy.” Tessa stood up. “We know that you also want to live normally. This is something we have to face.”

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“Besides,” Nate added, “I don’t want my parents’ death to be in vain. I believe that they thought we can avoid our fate.” He smiled sadly. But we can’t.

“Let’s start another adventure!” Clyne exclaimed. Aria chuckled as she stood up. The others followed. The warm wind rushed by them. It ruffled Aria’s red hair but she welcomed its warmth. She watched the graceful dancing of the leaves and branches. She no longer sees red on the trees even when she thought about the sad memory. Glancing at Clyne’s tall figure, she couldn’t deny that he had a huge part in her healing.

“Is it enough? We only have less than three months,” she heard Nate ask.

“I was also thinking the same thing,” Lei agreed.

“We have to train properly,” Tessa urged. “That’s the only way.”

“Don’t worry, we’re not alone,” Skhy comforted them. Aria figured that Aubree and the rest would start training too. She knew that the legionnaires, sentries, and knights were preparing too. There was a part of her that wanted to see them train. Maybe someday, I’ll join the sentries…

“Where is it?” Hunter asked Skhy. “I’m sure you talked with Karl and the others.”

“Yes,” Skhy replied. “The Shadow Island.” She hadn’t heard of the place before but she was excited to start.

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