INSIGNIAS: THE ABECEDARIANS
CHAPTER XXXI: THE CONSORTIUM

The large room five floors below ground level was reserved for one and only one occasion. Darkness surrounded a perfectly round glass table. Seven elegant wooden chairs surrounded it. In the middle of the table were five white lit candles in different heights, placed on real golden candle holders. The tall wooden chairs had red cushions on them and were engraved with the letter C on their backs; real gold outlined the letter. Fire danced in the brick fireplaces, one against each three black walls. The table and chairs were placed in the middle of the room. There was no window. No chandelier. No sound could penetrate from inside or outside. It was sealed away and can only accessed by seven certain individuals. High definition technology made sure that no bug can go in or out.

When the two door panes opened, no light illuminated the pathway. Several footsteps, some heavy and some light, were heard as the individuals carefully and slowly entered the room, sound of their footsteps echoing in the almost empty room as they walked on the black marbled floor. The darkness in the chamber didn’t terrify them. They were used to the place. One by one, they sat comfortably on their assigned seats. Even with the candles in the centre, they couldn’t illuminate the faces of the seven individuals. The table was too wide. The light of the fireplaces was too far. Only their work clothes can be seen but these people already know each other. However, they couldn’t act like they know each other outside the secret chamber. They were indeed in a secret organization but they didn’t trust one other.

“This is going out of our control, Fluorite.” The speaker lightly hit his armchair with his palm.

“Will you relax, Pietersite. The order was sent. People are moving,” Fluorite said with a shrug. He seemed relaxed and unfazed with the recent issue but his mind was busy.

“Don’t act like everything is going according to our plans, because they aren’t.” The speaker, Pietersite, hit the armchair again.

“Are you going to do something behind our back again, Pietersite?” Fluorite’s demeanour suddenly changed. His voice was accusing and at the same time, full of warning. Pietersite became intimated so he calmed his tone.

“Let’s not dwell on that. We have other things to worry about,” he replied.

“This is our first meeting after weeks. Don’t waste our time,” Zircon, the person beside Fluorite, interrupted the two. His voice was younger but firm and authoritative. No one contradicted his statement. He was telling the truth. After weeks of secret and coded messages, this was their first assembly in person. They were supposed to meet two weeks ago but serious problems suddenly occurred outside.

“Right. What do we currently know about Wright?” Druzy, who was sitting beside Pietersite, asked. His voice was firm but cautious.

“Two cargos,” Zircon immediately replied. “Another group in the south, four.” Druzy drummed his fingers on the armchairs. This is bad, he thought.

“Location?” Larimar, the most curious and cheery one in the group, suddenly spoke in his deep voice. He sat on Fluorite’s right. He had his palms on his lap.

“Just sightings. We know they will come here but we don’t know their plans of action.” This was the response of Pyrite, the one who sat next to Druzy. They could make out his long silver beard cascading on his chest.

“And how and when they will come.” Zircon sounded annoyed. He wanted to take some actions or they would fail their tasks.

“We have to act. And fast,” Pietersite urged. Everyone nodded.

“The men will stop Ashworth from meeting the others. If they do meet, someone will be waiting.” Fluorite was now tense and alert.

“What happened to Wright’s contacts?” Pietersite asked, nodding once towards Zircon.

“Some were interrogated but they won’t fess up,” Zircon replied, still annoyed. “So we let them go.”

“It would be hard to stop them here,” Larimar stated matter-of-fact.

“Fluorite, tell the men to scout around Westward and add more Sentries in towns around our region,” he added efficiently. Fluorite scratched his chin, thinking intently about the order, before answering.

“Adequate. Considering that activities were discovered near North of The Canopy, it won’t be long before the two group replace each other. We have to block their paths,” Fluorite replied. There weren’t a lot of large damages but deep scratches on multiple trees in the forest north of the city in the south. Strangely, the sentries found large quantity of metals and deep burrows.

Pyrite suddenly appeared anxious. When he spoke, it was evident in his voice.

“We’re only going to catch them, right?” Druzy and Zircon were startled with the question but Pietersite, Fluorite, and Larimar appeared indifferent.

“Of course, we won’t harm them. We will provide security but not here, you know why,” Druzy replied, trying to calm him. Pyrite was always the nervous person in the group but it made him a very keen individual. Among the seven, he is the intellectual. Nothing can pass his sharp senses.

“We have to get them before the Mortemians…for their safety, but we can’t house them here,” Fluorite added. Everyone knew why they can’t. “They are creating havoc outside. They might influence the people inside the academy.” He remembered the statistics of the children being killed, making him flinched.

“But we always need to adapt in each situation,” Pietersite stipulated.

“Right. We don’t want to harm the kids, but if we are forced, we will also use force,” Fluorite added. His firm tone shut down whatever opinion or counter the others had. However, particular individuals seemed disturbed and nervous. Is it too late? they thought.

“Ashworth. Is he a threat?” Druzy changed the direction of the conversation.

“No. I don’t think he trained before nor fought anyone with it.” Pietersite knew this from Kastt’s brief report. “However, I believe that someone strong is with him.” He clenched his hands, infuriated with how the events unfold starting weeks ago. When Wright escaped, he thought. He didn’t try to hide that he is displeased.

“It was Whitemoore’s associates who instructed the kid’s mother. We’re not sure about the others’ families.” Zircon was in charge of information about the people who support Wright’s mission, particularly the allies outside the region’s premises. His men interrogated some, but before they can reach the company of Ashworth’s mother, she flew outside the country.

“I found some tracks inside.” Druzy, on the other hand, scouted the inside premises. He gains information by blending in with people. Deceit, he thought, isn’t necessary evil. Aside from this task, he is also a tactician.

“Good news, eh?” Larimar, another tactician, helps Druzy with his tasks but he mainly checked people with higher status, particularly how the Premier manages the whole place.

“Their parents knew each other or communicated with one another, according to a letter we found,” Druzy started. This brought an expected shock to his companions. “They knew and acted way before the war three years ago, following what they think is a true prophesy.” There was no uneasiness in his voice despite the growing fear in his chest. The new information produced another intense order but everyone turned to Pyrite. A silent question hung in the air. The individual grew conscious but replied with a relaxed voice.

“No book written mentioned anything about the prophecy or about the Seven,” he started. “So we assumed that it is not true. But certain people thought otherwise.”

“A hoax, I tell you! They are only wasting time and resources,” Pietersite wailed with hands frantically waving in the air. He was exhausted beyond reason, trying to capture people who are fanatics of the Seven’s prophesy. Ridiculous, he thought.

“Narrow down the people around Wright and Whitemoore for another investigation. Focus on the people who worked with them on special jobs or who they contacted 15 to 20 years ago. Look up their destinations after Wright was born.” Druzy’s order was directed to Zircon who, despite being annoyed of his comrade’s authoritative voice, didn’t complain. They were both tasked to obtain information off the radar without letting others know their true identities. He was deep in thought, considering another scenario.

“I’ll contact someone to pursue the owner of A.A. Industry by tonight. Something tells me she knows a lot,” Zircon added. There was a high probability that the young CEO had contacts with the guardians of the supposed Seven Regalis.

“Larimar,” Fluorite started. Larimar eyed him cautiously but he knew his comrade’s intention. “The Premier is hiding something.” This, Larimar had suspected. Beneath those thick square eyeglass, his dark enticing eyes and charming smiles were anything but innocent.

“He is. His routine and contacts are clear but I wouldn’t trust a man with those gaze, no,” Larimar replied then grabbed a handkerchief in his pocket to wipe the sweat on his palms in the freezing room.

“You are too quiet.” Pietersite finally called out the seventh member in the table. The individual, who was slouching on his seat, straightened his back and smoothed his expensive shirt.

“Are you even listening?” Pietersite added, irritated.

“I am. I always do,” Citrine, the one in-charge of managing the fortresses and palaces in the country, had deep suave voice. No one countered his earlier statement, even Pietersite. He didn’t speak much but he is very observant and precise with all his movements.

“There weren’t suspicious activities in the fortresses but it doesn’t mean everyone is innocent. There are spies.” His last statement gained several loud exasperate sighs. Of course there are spies everywhere, he thought. “But I have eyes everywhere so I know everything.” He said with much confidence and conviction. He knew of Wright’s rendezvous in the Swindlefrost’s North fortress but acted late. He didn’t confront the spies in the palace. I still need them, he thought.

“This brings us to…” Citrine glanced to Pyrite, who was calmer now. “There must be something in the books, Pyrite.”

“Research is underway.” Pyrite felt that Citrine was accusing him of indolence but as a professional, he pushed back his nervousness and focused on planning his next steps.

“Once you’re done, Druzy, Zircon, give me the list of the seven kids’ families,” Pietersite announced, his voice composed than earlier. Despite his outbursts, he isn’t foolish nor impulsive. He needed to assess the teenagers’ family lines – history, powers, and abilities. They were crucial to know how strong they are – or aren’t. The two members nodded without hesitation.

“For now, there are seven of them in two groups.” Druzy drummed his fingers on the armchair.

“So they are the supposed Seven…?” Zircon taunted, even if the group didn’t believe the vision.

“What if there are more people?” Citrine suddenly asked. The other members eyed him intently.

“There aren’t other reports about strong activities outside, except for Mortemians’…outbusts.” Zircon said the last part harder.

“Do we know if they are the supposed Seven Wright and the others were looking for?” Citrine was testing his comrades. This scenario had been in his mind for weeks but didn’t have concrete proof. What if there are more kids who claim to be a Regalis? he thought.

“No…” Pietersite started but was cut off.

“We have leads on the seven individuals, from witnesses in different towns and cities.” Druzy wasn’t going to be intimated by him, despite being half his age. Citrine nodded and accepted his evidence. Minutes of silence followed. The seven individuals weighted their tasks at hand, each mentally drawing a plan since any device and medium isn’t permitted inside Ground Zero. But one of them was particularly apprehensive of the events outside.

“Three days,” he announced, aware of the intense stares. “Lay your cards on the table after three days.”

“Everything?” Citrine probed.

“Everything – defence, strategies, evidence, history, surveys,” Fluorite answered, looking around the table. No complaint was heard. They knew that prolonging the task will only work against their favour. In the end of the day, they aren’t the bad guys. Finding and catching Wright and the others outside the academy’s premises will do them good than be captured by the Mortemians. But while the organization’s protocol was to protect the children, they also have another more important one – safeguard and preserve the Academy.

An hour later, the seven adjourned their assembly and got ready to exit Ground Zero. Unknown to them, five floors above, several feet in front of the old unused building, and inside a black limousine, the phone of a trusted bodyguard and consultant pinged to life. Too engrossed with the papers on his hand while listening to a recording in his laptop, he didn’t notice the sound beside the suitcase. The driver had closed all windows, giving the consultant privacy as they wait for their commanding officer. It would be after they arrive in his superior’s humble home, an hour after they left the building, when he read the news. A report from a trusted source. Brief but activated haunting images in his mind. Is this real? he thought, disbelieved.

Hunter sighted in West territory, the message read. Unknown to the seven officials, someone they could never trust came back to hunt again. This time, however, he won’t stop.