Knight School: A Mystic Brats Novel Vol. 1

King Myrion gathered everyone in the center of the Isle of Fairies. It was in the early morning of December 25th. Christmas morning. This field trip was for all the students at the Knight Academy who no longer had a family to return to for the holiday, which, granted, was a good majority of us. King Myrion stood atop of the tallest treehouse in the Isle of Fairies, one made of solid gold fairy dust. The Royal Guard stood beside him holding crimson spears with silver points. They were almost like mystical versions of the president’s Secret Service, seemingly attached to their weapons as if an attack was going to take place at any minute.

“My honored guests,” said King Myrion, “I am sorry, for such an awkward start to such a glorious holiday. Christmas is here and should be treated so. We should not be hindered by the fear for your friend’s wellbeing, not at all. For she has made a full recovery from her dreadful illness and has been forever cured by our amazing healers. So, with great pleasure, allow me to reintroduce you to Nara Roman!”

The Healers led Nara out of the palace, wearing the clothes of fairy royalty. A silver tunic, bronze skirt, and scarlet shoes. She looked stunning. The way she walked was as if she were a runway model in Paris. Nara greeted King Myrion in the form of a handshake, before addressing everyone else below.

“I am sorry for whatever fear and discouragement I might have spread yesterday,” said Nara. “It was something beyond anyone’s control and I promise you all, we will have a joyous holiday.”

Hours later, Nara had joined Julie and me inside the royal palace at the dining table. The fairies brought out freshly cooked turkeys, roasted potatoes, beef roasts, garden salads, sautéed carrots with onions, and plenty more. Every student seated was enjoying their meal, except for Barry. My best friend had been forbidden from entering the palace by King Myrion himself, despite Julie, Mr. Louis, and my best efforts.

“What’s wrong?” Nara asked me. “You haven’t touched your food.”

Julie and I shared a look.

“It’s Barry, isn’t it?”

“I just can’t enjoy myself knowing that he’s stuck outside,” I sighed.

“How can you feel sorry for him knowing what he did,” said Nara.

“He didn’t do that, Nara,” I said. “It wasn’t his fault.”

“How do you know?” asked Nara.

“We’ll explain outside,” said Julie.

“What?” said Nara.

“You thinking what I’m thinking,” I smiled at Julie.

“Let’s go bring some holiday cheer to Barry.”

Barry was sitting on the edge of his bunk in the smallest treehouse. He looked shocked and grateful when we showed up with trays full of the still-hot feast, which Nara had magically snuck out of the kitchens.

“Guys... you did this... for me?” Barry smiled as a tear rolled down his cheek.

“Just call us, for tonight, the Santa Brats,” I smiled. “Merry Christmas, Barry.”

“Let’s make this treehouse festive!” said Nara cheerfully. Julie and I had filled Nara in about Barry’s frame-up. Nara’s eyes glowed pink as the treehouse suddenly became decorated with tinsel, mistletoe, a beautiful Christmas tree, roaring flames in the fireplace, and a Bluetooth speaker playing holiday music. “What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful,” said Barry in awe.

“Very winter wonderland,” smiled Julie.

“I was going to say it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas,” I smiled, “but that might be a little too cheesy. Now, let’s eat.”

Julie, Nara, Barry, and I all sat down and ate together. A little later, we exchanged presents. They were nothing big and fancy, but they were meaningful nonetheless.

I had made Barry a mixed playlist of our favorite band. I gave Julie a sword that I made in the Academy’s workshop that was inscribed with our initials and Nara a four-year-subscription to three of her favorite fashion magazines. Barry gave me a stunning and deadly energy shield. Nara gave me a wool coat. Though, what Julie gave me meant the most, while just the two of us were outside the treehouse.

“This... is a photo of me and my family,” I said in a shocked voice. Sure enough, the old photograph had my mom, dad, grams, and gramps standing beside a toddler version of me. “How did you find this, Julie?”

“I asked Mr. Louis if he had any of your grandfather’s old photos, and he let me have this,” said Julie. “Merry Christmas, Jason.”

“Julie... I love you,” I said as I kissed her passionately. My hands moved around her body as hers caressed my chest. Our emotions were gaining momentum as Julie pulled back and stared at me with almost a frightened expression.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I’m just... not ready for that,” said Julie.

“Uh, excuse me.”

Barry had walked outside, looking as if he regretted it.

“The fire’s nearly out and Nara’s too tired to conjure any more flames,” said Barry, blushing. “So, I’m going to go get some firewood.”

“I’ll go with you,” I said, slipping the photo into my pocket. “I’ll be back in a bit, Julie.”

“Be careful,” she replied.

“...Always,” I said.

Barry and I had to walk down back towards the archway to get the fire. It was a lengthy walk. Barry and I spent most of it talking about how Nara seemed to be cooler with him now, and how she said Kevin missed our party because he had to video chat with his sister. Though, my attention faded in and out. My mind chiding me for almost going too far with Julie. How could I have been such an idiot? Everything had just felt so perfect at that moment, I thought that Julie felt it too, but maybe I was wrong. Dead wrong.

“Can you believe Kevin has a sister?” said Barry.

“No, I thought that Kevin didn’t have any family,” I said.

“So did I,” said Barry. “Guess we were both wrong.”

“Yeah, well, I — what the hell?”

Barry and I had reached the archway and saw a man dressed in blue armor, and holding a glowing sword, activating the archway, his face covered with a hideous mask that resembled one of a corpse.

“What are you doing,” I shouted. “Who are you?”

“I am the Soldier of Osiris,” he said in nearly a hiss. “Leave now — or die!”

The archway started to glow emerald green in the center. It was the start of a portal.

“Barry — go get help — I’ll hold him off!” I said.

“But — you’ll need my help,” said Barry.

“GO!” I yelled as I charged at the Soldier.

The Soldier shot an energy beam out of his sword — I activated the shield Barry had given me just in time, blocking the beam! I slashed the Soldier in his arm with my sword — he battered my shield with his! My shield couldn’t take much more damage like that.

“What are you after,” I asked the Soldier.

“This archway will open a one-way portal to Aria and send that miserable princess where she belongs!” said the Soldier.

“Why do you want to send Nara back there?” I said. “What’s in it for you?”

“I will be rewarded with the location of my lord’s greatest treasure,” said the Soldier. “The Wand of Osiris! The last known relic to contain Osiris’s soul!”

“And here I thought Ocron was nuts,” I said. “You two could fill up a whole insane asylum!”

“That, Jason Gardner, will be your final remark,” the Soldier yelled as he destroyed my shield. “For now — you die!”

“NOT TODAY!”

Barry jumped and tackled the Soldier to the ground as the falling, glowing, sword blasted the three of us in different directions. I was staggering to my feet as Mr. Louis appeared in a horde of flames alongside King Myrion. The Soldier stood up opposite of them and magically summoned his sword back to his hand.

“Stand down,” said Mr. Louis.

“You can’t suppress the will of Osiris!” the Soldier shouted back.

“Oh, really,” sneered Mr. Louis as he shot a wave of fire at the archway’s portal, deactivating its magic. “Because I think I just did.”

“Until another day, Dragon Master,” said the Soldier as he vanished in a ball of light.

“It’s always finished on another day,” sighed Mr. Louis. “Why can’t these idiots ever think up something original? Are you alright, Mr. Gardner?”

“I think so,” I said. “Is Barry...?”

“He’s alright, just unconscious,” said King Myrion. “Once he wakes, I will ensure he receives a medal for his bravery. Perhaps, there may be hope for you humans after all.”

The next morning, Julie and Nara rejoined Barry, me, and the rest of the students as we all journeyed back to the Academy. By the time we reached our dormitories, the four of us were lost in deep conversation about the Soldier.

“That man was crazy if he thought my mother would actually reward him for kidnapping me,” said Nara.

“This person was a whole boatload of crazy,” I said. “Though, he never did say it was your mom who promised him the reward.”

“But how else did he obtain that high of a level of magic to open a portal to Aria,” said Julie.

“What I want to know is who Osiris is,” I said.

“Osiris is the Egyptian God of the Dead,” said Julie. “There’s been cults dedicated to resurrecting Osiris and him ushering in the apocalypse.”

“Great,” I said. “Something else to worry about.”

“You want to know something weird,” said Barry. “When I was unconscious, I dreamed that the Soldier’s mask was talking to me. It said that Osiris could bring my parents back from the dead.”

“It was just a dream,” said Julie. “Your subconscious was probably thinking about your parents because of the holiday.”

“Yeah,” said Barry. “I guess so...”

That night, as I laid in my bed, I couldn’t help thinking about how wonderful it would be to be reunited with everyone I had lost. That we had all lost. But every time I did, the thought of what horrible price the world would have to pay crossed my mind. Would I, would any of us, resurrect our loved ones if it meant the end of the world?