Knight School: A Mystic Brats Novel Vol. 1

The final day of the tournament had come. I never wanted to win more than I did today, to defeat Julie Brooks. I entered the arena to a roar of applause, the crowd didn’t care how I won my past battles — just that I did. Julie entered from the opposite side in her armor. Mr. Louis stood between us. He recited the rules and stepped back, then... the battle began! I swung my sword at Julie as she blocked with her shield. The commentator’s voice rang loudly in my ears.

“And the final round is off with a bang,” his voice boomed from the speakers. “Julie Brooks is one of our best and brightest at the Academy, she never fails at anything! Then, there’s Jason Gardner, a newcomer to this game, but a vicious fighter nonetheless! Gardner strikes Brooks in her shoulder — Brooks counters with a sharp kick to Gardner’s head — Gardner uses his shield to pin her to the arena wall — Brooks twists Gardner’s wrist, a risky move for sure — I don’t believe it — she’s free! Brooks knocks Gardner’s sword out of his hand and...”

That was the last thing I heard before everything went black. When I woke up it was nightfall. I was in the infirmary. The sight of Mr. Louis greeted me, he was smiling. “Welcome back to the land of the living, Mr. Gardner.”

“My head feels like it was run over by a train,” I replied.

“Yes,” said Mr. Louis, “Ms. Brooks is quite handy with a sword.”

“The match,” I said, my memories flooding back. “I... lost?”

“I warned you, Mr. Gardner, that she might be your superior,” said Mr. Louis. “You received a small head injury from the battle, easily healed by Dr. Demos, but it would best if you spent the night here.”

“I’m not staying, Mr. Louis,” I said, “not here!”

“I understand your hesitancy,” said Mr. Louis. “But I must insist that you stay in the infirmary under Dr. Demos’s care. That’s an order, cadet.”

Mr. Louis exited the infirmary locking the doors as he did. I was seething with anger at the injustice of it all. The worst is that I was stuck in this place — where my mother lays comatose. It’s honesty time, boys, and girls. One year ago, I was a normal kid. I lived in a small town, where I was raised by my mom and gramps.

I didn’t know about my grandfather’s life as a secret agent and neither did Mom. We thought that he was an average archeologist, then one day he left to see some old friends and never returned. Mom called the police, but they couldn’t find him. It was both financially and emotionally hard to live without Gramps. I missed him like crazy; he was the person who taught me how to fish, play catch, and ride a bike for the first time. He was one of the most important people in my life and, instantly, he vanished. All we had left of him was an ancient-looking journal written in a mysterious language. After months of trying to decipher the blasted book — I brought it to the nearest museum. The museum’s director was an undercover Mr. Louis, who was assigned to protect my mother and me. Long story short — he failed.

You see the government agency that Gramps worked for — the same one that I intend to join after I graduate — called Legend — thought that Gramps had been abducted by a mystical terrorist group. They sent Mr. Louis to watch over us because the government thought that we would be targeted next. So, he told me that he would try to help me solve the puzzle that was Gramp’s journal. Mr. Louis and I worked on it for a long time (how much he was allowed to help, I’m still not sure) to no avail. But that wasn’t the worst part — to my utmost horror — my mom had started dating again!

Most kids of single parents hate the idea of their parents dating because it might change their family for the worst. In this case, those kids were right, my family changed for the worst alright, just not in the way you might think. It was dusk, and I was leaving the museum after working with Mr. Louis when I met him. He and Mom pulled up in a black Cadillac, as they stepped out I saw his hard jaw, bald head, dressed in a custom-tailored suit. His name was Ocron Altiver, a secret member of the Order.

The Order was the terrorist group that the government believed kidnapped Gramps. Oh, did I mention that Ocron and Mr. Louis were old enemies? As soon as Ocron saw Mr. Louis standing beside me that night — he stabbed Mom with a cursed arrow that would make her fall into an endless sleep.

Long story short — my mother and I would have died if Mr. Louis hadn’t called in backup. When the dust settled, Mr. Louis took Mom to the infirmary, hopefully, so they could find a cure and I was enrolled into the Academy. Legend operatives confiscated the journal for further study and as for Ocron... he escaped. His face still haunts me to this day. I had to leave the infirmary, I couldn’t stand being here any longer. I grabbed my clothes and armor, which was laid out on the bed, and opened the nearest window. In twenty minutes, I was in the woods that surround the Academy, fully dressed in my armor. My sword attached to my side in its sheath. It was almost as if the blade was whispering to me... telling me to train... I unsheathed my sword and slashed as many tree branches I could find. That was until Barry found me...

“Bad day?” he asked as I continued to practice.

“You think?” I asked, sarcastically.

“Mr. Louis sent Julie Brooks to find you,” said Barry.

“Is that why you’re here,” I asked. “Did he ask you to do the same?”

“I’m not here to rat you out,” said Barry, honestly. “I know why you can’t stand being in the infirmary, it’s because it still scares you about what happened to your mom. You prefer not to go down the same way.”

“...I never told you that,” I said, astonished. “How did you know?”

“Dude, I’m your best friend,” said Barry. “I can figure out what’s bothering you, even if you don’t want me too.”

“Then you should know that’s not the only thing bothering me,” I said, regaining my composure.

“You can’t win every fight, Jay,” said Barry. “So you lost one match, it’s not going to affect your grade or anything.”

“It’s not that,” I said. “I just feel like every time I take a step forward — I take three steps back.”

“Hey, you’ve only been at the Academy for one year,” said Barry. “I’ve lived in this place all my life and I still can’t do half the stuff you do. Before you arrived I was always being bullied. No one would ever stick up for me. You’re the only one whoever cared about sticking up for the little guy. Joe Blake could have killed me if you hadn’t stepped in.”

“I didn’t know about your mother,” said a voice.

It was Julie, she was hidden behind two interconnected trees. Did she hear everything?

“Well, you found me,” I said. “I guess you’re going to call and report me to Mr. Louis now...”

“Eventually,” she said, “but first I wanted to tell you that I know how you feel... if you’ll stop being a total jerk for two seconds. Can you?”

“I don’t know,” I told her. “My longest period of not being a jerk is only one second, two might be stretching it, but I’ll try my best.”

“The reason,” said Julie, “that Mr. Louis asked me to observe you is because I too lost a parent to magic. I just didn’t realize it until tonight.”

“Come again?” I asked.

“All he told me was that you and I have something in common,” said Julie, “that he could see a connection between us. At first, I thought it was our anger issues, but it was the reason behind them.”

“You mean you’re like us,” said Barry.

“What?” asked Julie.

“Barry’s parents were agents of Legend,” I said. “They died when he was two.”

“I am so sorry, Barry,” said Julie, honestly. “I guess we are the same.”

“Which parent did you lose?” I asked Julie.

“My father,” said Julie. “He was the Chief Sorcerer for Legend... until he became addicted to magic, and it consumed him. My mother enrolled me in the Academy, so I wouldn’t suffer the same fate.”

“That’s... rough,” I said. I had never felt closer to Barry and Julie then right at this moment. I had always seen the common ground between Barry and me, but as for Julie and myself — it was like I was truly seeing her for the first time. For a brief second, there was silence, but finally, Barry broke the ice.

“You know one of these days I’m going to write a biography,” he said. “I’ll call it ‘The Life of A Mystic Brat.’”

“Well, you can be a little snappy,” I said, grinning, “but I wouldn’t call you a brat.”

“No,” said Barry. “I mean, that I’m like an Army Brat.”

“Dude,” I said. “We are so much worse than Army Brats.”

“I agree,” said Julie. “We’re more like ‘Spy Kids in Camelot.’”

Julie, Barry, and I all laughed. Then it happened — a wave of sound went out around the woods.

“What the hell was that?” said Barry, fearfully.

“It felt like a shockwave,” said Julie. “Someone must be tampering with the woods!”

“It can’t be a normal person,” I said, “because of the protection spells around the school. It has to be somebody who knows about the Knight Academy! That’s the only explanation!”

“And I’m guessing they’re not friendly,” said Barry.

“We need to contact Mr. Louis,” said Julie, while taking out her phone. “Damn! Whoever is behind this jammed my signal! Jason, go find Mr. Louis and warn him. Tell him to bring the other teachers five miles north of this spot.”

“What about you?” I asked her.

“I’m going to scout ahead and see what I can find,” said Julie.

“You can’t go by yourself,” I said. “It’s too dangerous!”

“Yeah,” said Barry, “what about the buddy system?”

“I’m going,” said Julie. “End of story.”

“But not alone,” I said, “I’m coming with you!”

“You can’t be serious,” said Julie, skeptically.

“I know you’re better than me at sword fighting,” I said, “but I am the best backup you could ask for now, and you know it. You’re the only one who ever defeated me, Julie, plus you’ve been watching me in every fight. You know how good I am! I can help you!”

“Can you control your temper and follow my orders?” she asked me.

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

Julie and I climbed a cliff leading to the source of the shockwave. Barry had been tasked with finding Mr. Louis. I had convinced Julie that I could keep my anger in check, but I didn’t know if that was the truth. I knew that we would likely come across a group of mystic terrorists or beasts, what I wasn’t sure of was how I would handle it. As we reached the edge, we saw that below us was a magical wooden archway. It was engraved with ancient, unknown, glowing carvings. In the center of the archway was a golden portal.

“Any idea what that thing is down there,” I asked Julie.

“Didn’t you ever read the school handbook,” said Julie.

“I haven’t had the chance,” I said.

“Well, if you had, you’d know that ‘thing down there’ is a mystical archway,” said Julie with the faintest hint of annoyance. “People can only enter it once a year as the stars align in a certain way.”

“I’d bet my sword that’s tonight,” I said.

The portal shined brightly as another shockwave issued from the archway! When the light faded three men and one teenage girl with long golden hair in clothes from the Middle Ages emerged. The portal behind them vanished as the archway quit glowing.

“Who are those people?” whispered Julie.

It took me a while to realize that the girl was in iron shackles and the men were wearing black armor —

“They’re members of the Order,” I whispered to Julie. “That man in the middle must be their leader, he’s wearing a crest with crossbones on his armor.”

“How do you know that,” whispered Julie.

“Mr. Louis saved me from a couple of these guys last year,” I said. “That’s how my mother ended up in the infirmary. She was injured by a man named...”

Their leader removed his mask, he had a hard jaw and a bald head. It was Ocron. I never thought I would see my mom’s attacker so soon, it brought back all the fear, pain, and anger I felt that day. All I could think of was killing Ocron for destroying my life, for dooming my mother to endless sleep! Julie stared at me and said, “Is something wrong?”

“Their leader is the man who cursed my mother,” I said.

“We need to abort,” said Julie. “You’re too close to this.”

The girl in shackles scream interrupted Julie’s lecture. “Let me go,” she yelled.

“Shut up,” snapped Ocron as he slapped her face. For a moment, I thought I saw her eyes glow pink as she said, “You will pay for that!”

Ocron smiled wickedly at her and said, “I won’t as long as you wear those shackles, love. They nullify magic, see? So, I can do whatever I bloody want!”

Ocron took out the same arrow he used on my mother, raising it at her throat. I couldn’t stand by and let him curse someone else!

“Don’t touch her,” I shouted as I leaped off the cliff, kicking Ocron in the chest as I landed. Ocron’s servants unsheathed their swords and lunged at me! I swung my sword just in time — one of their blades grazed my cheek, while the other dug into my leg. These were minor injuries, but they hurt like hell. I slashed the tallest one in his knee, bringing him down to eye level. I turned around to see Julie tackling the other to the ground, her sword stabbed deeply in his thigh. The girl in the shackles ran towards us.

“Quickly,” she said, “cut me free, so we can escape.” I looked at her, then Julie, and finally Ocron. He had returned to his feet, his wicked smile spurting out mad laughter.

“Well,” said Ocron, “if it isn’t little Jason Gardner. The poor boy who lost his mummy! I see you brought your girlfriend for me to take away this time!”

“Run,” I told the girl in the shackles.

“No,” she said, “not without you two!”

“Pay attention!” snapped Julie.

“That’s cute,” laughed Ocron. “You brats think that you can win?”

“We’re not brats, Ocron!” I shouted. “We’re the Mystic Brats!”

I know that it wasn’t the best name, but it did describe Julie, me, and every other kid in the Academy. Ocron smiled wickedly as he removed a black box from his belt. “Well, Mystic Brats, allow me to introduce you to the Banshee of Aria!”

Ocron opened the black box as a whirlwind of fog erupted from within it! The fog took the shape of a floating, skeletal woman. At this time, I couldn’t help thinking that this Banshee would be the death of us. The Banshee gave a horrible, ear-piercing, scream as she flew around the three of us!

“How do you kill a Banshee,” I shouted over the screaming to Julie.

“I don’t know,” shouted Julie. “There’s nothing in the Academy about Banshees!”

This was all my fault. My anger had brought not just me but Julie into a death trap. We were both going to die because I couldn’t control my temper.

“You need to free me,” yelled the girl in the shackles.

“How is that supposed to help,” shouted Julie, irritably.

“I have magic,” yelled the girl. “It’s the only way we can stop this monster!”

The Banshee’s scream was growing louder by the minute; in moments our eardrums would explode.

“So we should just trust you,” Julie shouted to the girl.

“I don’t think we have a choice,” I shouted. I looked deeply into the girl’s eyes — I saw something special... something honest....

“You must free me,” said the girl.

I didn’t think twice.

“This might hurt,” I shouted to the girl as I raised my sword.

“Jason, don’t!” shouted Julie.

I brought my sword down hard and the shackles exploded sending all three of us flying backward! I staggered back to my feet, my sword had landed beside the now freed girl. The Banshee started to fly at Julie! I looked towards the girl, her eyes were glowing pink, her finger pointed at my sword. Then I heard her chant, “Amar exitier... Amar exitier...”

My sword started to glow as if it were charged by unknown energy. The Banshee was nearly upon Julie when the blade appeared in my hand! “I’ve enchanted your sword,” the girl shouted at me. “Use it to kill the Banshee!”

I jabbed my sword into the Banshee! She exploded with a shower of light — the monster had died! Ocron looked furious. “You little brat, that Banshee was priceless! I’ll gut you like a fish for destroying her!”

Ocron charged as Julie stood up. I motioned her to stop — I had to face this demon by myself! Ocron’s blade clanged against my own. Every move Ocron made I countered. This was new to me, playing defense, but it had to be done. I had to wait for the right moment... NOW! I slashed Ocron’s wrist, the weakest spot in his armor, his sword fell to the ground as blood spurted out.

I struck his arm, his chest, and finally, his legs. Ocron fell to the ground bleeding like crazy. But he was alive. I pointed my sword at his throat, he gave me a crazed smile.

“Go ahead — kill me, Jason. You know I deserve it, kill me! Be a real man and murder me! Then you’ll be exactly like me! Ha, ha, ha!”

“I’ll never be a killer,” I told him. “I’ll never be a monster like you, Ocron, but you will rot in jail for the rest of your life!”

“Well said, Mr. Gardner.” Mr. Louis and a squad of Legend operatives had emerged from the woods. They were clad in armor and carrying swords. Two of the agents grabbed Ocron and cuffed him.

“Bring Ocron to sector eight,” said Mr. Louis. “Then send Dr. Demos to clean him up. It seems Mr. Gardner has bloodied him up a little.” Mr. Louis smiled at me and said, “I just had the floors waxed in that sector. Now, why don’t you and Ms. Brooks follow me to my office? Princess Roman can come as well if she’d like.”

Julie and I both turned around and stared at the other girl. “You’re a princess?” I asked her.

“Of the kingdom of Aria,” said the princess. “But you may call me Nara.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Nara,” I said, smiling slightly.

“I’m sorry, for not trusting you,” Julie said to Nara. “Thank you, for saving our lives.”

“I would still be a prisoner if it were not for you two,” said Nara. “It is I who should be thankful.”

“Let’s call it a team effort,” I said.

“Any time you three,” said Mr. Louis.

He started to walk away, we took this as a hint to follow. The three of us walked behind him, talking excitedly about what had transpired. But it wasn’t the adventure that thrilled me, it was the fact I’d conquered my demons. I could have let my temper ruled me, I could have killed Ocron, but I didn’t. I might have lost plenty when I came to the Academy, but I’ve also gained something I never did have before. Friends. And that would keep me satisfied until the day my life does return to normal. Barry, Julie, and now Nara would be my friends until the end of time!