INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS
CHAPTER XXX: LEI

When they reached the border, a shallow river separated two forests. Someone made rock bridges to pass it. It was already bright outside and the birds were singing. Skhy instructed them to scout near the shore. After an hour of walking and looking around, they were ready to go back; the three of them looked disappointed.The group probably thought that the enemies would be waiting in the North since it is easier to navigate compared to the West. The group must have relied on their intuition and moved west.

Skhy let Tessa walk in front of them while he walked beside Lei. She was confused at first but when she saw his hesitant expression, she realized what he wanted to talk about.

“Last night…” he suddenly stopped, probably thinking what to say next. His cheeks were becoming pink.

“You don’t have to explain. I was just curious but it isn’t my business,” Lei said as she forced herself to look in front. She didn’t have the heart to look him.

“No. It’s okay.”

“Whether you still have feelings for her or not, it’s up to you.” Her voice was firm and cold. She didn’t mean for it to sound so cold but she couldn’t help it.

“I-” He suddenly stopped. She glanced at him. His head was tilted as if listening to something.

They passed the first row of trees near the river when they sensed people behind them. Lei and Tessa followed Skhy back to the river to look but the people were behind the trees. They felt them moving fast towards the river. Lei couldn’t pin point their exact number because there were many of them. Eight? Nine? There was something amiss. Two different sets of energy.

“Concordians and Mortemians together?” Lei asked, confused. Is it a chase?

“They are running,” Skhy said matter-of-fact.

“Should we go to them?” Tessa asked. Skhy shook his head.

“We wait. There’s no attack.” He moved on the bridge of rocks. After minutes of waiting, the Mortemians’ presence suddenly changed direction then vanished. Woah. What happened? However, they still sense the Concordians running towards them. She glanced at Tessa, who was also confused with the situation. It was unlikely for the Mortemians to give up the chase without attacking the Concordians. Maybe they attacked earlier.

When they emerged from behind the trees, her eyes widen when they emitted the dark aura of Mortemians. This is confusing! Four persons in black clothes ran towards the river. She couldn’t see their expression but they seemed determined to reach them. They didn’t stop to examine if Skhy, Tessa, and Lei were threats.

Lei gasped when she felt it again, the chilling aura of darkness. She noticed that Skhy had already drew his weapon. His and Tessa’s backpacks were on the ground. She dropped hers too. She raised her right hand. When her insignia glowed on the back of her palm, she curled her fingers until her bow materialized. When the four neared the water, they stopped. She noticed that the group consisted of two girls, one with red hair and the other blonde; and two guys, one blonde and the other with grey hair. They were cautious at first but when they noticed Skhy and Lei’s weapons, they took a firm stance. When they did, their dark energy radiated. They dropped their bags, ready to fight.

Lei glanced at Skhy, who had set his lip in thin line. His brows furrowed while eyeing the strangers. He glanced at Lei then nodded. He did the same to Tessa. Engage.

Lei moved to her right to give Skhy and Tessa space. The blonde guy eyed her carefully. His eyes screamed anger as he moved with her. Seconds later, the four strangers had drew their weapons. She was surprised to replace that the blonde guy also uses bow and arrow. Metal bow and arrows? She glanced at where Skhy and Tessa stood. He was facing the guy with grey hair while Tessa was facing the two girls.

When her gaze returned to her opponent, he was already holding an arrow but he wasn’t ready to shoot. Not yet. A loud clash of metal made both her and her opponent check the others. Skhy was a few centimetres away from his opponent, with their swords collided between them. There were glaring at each other. Lei saw something flew near their head and found Tessa tossing water daggers towards the two girls. The girls dodged the daggers using a thin sword and what appears to be two ring swords. She was suddenly aware of her opponent’s stare. Her action was immediate. When he raised his arrow to place in his bow, she swiftly grabbed one behind her, placed it her bow, and pointed to her opponent. Both of them had their bow pointing to each other. Then she ran sideways.

Her opponent was surprised at first but he followed her action. When she felt that it’s the right time, she released the arrow. He gasped when it grazed his shirt on his upper left arm. He immediately collected himself and released his arrow. It was faster than she realized so she dodge it by dropping to the ground. Once the bow passed her, she instantly launched another attack, which he was able to avoid. He then threw multiple attacks. Damn. She grabbed three arrows to meet them. When they collided, the six arrows stayed in air, two powers pushed each other. Then they exploded. He is strong. But she was getting impatient so she attacked with five arrows, flinging them in five seconds. Her opponent also threw five arrows, but after he threw the first one, she attacked with another five. His panic was evident but Lei didn’t expect his next move.

Something emerged below the river within seconds. It surfaced suddenly that the water flew everywhere. Her arrows were stopped by several square metallic items. They all dropped in the river. He can manipulate metals?!?!? Two can play the game, Lei thought as she grin. When he threw five arrows at her, she called her allies. She felt them trembling below the ground. She let her power awaken the souls below. When his arrows neared her, the ground around her erupted. Pieces of dirt and grass flew and scattered. The thick roots danced above the ground then shot towards the whirling arrows then swat them away.

Lei and her opponent stood there, glaring at each other.

“Ahh!!!” Someone shouted behind her. She looked behind and her eyes widened when she finally noticed that the two girls had crossed the river. The blonde girl was swinging her two ring blades while Tessa kept dodging her. Tessa was at a disadvantage because the girl-haired girl was also inching to hit her with her sword. Damn. I have to help her.

Before she could ran towards them, Tessa made a big move, certain that she won’t back down. Lei stared when a large hand made of water rose above the river. The hand clenched then swiftly grabbed the two girls, who were trying to swim inside the hand.

Someone gasped behind her which made her snapped her head towards the sound. The guy had already crossed the river. He was also staring with wide eyes at Tessa’s creation. His eyes, however, were filled with fear.

“Hey. We are not done yet,” she called. His gaze turned to her. He was standing a couple of feet from her but she noticed that his fear was replaced with anger. Lei was wondering why they don’t appear dangerous like the other Mortemians they fought. But they are still enemies.

“I didn’t forget.” His smooth voice reached her. She only realized that his eyes were also green like hers.

“Then shall we?” She ran behind one of the thick roots, still swaying above the ground. She grabbed an arrow then placed it in her bow. As she emerged from her hiding spot, she pointed her arrow to his opponent, who was now hiding behind layers of tarnished metals. He found them underground.

When he emerged, she released her arrow. He immediately took cover. This attack and cover tactic lasted for so long that Lei was becoming tired and impatient. She wanted this to end.

She casually waved her right hand then two roots charged towards his hiding spot. They forcefully knocked down the metals. But the guy was nowhere.

Lei instantly grabbed an arrow then turned. But before she could get into position or realize what’s happening, someone pushed her back against a tree. Large thighs caged hers. Her bow helplessly lay on the ground. A lower arm was forcefully placed on her neck, choking her. Her wrists were caged in his large hand above her. Her heart drummed in her chest as she looked up. Angry green eyes looked down on her. His eyebrows furrowed together. He was the same height as Skhy but his blonde hair was neatly combed while Skhy’s chestnut hair was always messy.

A loud thud made them both look where the sound came from. Someone threw a large rock in the river and Skhy and his opponents were sparring on top it. Near them, on the ground, were Tessa and the two girls staring at each other. Everyone looked tired.

Her focus returned to the guy so close to her. She tried to push him while he was still watching the others, but his grip was strong. His gaze returned to her as he tightened his grip around her wrists. She flinched as he did.

“What do you want?” she croaked. His angry gaze was replaced with confusion. He frowned after she said this.

“What do you mean? Aren’t you the one who needs something from us?” His voice was accusing but his face still expressed confusion. Lei also felt the same way, confused that they started a fight but didn’t want anything and irritated that this fight is confusing. Ugh, my head.

“Stop lying. We wouldn’t fight you if you don’t want to fight,” she shouted in his face. He was angry again. He exhaled loudly, clearly frustrated. Well, I’m also frustrated with our current position.

She tried to wiggle out of his grip but he only tightened it.

“I’m not lying. You had your weapons when we came!” he shouted back.

“Well, if you didn’t have this dangerous Mortemian energy, we won’t have to!” She breathed heavily as she glared at him.

“What?” Anger left his face. There’s only confusion and irritation.

“What do you mean dangerous? And what do you mean by Mortemians?” His grip loosened. He had also released her thighs. But she was too engrossed with their shouting that she didn’t move.

“I don’t have to explain it because we all know.” She was frustrated that he was pretending that they are innocent.

“Well, explain! Because we are not dangerous nor Mortemians!” he shouted louder than before. But she wasn’t scared, just confused. They weren’t Mortemians? So what are they? Lei scanned her surroundings to check. Her eyes widened when she didn’t sense any Mortemian in the area. What the heck?

“What are you talking about? We sensed you earlier!” It was frustrating how they were shouting at each other while so close to each other. But Lei wanted to shout at him for being confusing so she slowly forgot how close their bodies and faces were to each other.

“I don’t know! We were running away from the Mortemians earlier!” He was also breathing heavily as he glared down at her. Uh oh. So who are these people? Why did they feel like Mortemians earlier? She had so many questions in her mind.

“You are the dangerous one,” he said. What? His eyes were intently studying her face.

“What?” she asked, confused once again.

“Your energies were dangerous earlier, but now it doesn’t feel like it anymore,” he explained. His frown deepened.

When he removed his arm and hands from her neck and wrists, she attacked. She lunged to hit him with her clenched fist. She didn’t know what’s happening but if this guy was lying, she will lose. He was surprised by her sudden movement but he responded immediately. He dodged her fist then lunged to grab her.

“STOP! THIS ISN’T RIGHT!” She heard Tessa shout. Lei flinched and lost her concentration for a moment. The next thing she knows, something crashed into her so she lost her balance. She closed her eyes waiting for the impact. Her back painfully hit the ground with a loud and heavy thud and something heavy painfully hit her chest. OUCH! She moaned, her eyes tightly closed.

Then something light and warm grazed her lips. When she opened her eyes, she found a pair of green eyes staring down at her, unmoving. She noticed the specs of brown in them. His nose beside her nose. She blinked several times.

Are you kidding me?