Knight School: A Mystic Brats Novel Vol. 1

My name is Jason Gardner. I am a student at the Knight Academy. The Knight Academy is a top-secret school that trains teenagers to protect the world from every mythical and mystical threat out there. The school funds are distributed by the United Government, a secret society that contains representatives from each country. Only the respective leaders of these countries know that we exist. The Council (the lower branch of the United Government) acts as the ultimate benefactors of the Knight Academy. As for the location of the school... I’ll give you a hint, it’s somewhere in Europe.

The main reason that I am even recording this is that my teacher, Mr. Louis, assigned my entire class to keep a journal of the most important events in our lives as they transpire. So, as you’ve probably had guessed, this is my first entry. I just want to clarify one little fact before we get started — magic is real! Every myth, fairytale, and legend you read about has happened at some point in history! One of the subjects here is “Advanced Spell Casting for the Gifted”. Just last week, I met the most incredible sorceress... but I’m getting ahead of myself.

It all started on day three of the annual tournament, and I don’t mean some lame basketball tournament, either. No, this was a sword-fighting tournament. Yes, you heard me alright, here at the Knight Academy, we practice sword fighting! I know what you’re thinking now: How can they possibly let teenagers fight with real swords? You see, when you graduate and join up as a field operative, you’ll come across some of the deadliest creatures existing. Regular weapons, like guns, will not affect them whatsoever because either a bullet can’t penetrate their skin or they’re magically protected.

This was my first time competing in the tournament. I’m fourteen-years-old and a first-year, a common but deadly combination from what I’ve been told. The only reason that I was even able to participate was because of my exceptional performance in training sessions. Still, it took weeks of convincing Mr. Louis that I was ready, in the end, he agreed.

It was the final match of the day when I stepped out into the arena clad in protective armor. Every inch of my skin completely covered, the only part of me that could be seen were my hazel eyes. My shield strapped around my arm and my sword held tightly in my right hand. Blasky, my opponent, entered from the opposite side, swinging his sword in an almost bored sort of way. Our referee, Mr. Louis, stood in the center as we approached. He, too, was dressed in armor; it was almost awkward to see my mentor like this — ready to be opposed.

“Okay, you two,” said Mr. Louis when we reached the center of the arena, “points will be awarded for bravery, skill, and quick thinking. But the only way for a sure victory is to knock your opponent to the ground. There will not be any attacking your opponent, once he is down. Do you understand?”

For some reason, I felt as though Mr. Louis was talking more to me than to Blasky. I decided to shrug it off. I fought to win. Mr. Louis stepped back and signaled us to start. I could hear the commentary start as soon as our swords began to clang.

“The final match of tonight has officially started, ladies and gentlemen of the Academy! You can see the fire in their hearts as they complete every move! Gardner strikes Blasky in the arm — Blasky counters by kicking Gardner in the chest — Blasky makes contact with his sword this time and — ouch! That blow would bring any person to their knees — what a way to hang in there, Gardner, what a way!

The Commentator was right, Blasky’s last blow had nearly brought me completely to the ground. Blasky raised his sword again, he was getting ready to deliver the final blow... I was going to lose... the pain was excruciating... I was going to be a laughingstock, a loser... Not only that, but I could see my grandfather waving goodbye one last time... my mother falling after being impaled with an arrow... all of my family’s sacrifices would be for nothing, I would still be unable to win...

“Nooooo!” My battle cry echoed throughout the arena as I charged at Blasky, anger swelling inside me.

The Commentator began to speak again, but I could no longer hear him. I wasn’t aware of my movements, only that I would not be made a fool of again. My anger had engulfed me. I was nothing but rage. A loud thud brought me back to my senses. The sight that met my eyes made me sick inside. Blasky was sprawled on the ground, his armor torn to shreds.

I looked at my blade, it was bent from the attack. Mr. Louis had grabbed my arm, staring at me with a grim expression on his face. Medics entered and put Blasky on a stretcher.

“Meet me in the locker room in five minutes,” said Mr. Louis. “We need to talk after I check on Mr. Blasky...”

“Yes, Sir,” I replied. I was still breathing heavily, the aftershock of my ruthlessness pulsing through my heart. What have I done? I walked to the locker room and changed to my street clothes. I looked in the mirror and saw my dark hair dripping sweat. After a few minutes, Mr. Louis entered. His expression had changed to fury.

“That was a vicious assault, Mr. Gardner!” said Mr. Louis. “How on earth could you be so reckless?”

“I know what I did was wrong, Mr. Louis,” I said. “I don’t need a lecture... Is Blasky going to be alright?”

“Mr. Blasky has two broken arms and a cracked rib,” said Mr. Louis, “but he will be okay.”

“Sir, I am sorry for my actions and ready to take full responsibility.” I sighed. There was no doubt about it, I had made a horrible mistake.

Mr. Louis rubbed his forehead as if he had a troublesome headache.

“The truth is I suspected this sort of outburst from you for some time, Mr. Gardner. That’s why you’ve been under close study by my teaching assistant. You have no means of controlling your temper! You nearly took another student’s life today, Mr. Gardner!”

“Haven’t you always said that on the battlefield, you do whatever it takes to survive?”

“You were not in a life or death situation!” yelled Mr. Louis. “You were in a tournament! In a real fight, you would have been killed!” Mr. Louis took a long deep breath and the next time he spoke it was in a determinedly calm voice. “One day, Mr. Gardner, you will graduate from this academy and become an operative of Legend. You will be sent on the deadliest of missions against the likes you’ve never seen, and when that day comes... you will either rise to the challenge or fall to your death because of your fatal flaw.”

“...What’s my punishment?” I asked.

“You will face a more skilled student in the final round tomorrow,” said Mr. Louis. “My teaching assistant, Ms. Brooks, will be your opponent.”

“A girl?” I asked, startled.

“A girl that might just be your superior, Mr. Gardner,” said Mr. Louis as he walked to the exit. “You do remember that this is a school? Be a good student, and you might just learn something.” Without another word, Mr. Louis left me, alone, to gather my thoughts.

I walked out of the locker rooms an hour later, I could tell that the sun had set by the darkness of the corridors. In a few minutes, the winter bash would start in the local village. Almost all of my classmates would be there, celebrating the end of fall exams. The thought of joining them wasn’t even tempting, I knew where I needed to be...

“There you are!”

A short, curly headed, teenage boy ran to my side. His name was Barry Dickinson, my best friend. “I should have known that I’d find you in the trophy room,” said Barry, panting slightly. “You always come here to think about... things.”

“I take it you saw the match,” I asked.

“Yeah, I saw — but they’re not chucking you out, are they?” Barry asked me.

“It was a close call, but Mr. Louis decided to give me another chance,” I replied. “He said I’m not ready for what’s out there, and that I need to control my temper if I want to survive.”

“He is right, y’know,” said Barry. “Maybe you should try talking to Ms. Markson, it might help eventually.”

Ms. Markson was the school’s counselor, almost half of my classmates were her patients. I’m sure that she’s a good person and all, but her smile is almost too understanding.

“If you don’t want to, that’s fine with me,” said Barry. “All I’m saying is that might help you more than looking at your grandfather’s shield every day.”

The trophy room is the smallest part of the Academy, but it is also the most important. There are few awards given to only a handful of students. The Shield of Honor was a medal given to my Grandpa fifty years ago on the day he graduated. A Hydra had escaped from a government facility and interrupted the ceremony. Gramps led his classmates against the beast and won. It was on that day he became a true hero. I come to look at his trophy every night to remind myself of the kind of person I wish to be, not the angry monster I am now.

“Jay?”

“...Yeah,” I finally answered.

“Why don’t we head down to the party at Duma’s,” said Barry.

Duma’s was the local hangout and where the main events of the winter bash took place each year.

“I don’t know, Barry,” I said. “Parties aren’t my thing...”

“Come on, it’ll do you some good,” said Barry.

“I —”

“Just five minutes,” Barry pleaded with me.

“...Alright, five minutes,” I said.

The party was just hitting its stride when we arrived. The loud music could be heard a block away, and almost everybody was dancing. This was not my idea of fun. Barry and I took a seat at a table in the corner. A waitress came by and we ordered some soda. I was sipping on Orange Crush when I felt as if someone was watching me. I turned my head and saw a tall girl, with black hair, staring at me. She was naturally beautiful; this girl didn’t need makeup to be pretty. I turned back and asked Barry, “Do you know who that girl is over there?”

“Who? Oh, that’s Julie,” said Barry. “She’s two years higher than us.”

“And she’s coming this way,” I said nervously. I had never been good talking with pretty girls, they always made me nervous.

“Oooh, looks like somebody wants to make a love connection!”

“Shut up, Barry! Whatever you do, don’t leave me alone with her,” I said.

“Why?” said Barry.

“You know I can’t talk to girls,” I said, desperately.

“Okay, I got your back,” said Barry.

When Julie reached our table, she looked not at me, but Barry. “I need to speak with Jason,” she said, “alone.”

“Okay,” said Barry, leaving the table.

“I really should have seen that coming,” I muttered underneath my breath.

“What?” said Julie.

“Nothing,” I said. “So... what do you want to talk about?”

“I’ve been watching you throughout the tournament. You have come a long way in a short time, Jason,” said Julie.

“You might know me, but I haven’t seen you before tonight,” I replied.

“It’s my job to observe particular students,” said Julie as a bell rang in my head.

“What did you say your last name was?” I asked.

“I didn’t,” said Julie. “It’s Brooks, if you must know.”

“I have to fight you tomorrow?” I asked her, astonished.

“Yes,” said Julie.

“I-I look forward to it,” I said, because I had no idea what else to say. How in the world was I going to fight the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen?

“I see you like to use anger to succeed,” said Julie, calmly. “That’s a dangerous way to live, Jason.”

“You told Mr. Louis the same thing, didn’t you?” I said, my temper flaring. Who did Julie think she was to pass judgment on me!

“Yes, I did,” said Julie, sternly. “It’s my duty as a T.A. to warn Mr. Louis about any students with dangerous behavior! He would have noticed it himself if he wasn’t so close to you! Do you have any idea what would happen if you went into the field like that?”

“I am so tired of everyone thinking that it’s me who has the problem!” I shouted at her. “Did you ever think that I just do things that you’re too scared to even think about?”

“I have never feared anything in all my life,” said Julie, her temper beginning to rise, “and I’m not going to start with you!” She turned to walk away as she said one last statement that would echo in my mind for hours to come, “I’ll see you in the arena!”

“You can count on it.”