Knight School: A Mystic Brats Novel Vol. 1

I didn’t have much time to consider Julie’s advice as the weeks progressed, and I learned more about this new modern world. First, the entire academy is inside a giant castle made up of stone, metal, glass, and technology (I hope I spelled that correctly). Every room is entirely different from the next. There’s the Study Hall that’s filled with desks that have glass on the top. Machines called Holo-Desk Computers.

“They have a touchscreen interface,” said Jason. “So, this way all you have to do is touch the screen, and it can find any info for classes you need. You just type on it and hit search.”

Then outside the school is the Arena. It’s where the Academy holds the annual sword fighting tournaments. Even though all of these areas are built with brand-new materials, the entire place looks ancient on the outside to keep regular people from suspecting its true purpose. The school also contains five different dorms (at least that’s what everyone here calls bedchambers). Each one separated by rank: First Year, Second Year, Third Year, Fourth Year, and Teaching Assistant. And the students have a place called the Cave, where we can watch this remarkable invention called a TV. Plus, the Academy’s courses are a lot harder than my sorceress studies back in Aria. Jason and Julie have been tutoring me, but I can’t concentrate with Jason. Every time I look into those dreamy hazel eyes... What were we talking about? Oh, yeah... studying! Julie has been a great teacher. She even brought me a special book about clothes.

“It’s called a fashion magazine,” said Julie. “You can look through it and see if there are any clothes you like. Mr. Louis said we can order anything you’d want to wear.”

“Order?”

“Yeah,” said Julie, “from a Department Store. It’ll take a couple of days to get here, but it will have to do.”

“Oh, I don’t have to wait,” I giggled because I was finally using their funny modern language. “I can conjure up any of these beautiful outfits.” I flipped through the pages of the magazine. “Let’s see... this looks spectacular!” I waved my hand and the clothes I had on (Julie’s baggy blouse and jeans) were replaced with a pink top, black mini-skirt, and matching boots!

“What did you do with my clothes!” said Julie.

“They’re back in your closet,” I said, “I think.”

“You think?” said Julie. “Nara, I am not a wealthy person. I don’t have mountains of gold like some people. So, when I’m nice enough to let you borrow something of mine, you can’t just make it disappear!”

“I don’t have a mountain of gold,” I said, indignantly. “It’s a hill!”

Julie grabbed her jacket from her bed. “You know what? I need some air! See you, later!” Julie left our room, slamming the door as she did. She was angry and so was I. I decided to go do the only thing that would make me feel better.

“Nara?” said a surprised Jason as I entered the Arena. He had been practicing sword fighting with a small, curly headed, teenager. “What brings you down here?”

“I need to talk to someone,” I said, “and since I just ticked off the only other person I know...”

“You and Julie got in a fight?” said Jason.

“Yes,” I said.

“Ahem.”

Jason looked at his curly headed friend in a bemused sort of way and said, “Oh, uh, this is my best pal, Barry Dickenson, Nara. Barry, this is Nara Roman, she’s a new student.”

“Well, may I say that it’s an honor to meet such a hottie,” said Barry, the greasy, little, jerk. Who did he think he was talking to?

“Barry, Nara’s not that type of girl,” said Jason.

“Oh, I see,” said Barry. “Just tell me, Nara, did it hurt when you fell out of heaven? Because I know you must be an angel.”

“If you’re smarter than you look,” I said, “you’ll leave!”

“Okay,” said Barry. “But if you ever need a shoulder to cry on...”

Barry walked out of the Arena with the swagger of an annoying court jester. Jason smiled at me and said, “Barry’s harmless once you get to know him, Nara. He is a good friend.”

“I didn’t come to talk about Barry,” I said.

“That’s right,” said Jason. “You wanted to talk about Julie and your argument. Why don’t we sit down in the stands?”

Once we were seated, I told Jason what happened. He seemed really understanding... at first. “I know Julie can be difficult, but the more time I spend with her, the more I understand her. When I first met Julie — she had been assigned to observe me in secret. I was less than thrilled when I found out, to say the least. I thought that she was cold, condescending, and a real jerk. It didn’t help that she was better than me at sword fighting, and though I hated all of that... it was what I needed. Julie’s a good girl, and now she’s one of my closest friends. She just had a very rough life growing up, so she’s very protective of herself and her stuff.”

“Wow,” I said. “You really understand and care about her, don’t you?”

“I care about all of my friends,” said Jason, “including you.” He held my hand as he spoke. “My friends are more important to me than you could ever imagine. I hope you, Barry, and Julie can say the same thing about me.”

“I never had a real friend before,” I said. “I was never allowed to leave our royal castle to meet anybody.”

“Why?” asked Jason.

“My mother was worried something would happen to me,” I said. “She said I would have plenty of time for a social life when I mastered my magic.”

“She sounds like a real witch,” said Jason.

“Well, my mother is a sorceress,” I laughed, “and I am your friend, Jason. I’m also new at this. So, can you tell me one thing — can you be friends with someone you’re in love with?”

“You mean Julie and me, don’t you?” said Jason, as my heart plummeted. “I don’t think it matters how I feel. Julie’s not the kind of person to let her guard down low enough to ever let me in. Come on, Nara, why don’t we head out to Duma’s in the village. We can get something to eat.”

“No,” I said. “I need to find Julie.”

I left Jason to think about everything. Jason felt the same way about Julie as I did about him. I was certain that Julie felt the same way too, the truth was her feelings weren’t just love at first sight. She had gotten to know Jason in a way I haven’t. This entire time, I’ve only thought about the idea that he was a hero who swept me off my feet. Jason and Julie have been trying so hard to help me adjust, to be true friends, and I didn’t try to ever know them as people. Maybe I wasn’t right for Jason after all.

“Julie?”

She was sitting at her desk in our room, grading papers. Julie looked up at me in a strained manner. “Hey, Nara... Listen, I’m sorry for being short with you earlier. It’s just been rough, having a roommate, I mean. I’ve had to fight for everything I ever wanted, and when I became a T.A. I thought that was over. Then you come in, a princess, who has had anything she ever wanted handed to her on a silver platter. A person who has, the most dangerous power in the world, magic. It’s just hard not to hate your guts.”

“I didn’t have anything,” I said, “back in Aria. Have you ever seen the wildflowers bloom in the Field of Arntion?”

Julie shook her head.

“What about the Waterfall of Recion?”

“I’ve never seen any of those places,” said Julie. “Aren’t they located in Aria?”

“Yes,” I said, “and I have never seen any of them either. In four-thousand years I was confined to stone walls. Mother made me more of a prisoner than a princess.” It was then I decided to tell Julie how lonely it was being separated from the outside world. We talked for over an hour as she told me about her father, who became addicted to magic. I finally understood why she couldn’t stand magic, something I questioned since the night we met.

“So, what made you decide to actually talk to me like I’m a friend?” asked Julie. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“I’ve recently been told just how important friendship can be,” I answered. “I want us to be friends, Julie. That’s why I need to be honest about Jason and his feelings for you.”

“Jason... has feelings... for me?” asked Julie.

“I talked to him earlier today,” I said. “He’s in love with you, Julie, but doesn’t think that you could ever love him back.”

“Why are you telling me this?” asked Julie, a tear running down her face.

“Because, I don’t want you to miss out on the one thing that can make you happy,” I said. “Even if you don’t love him, which I think you do, you need to talk to him.”

Julie texted Jason to meet her in the woods. Thirty minutes passed by, and I couldn’t stand not knowing. I used a hovering spell to fly above their meeting place, a clearing by the lake, as Jason arrived. Neither one of them knew I was there. Julie watched Jason, dressed in his armor and carrying his sword happily, as though she was about to explode with suppressed emotion. “Hey, Jason.”

“Hi, Julie,” said Jason. “This is an unusual spot to practice.” The smile faded from his face. “What’s wrong? Are you and Nara still arguing?”

“It’s not that,” said Julie. “We worked that out. She even said something strange.”

“Really, what was that?” asked Jason.

“Nara said that you’re in love with me,” said Julie. “Which is completely weird...”

“I knew it wasn’t something you’d like,” said Jason. “I can’t help feeling this way, Julie. Every day I wake up, I look forward to seeing you. Nothing else matters until I get the chance to hear you say hello. I feel like I’d die if anything separated us for too long. I don’t know how or why, but you’re the best part of the Academy.”

“You didn’t let me finish,” said Julie. “It’s weird... because I love you too.” Tears poured down Julie’s face. “I never told you this, though, since ― since I haven’t felt loved in such a long time! The more that I wish it wasn’t real, the more I know it is, and it terrifies me as nothing has ever done before.”

Jason walked closer to Julie and grasped her hand. “I am not your father, Julie, I would never hurt you.” Jason leaned in closer to Julie, so close that it seemed as if their hearts were beating as one, their lips slowly meeting in a passionate kiss. Jason wiped the tears off Julie’s snow-white cheeks, which now had the faintest trace of red. As they slowly moved apart, Julie grinned despite herself.

“I just wanted you to know where I stand with us,” said Jason. “But if you need time to think about... well... I’ll be waiting.”

He went to leave as Julie looked to be fighting an internal struggle on what to do next.

“Jason, wait...”

Jason stopped in his tracks and turned back around.

“I’ve always told myself that I wasn’t afraid of anything... and maybe it’s time to prove it... or maybe... maybe I think too much. It’s time for me to take a leap off another cliff and see if I’ll land beside you again.”

Julie walked to Jason, looking as if she was about to feel a true and powerful emotion for the first time in years. She embraced Jason with a kiss of her own. Their two bodies melding together in the shadows of night, until they fell down on the ground laughing in celebration for their new love.

I couldn’t take anymore. I flew back to the Academy and sat on the front steps sobbing. Likewise, I knew I only had a crush on Jason and that it was he and Julie who were truly in love, but it didn’t ease my pain. Sometimes being a friend could break your heart. I cried in sorrow for I don’t know how long... when he came. A tall, blonde-haired, muscular, male student walked up beside me. “Are you alright?” he said.

“Y-yes, I-I’m fine,” I said, trying to calm myself.

“You don’t seem fine,” he said. “What would make such a beautiful face cry so hard?”

“If I tell you,” I said, “you’ll think I am a fool.”

“Try me,” he said, kneeling on the step next to me. “Why were you crying?”

“Because of a boy,” I said, embarrassed.

“Did he hurt you?”

“No, no, nothing like that,” I said. “It’s silly.”

“Many times it’s the silly things that hurt the most,” he said, putting his arm around me.

“I thought it was love at first sight,” I said, “but it wasn’t. I was wrong to think two people who could instantly have feelings for each other.” I started to cry again. The student hugged me in response.

“Hey, everyone wants to have a fairytale romance,” he said. “Almost every girl I knew, back home, dreamed of having one.”

“Did their dreams come true?” I asked him.

“Not all the time,” he smiled, “but it doesn’t mean they can’t.”

“Thank you,” I said, “and if I may be so bold... who are you?”

“My name is Kevin Tyson,” he said. “I’m a Second Year. Are you new here?”

“Yes,” I said. “I’m Nara Roman.”

“Will you be taking basic magical theory?” asked Kevin.

“I’m not sure,” I said, blotting my eye.

“Well, I took it last year,” said Kevin. “Mr. Louis is a really tough teacher and isn’t easy on beginners. So if you need help studying, we can meet after classes, if you’d like. No love at first sight or fairytale romances, just two students spending time together.”

“I would like that,” I said, smiling.

Kevin took a piece of paper out of his pocket and wrote on it. “Here’s my number. You can call me at any time. See you around, Nara.”

Kevin stood up and entered the school. I watched him walk away and smiled long after he was gone.