Knight School: A Mystic Brats Novel Vol. 1

Have you ever thought your life was finally on the right track and that things were going to work themselves out? Well, I did... and I was wrong. You all know from my previous entries that I have had a lot of bad stuff dumped in my lap. Each one was more excruciating than the last.

First off, let me just say that some of this stuff has to do with the choices made by one Nara Roman and the devil on my shoulder.

Nara is one of my best friends. Period. She’s smart, refined, funny, and honest. Nara will tell you whatever is on her mind, no matter how tough it is to say. I couldn’t have destroyed the Banshee if she hadn’t enchanted my sword. There’s just one problem that comes with hanging with Nara. Which would be the other guy in her life ― Kevin Tyson.

Kevin Tyson is a big, blonde, tool! He and Nara have been dating almost as long as Julie and me. I have always thought that there was something strange about him, and it was justified when I found Nara drunk on nectar the other night. She was like that because Kevin had been pressuring her to have... relations with him and needless to say Nara doesn’t feel the same way. I stayed with her all night and helped sober her up. It made me reconsider how I’ve been handling things with Julie since Christmas. I nearly made the same mistake with her that he did with Nara. Something that I’ve vowed never to do again. So, I decided to talk to Kevin. Knight to knight. Only for me to see him kissing Zoe Gale in the arena today.

“Ahem.”

Kevin and Zoe broke apart at once. Zoe darted outside, while Kevin stood his ground. “What do you think you’re doing, Kevin?” I asked, my temper flaring.

“It’s not what it looks like, Jay,” said Kevin.

“Don’t call me that,” I said. “Only my friends can call me by that name!”

“Zoe’s my ex-girlfriend,” said Kevin. “She was wanting to get back together and kissed me.”

“I didn’t see you push her away,” I said.

“I felt it would be better not to hurt her feelings,” said Kevin. “I value her friendship.”

“More than Nara’s, apparently,” I said. “You can’t do this to her! She deserves better.”

“You need to promise me you won’t tell her,” said Kevin. “Nara is my destiny!”

“You’re a sick person,” I said, disgusted. I turned to leave as Kevin grabbed my shoulder.

“Promise me you won’t tell her,” he repeated.

“I can’t do that,” I said. “Now — get your hand off me!” I turned around and slugged Kevin in the nose. He fell to the ground, unconscious, and I took my leave.

I was horrified that my temper had returned in such a drastic way. I could be expelled for hitting another student. He just infuriated me by how he betrayed Nara like that. I tried talking to Mary Markson, the school counselor, and it was different, to say the least...

“Jason, your anger is like a disease,” said Mary. “It can consume you if you’re not careful.”

“I just want to get rid of my anger,” I said.

“You can, Jason, if you learn what triggers it,” said Mary. “It will take time and effort... but you can stop losing control.”

“I need to remove my anger today,” I said. “Fairies have powerful magic over the mind, don’t they?”

“Yes... we do,” said Mary, raising her eyebrow. “Why?”

“Because if there is some sort of spell that can remove my anger immediately,” I said, “maybe we could use it on me.”

“I’m not going to use you as a mystical Guinea Pig,” said Mary. “Mind magic can be unpredictable and deadly. I won’t risk hurting you for a simple shortcut. What I do suggest is you coming to see me twice a week, after class, to talk out your problems, okay?”

“Alright,” I said.

“Now,” said Mary, “about telling Nara the truth ―”

“Yeah?”

“— you’ll just have to do what you feel is the right thing.”

“Sounds... complicated,” I said, walking to the exit.

“Almost everything in life is,” smiled Marry. “I want to see you here next Tuesday at three o’clock, Jason.”

“Okay,” I said. I opened the door and Mr. Louis and Nara were standing on the other side. I couldn’t even look Nara in the eye, and after I walked away with Mr. Louis twenty-minutes later, I knew what I had to do. I needed to tell Nara the truth. I was supposed to meet Julie, Nara, and Kevin outside the Basic Magical Theory Classroom before we went on our double date (Julie had to enhance security around the Heart of Aphrodite). I was going to drop the bomb on her then.

I entered the classroom and saw Julie placing motion sensors around the artifact. “Hey, you,” she smiled.

“Hey, Julie,” I smiled back.

“I’m glad you’re here,” said Julie. “I can’t wait to get out of this place!”

“Technology giving you a hard time?” I laughed. This was one of Julie’s best qualities. She can make me laugh no matter how stressed I am. We hadn’t mentioned what happened between us on Christmas, it was easier this way, but was it for the best? I wanted to tell her how guilty I felt, after seeing Nara go through the same type of thing. How things had changed since then, how I had changed. But that was easier said than done.

“Well, it’s definitely giving me something,” said Julie. “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t a T.A.”

“Really? Because it sounds like fun to me,” said Nara, entering the classroom.

“Any time you’d like to trade jobs, just say the word,” laughed Julie.

“I might take you up on that offer one day, roomie,” said Nara. “Have either of you seen Kevin?”

“Not since Sword Fighting Class,” said Julie. “I think he stayed in the arena to talk to Zoe Gale.”

“His ex-girlfriend?” asked Nara.

“Don’t worry, Nara,” said Julie, concerned for her friend. “I’m sure nothing happened.”

“Actually...” I said, “...something did go down between them. I walked in on their secret make-out session.”

“What?” said Nara and Julie together.

“Why didn’t you tell me sooner,” said Nara, tears beginning to run down her cheek.

“It’s going to be okay, Nara,” said Julie as she hugged her. “You really should have told her earlier, Jay.”

“I didn’t want to hurt you,” I said to Nara. “If it makes you feel any better, I slugged the hell out of him.”

Nara grinned despite herself. “Thank you, Jason, but it will be awhile before anything makes me feel better. By Aria, I was stupid! I got close to someone because he swooped in and showed me affection when I needed it most. I thought that we could be like... like you two if I took the time to know him. Turns out... I didn’t know him at all.”

“You can’t help what some jerk did to you, Nara,” said Julie. “You’re better off without Kevin if he’s going to treat you like that.”

“Julie’s right,” I said. “We’re your friends, and we will always be there for you, whenever you need us.”

“You know,” said Nara. “Kevin may have never been in love with me... but I can tell that both of you do care, and you don’t know how much I appreciate that. I...”

Nara’s voice trailed off as her eyes glowed pink, stood up, and began to walk closer to the Heart of Aphrodite. “Nara?” asked Julie. But Nara did not respond. It was as though she was in a trance. Nara raised her arm as the amulet shot out of its case and into her hand. The amulet glowed brighter than a million stars. Nara collapsed to the ground. She was out cold. Julie and I ran over to her. “What happened to her?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” said Julie, checking Nara’s pulse. “It was almost as if she was possessed by the amulet!”

“Wait a minute,” I said. “Mr. Louis told me that certain people with magical abilities are susceptible to mystical objects. That they can be controlled by them.”

“If you’re right,” said Julie, “then we’ll need Mr. Louis to help us.”

“What’s going on?” said Nara, opening her eyes. “Why am I holding the amulet?”

Nara, Julie, and I walked out of the classroom. The Heart of Aphrodite fused to Nara’s hand. We couldn’t remove it. Nara was anxious but holding up pretty good considering. She told us that the amulet called out to her, controlled her, and used her to send out a mystic signal. The strangest thing of all was that I noticed just how wonderful Nara smelled (like chocolate strawberries). How could that even be possible? She was drenched in sweat for goodness’ sake. And her hair was as beautiful as gold. Why am I just noticing this now?

“Are you sure Sir Louis will be able to help us, Julie?” asked Nara.

“I hope so,” said Julie.

“If he can’t,” I said, “maybe I can, Nara. I can be brilliant, sometimes, and... an excellent kisser!” Why did I say that? Why am I flirting with Nara? I’m dating Julie. But why am I dating Julie... when I could have Nara?

“What did you just say?” asked Nara in shock.

“That I can kiss better than any other guy at this school?” I said. “So how about we ditch the third wheel and have some fun?”

“Jason, how can you say that?” asked Nara. “Julie’s your girlfriend!”

“...He’s been affected by the amulet!” said Julie. “We need to get away from him! He could be dangerous!” Seriously, what did I ever see in this girl?

Nara backed away from me. “Don’t leave me, Nara. The two of us are meant to be together, can’t you feel it?”

“Jason,” said Nara. “You’re not thinking clearly. It’s the amulet making you feel this way, not yourself!”

“I don’t care how I came to feel this way,” I said. “Because I’ve never felt happier... more excited than right here and now. I love you, Nara! You can’t tell me that you don’t feel the same way. I know you must love me back!”

“Nara, get behind me,” said Julie. “Jason, you’re going to let us leave. We’ll get Mr. Louis and come back for you later. If the spell has affected you it could have spread through the entire school. Nara’s in grave danger the longer she’s around guys... especially you.”

“You’re just trying to keep Nara away from me,” I said, anger boiling inside me. “I won’t let you tarnish our love!”

“Jason, listen to Julie,” pleaded Nara. “You’re not yourself!”

“Yes, I am,” I said. “You never knew the real me, but I’m ready to show you. So, I’ll make this easy, Julie, give me Nara or you die!”

“I prefer not to hurt you, Jason,” said Julie. “But you’re not giving me another choice — NARA RUN!”

Nara bolted down the hallway as Julie tackled me to the ground. “Get off me!” I yelled.

“Not ― going ― to ― happen!” Julie shouted back.

I kneed Julie in her stomach and rolled over as she fell backward. I stood up at the same moment Julie did ― I threw the first punch ― Julie dodged as she kicked my ribs ― I retaliated by grabbing her foot before it returned to the ground. I twisted it as she screamed in pain.

“Thanks, for the training, Julie,” I said. “If it hadn’t been for all those hours ― I wouldn’t know how to beat you senseless!” I slammed her into the wall. “I thought I loved you, Julie, but now I know that I never did. You are a cold, heartless, monster that no one will ever care about!” I punched Julie. She fell to the floor, unable to stand up because of her injuries.

“You don’t mean that, Jason,” said Julie, a tear running down her face.

“Yes,” I said. “I mean every — single — word!”

“Then why don’t you kill me, if I’m so horrible?” said Julie.

I looked deep into her eyes. I remembered laughter, warmth, passion, and happiness. It all seemed so foreign, too hard to recall completely. “I... can’t...”

“Because you love me,” said Julie. “You can fight this spell, Jason Gardner! You’re a fighter!”

“I... don’t... love... you,” I forced part of myself to say. I couldn’t love her. I loved Nara. “You’re just not worth my time... but Nara is...”

I ran down the hallway to try to find Nara. I saw a wisp of blonde hair enter a doorway as an armored fist slugged my forehead. “You’re not touching the princess, Gardner!” I looked up and saw Kevin standing between me and the doorway, dressed in the same blue armor as the Soldier of Osiris and clutching the glowing sword in his hand. A look of pure hatred on his face.

“So — you’re the Soldier?” I sneered.

“I am who I have always been, Jason Gardner,” said Kevin. “You are nothing but a lowly pest. You do not have a trace of noble blood and yet, you and your people try to poison Nara’s mind against me. All so you could stop the coming of my lord.”

“You’re right,” I said. “I dated Nara for a while, got bored, and kissed my ex-girlfriend to see if she would be more fun... oh... wait... that was you!”

“It’s time I did Nara a favor and run this blade through your heart!” yelled Kevin.

“I’m not afraid of some nut,” I laughed.

“Great Osiris!” said Kevin. “You are a conceited idiot, Jason Gardner! I have the sword, the armor, and the shield! You have nothing!”

“Haven’t you ever heard of the Advanced Science Department?” I smirked. “Only a select group of students are selected to test out new weapons for Legend... I’m one of those few. Watch this!”

I pressed a silver button on my shirt and my street clothes turned into silver armor. My sword materialized in its sheath. I pulled out the blade while sneering at Kevin. “Pretty cool, huh?”

“If your moves were as good as your tech, I’d be worried,” said Kevin.

“Did I mention this is the sword Nara enchanted for me,” I said gesturing the blade. “It was on the night we met. She told me it was the only way to destroy the Banshee... I wonder what it can do to you without your little mask...”

Kevin charged at me! I dug my sword into his knee as Kevin’s blade stabbed through my shoulder, shocking me with magical energy and pinning me to the wall. “Ahhhhhhh!”

Kevin removed my sword from his knee spurting out blood. I could feel my blood running down my arm. The pain was terrible. I could barely move, but I had to... to survive! I took hold of the hilt and pulled. “Son —of — CAMELOT!” Kevin’s sword fell to the ground with me as I saw the crater in my shoulder. I didn’t care about how much blood I was losing. Nara was all that mattered. Kevin wasn’t going to stand in my way any longer! I picked up my sword and slashed Kevin’s chest. It was almost like cheating to attack an opponent who couldn’t walk, but I didn’t care. He fell to my feet. I raised my sword over his neck —

“It’s over, Mr. Gardner, now drop the sword!”

Mr. Louis had appeared in a burst of flames. His expression was chilling. He looked furious and deadly.

“He has to die,” I said. “Kevin hurt Nara once, Mr. Louis, he’ll do it again if I don’t stop him!”

“You’re raving like a lunatic,” said Mr. Louis. “This spell is turning you into an obsessive creature! I can’t let you kill Mr. Tyson!”

“My thoughts have never been clearer,” I said. “I’m a student of the Knight Academy, Mr. Louis, I’ve been trained to eliminate dangerous, mystical, threats. Well, Kevin isn’t normal! He’s the Soldier of Osiris! His sword penetrated my Nexamite Armor, an armor that a normal weapon could never destroy! That blade must be enchanted like mine! Kevin ― is ― a ― threat!”

“Then leave him to the Council,” said Mr. Louis. “Ms. Roman would never love a murderer.”

“You know where Nara is!” I said. “Take me to her!”

“...I will if you come closer,” said Mr. Louis. “That’s why I came here ― to teleport you to Ms. Roman. I had to keep her safe from Mr. Tyson, but you still must not kill him.”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because we have to show Ms. Roman just how dangerous he really is,” said Mr. Louis. “Then you can end his life.”

“O-okay,” I said.

“Are you ready to be reunited with your love?” Mr. Louis asked me.

“Y-y-yes,” I stammered. I had lost so much blood I could barely talk or stand, but it didn’t matter if he brought me to Nara. Mr. Louis walked to my side. He placed his hand on my head as a great light engulfed me...

I was standing on a green hilltop. I was clad in my armor and holding a sword with a golden hilt. I could feel a rush of power surging through me. Nara, Julie, and Barry were standing beside me in their armor. They were ready for battle. Below us people in black armor and white robes waged war. The ground was shaking as I recognized the prize each fraction was fighting for — Stonehenge. The ancient monument started to glow with silver energy... until it spread out through the entire area...

“Jason, wake up!”

I bolted awake from my nightmare as Nara tried to wipe sweat from my forehead. I was in a steel room with no windows and one small light. I had been restrained to an iron bench as well. “Nara, what happened?”

“You don’t remember?”

“Remember what?” I asked. “Where are we?”

“What’s the last thing you do remember?” asked Nara

“The Heart of Aphrodite flew into your hand and...” I trailed off as glimpses of memories flashed through my mind. “...I was infected by the spell, wasn’t I?”

Nara anxiously bit her lip. “Yes... you were, Jason.”

“How many people did I hurt, Nara?”

“Don’t do this to yourself, Jason,” said Nara.

“I need to know,” I said. “All I remember is flashes — I can’t remember everything. For all I know, I could have hurt you or Julie... oh, no... how badly did I hurt you, girls?”

“Jason, you weren’t yourself,” said Nara.

“How much did I hurt you two?” I asked. “Nara, please, I need to know.”

“...You didn’t get the chance to hurt me because of Julie,” Nara sighed.

Nara told me what happened to Julie, what I did to her, and how she was in the infirmary. “Her ankle is broken, and she has a black eye,” said Nara. “Julie will be able to return to class in a few days, though. I think what hurts the most is what you told her.”

“What did I say?” I asked.

“You called her a monster, Jason,” said Nara sadly.

“How could I have said that to Julie?” I sighed. “I’ve never thought of her as a monster. She’s my girlfriend!” I emphasized the last part, wishing that Nara would understand that I didn’t mean to ever hurt Julie, if not for her sake... for mine.

“It’s not your fault, Jason,” said Nara. “That stupid artifact mesmerized me, almost like it wanted me to use its powers if I hadn’t been so weak every boy in school wouldn’t be in quarantine!” Nara was furious with herself for what happened. We both hated ourselves for the things we did, but it didn’t stop her from visiting me every day. Nara wasn’t lying when she said every guy in the Academy had been infected. People like Kevin, who were cursed, didn’t bother me — but when I heard Barry was here too, it made me sick.

Once a day, Dr. Demos and Mary would come in to run a dozen scientific and mystical tests on me. Occasionally, I wondered if there were unforeseen problems with my magically powered infection. Every night, I could feel a sharp, piercing, pain in my shoulder where Kevin stabbed me. But each time I looked at the wound all I saw was a scab trying to heal. The thing that hurt worse than my injuries was the fact that I was never allowed to see Julie. I missed her more than anything else. I wanted to touch her soft face, smell her wonderful hair, and kiss those hot lips again. Though, compared to how much I wanted to say just how truly sorry I was dwarfed it all. Would Julie ever forgive me?

On my last day in quarantine, Mr. Louis arrived to confirm my worst fears.

“Hey, Mr. Louis,” I said as he entered. “Do I finally get my clean bill of health?”

“...Not exactly, Mr. Gardner...” Mr. Louis was expressionless as he spoke his next words. “Do you remember that on the day you were infected by the artifact — you fought Kevin Tyson in a battle of swords?”

“Some parts of it,” I replied. “Why?”

“You told me that Mr. Tyson was the Soldier of Osiris and his sword carried an enchantment,” said Mr. Louis.

“Mr. Louis, I wasn’t thinking straight,” I said.

“He is the Soldier. He’s confessed to everything. The Queen of Aria sent him here about a year ago to infiltrate the Academy with the promise of resurrecting Osiris. I doubt that she ever intended to follow through with that particular promise, though, but the deluded Soldier did. His sword is a fusion of magic spelled by the greatest Egyptian sorcerer and the Queen herself. So, I had it tested, Jason,” said Mr. Louis. It was the first time he had ever called me by my first name. “Mr. Tyson’s sword contained more than a mere enchantment... it was cursed. There is a hidden inscription on his blade that is written in Celtic Runes, put there by the Queen. Ms. Markson, who is fluent in that language, translated it and... good lord... there is no easy way to say this... Whoever is stabbed by the sword shall be cursed with a poison that will kill them in fourteen days. So, we’ve run several tests on you, which show that there is indeed a poison infecting your heart... we can’t find a cure. I have Ms. Markson searching the Isle of Fairies for anything useful... I am so sorry, Jason...”