Knight School: A Mystic Brats Novel Vol. 1

I am Nara Roman, the future Queen of Aria. Aria is an ancient kingdom that’s existed for thousands of years. My mother, Queen Eviane, created it to be a utopia. A place where the ways of Camelot, her ways, could continue without change. I was raised behind the walls of our castle, never being allowed to venture outside... never being allowed to have freedom... “A princess must put herself above all others,” my mother would tell me. “If you are weak, then so are your subjects. That is why you must always pride yourself with the greatest education... sorcery!”

Mother was a powerful sorceress and taught me everything she knew. My magical classes became the most interesting thing in my life. One day would change it all forever... The day I escaped from my confinement. It took all of my mystical knowledge, but I finally was able to sneak away from the castle. I ventured outside of Aria to the enchanted forest, where a group of rogue knights ambushed me. They shackled my hands, immediately, which cut off the flow of magic in my body. I was helpless to stop them from stealing the Cretious Casket from the River of Eternity. They brought me to the Erivic Archway, a portal that can bring anyone to a different world.

I had only met one person from a different world before, Sir Louis of Legend. He was tall, muscular, dark-haired, with fiery red eyes. All Mother would tell me was that Sir Louis was a knight from this strange world on a diplomatic mission. He always came when the stars aligned and never more. He dressed in the most awkward manner, weird tunics that were bound together by zippers (I have no idea what those things are) and blue pants that were made of the weirdest fabric I had ever heard of. Though he was an odd character, I thought that Sir Louis would be my only hope. I was wrong.

Two courageous warriors rescued me and even destroyed the Banshee that lurked inside the Cretious Casket. Their names were Jason Gardner and Julie Brooks, people close to my age that were more remarkable than I was! Julie was a girl who could fight just as brilliantly as Jason! I had never known a girl could be a knight! That idea is just so invigorating and refreshing than just casting spells to solve problems. Jason and Julie aren’t just knights, they are heroes! Oh, that Jason Gardner has to be the most charming guy in this land. He has handsome brown hair, heartwarming hazel eyes, and some of the biggest arms I have ever seen. Mother always told me that I would find a suitor someday, I just never expected it’d (I just learned that word’s meaning today, you modern people have such an exotic language) be this soon.

Sir Louis did, however, meet us when the battle ended. He invited me to come with him, Jason, and Julie to a place called the Knight Academy. When we arrived inside his court (or office, I believe he called it) he began to pass judgment on the others. They had disobeyed his orders in some way. I told him as soon as possible how valiant they both were in the battle against the Banshee. I also explained how evil knights had kidnapped me. After I finished my story, Sir Louis looked at Jason and Julie before speaking.

“Mr. Gardner,” said Sir Louis. “You and Ms. Brooks broke twenty school rules in one night, a new record, I believe.”

My heart skipped a beat as Sir Louis spoke. Jason was rebellious like me! We had so much in common already!

“But... Princess Roman wouldn’t be safe if you hadn’t,” said Sir Louis, smiling slightly. I could tell something was churning in that head of his.

“What are you smiling so happily about, Sir Louis?”

“I just had the strangest feeling of Déjà vu,” Sir Louis answered. “I’ve broken the rules before myself. And I hate to say that it was for more selfish reasons than yours were tonight. I can see myself in all three of you. Yes, you too, Princess Roman.” He said as though he read my mind. “You two,” Sir Louis pointed at the others, “will be tasked with helping her majesty adjust to life at the Academy.”

“What?”

“The Knight Academy,” said Sir Louis. “Everything in the O’Hardy Woods is part of our school, Princess Roman. This entire castle, you’re in now, is our campus. It is my job to instruct the next generation of knights to protect the world, in secret, from mystical dangers that ordinary soldiers can’t. We have courses on sword fighting, sorcery, alchemy, battle strategy, science, myths and reality, as well as basic magical theory. I’m confident that we can expand your growing supernatural talents.”

“Would I be able to leave this school after courses?” I asked.

“In the afternoon, yes,” said Sir Louis. “But you’d have to be back inside by curfew.”

“Excuse me, Sir Louis, but who’s yood?” I asked, confused.

“You’re kidding, right?” asked Julie.

“Princess Roman is from a different land than ours, Ms. Brooks,” said Sir Louis. “You need to remember that.” He turned his attention back on me. “The word I said wasn’t a name, it was a combination of the words you and would. So, in other words, you would have to be back inside the castle by curfew.”

“That sounds... acceptable,” I said, calmly. Though, my emotions were pure joy and excitement! This academy could be my salvation, my escape to freedom! So, what if I didn’t understand all of their customs. A real sorceress can blend in anywhere, after all. Then a terrible thought came dragging me back to despair. “But my mother will not allow me to attend, Sir Louis. She hates for me to leave my bedchamber, let alone live outside of Aria. I fear she will never change her mind...”

“Your mother won’t have a choice, Princess Roman,” said Sir Louis, my spirits rising once more. No one had dared to stand up to my mother in years, and she turned that man into a toad. “The portal back to Aria can’t be recreated until the stars make the right formation... which will be a full year or two.”

“So I can live here and go as I please?” I asked Sir Louis.

“Within reason,” he answered. “Ms. Brooks, would you be so kind as to show Princess Roman to her new dorm room?”

“Which room would that be, Sir?” asked Julie.

“Yours,” said Sir Louis. “You will be sharing your room with our royal guest, since everywhere else is full.”

“Mr. Louis, I can’t share my room with a freshman,” said Julie. “She’s too young, and I don’t have time to babysit her!”

“Actually, in our world, Princess Roman is four-thousand-years-old,” said Sir Louis. “She only looks fourteen on the outside. I am sure she is a mature enough match for you, Ms. Brooks. Besides, Mr. Gardner is a freshman, and you worked just fine with him tonight. You can all report to me tomorrow to discuss how we can help Princess Roman. Now, the three of you are dismissed.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Jason, Julie, and I left the court. We walked down the corridor as Jason kept giving Julie a nervous smile. Was there something going on between them? When we reached a doorway Jason took me aside. “It was very cool to meet you, Nara,” said Jason.

I had no idea why he thought it was a cold experience to meet me, but it must have meant something good by the tone of his voice. “I can’t wait to show you around the school. I think you’re going to like it here. I mean, I’ve only been here a year and I love it... can you give me a moment with Julie?”

“Oh,” I said. “Okay.” Julie looked surprised but didn’t argue as she opened the door to our room. The door shut as soon as I entered. My initial impression was that this would be a bland place to live. It was a big room made entirely of stone. There were two iron beds in each corner with wooden desks on either side. The most beautiful part was a large window showcasing the woods... what were those two talking about? I had to know! What I did next might have been a breach of privacy, but if Jason and I were going to get married one day this could be a funny anecdote, right? “Amecrotag!” My incantation allowed me to see through the room’s walls and hear Jason and Julie crystal clear.

“Julie,” said Jason, nervously. “I just wanted to tell you... that you were right about everything, about me. I always had this anger deep inside me, trying to boil to the surface, since the day I lost my mom. Fighting was the only way I could ever deal with it, until tonight. I nearly got us killed, when I attacked Ocron, but instead of running away for reinforcement’s ― you backed me up. I’ll never forget that.”

“I only did what I was trained to do,” said Julie, “what we’re trained to do.”

“We’re trained to do whatever it takes to win,” said Jason, a fierce light of passion burning in his eyes. “You risked fighting a losing battle, nearly dying in the process, to save Nara and me. What you did, Julie, was heroic. I don’t know if I could ever do something like that without anger clouding my judgment.”

“Doing something heroic can’t be forced into a person,” said Julie. “It’s a decision that’s thrust upon you in a time of peril. My mentor, Travis Williams, taught me that. He said that any person can be a hero... if they have the right instincts.”

“He sounds like a brilliant man,” said Jason.

“He is,” said Julie. “Mr. Williams always looked after me when I first got here. I wouldn’t be who I am today if it wasn’t for him. He left the Academy a year ago, right before you arrived.”

“What happened to him?” asked Jason.

“He was promoted,” said Julie.

“Well, maybe you can pass on what you learned,” said Jason, “by tutoring me in sword fighting.”

“You want me to teach you?” asked Julie.

“Tutor me,” said Jason. “Mr. Louis will still be my main teacher, while you can teach me some of your techniques, sound good?”

“...Yeah,” said Julie. “We’ll iron out the details tomorrow.”

“I’ll see you then,” said Jason. “Goodnight, Julie.”

“Goodnight, Jason.”

I ended my spell as Julie entered. She seemed happier than earlier and who could blame her. She was going to spend alone time with my future husband! I had to stop this immediately!

“Oh,” said Julie as though she just noticed me. “Hey, Nara, you can sleep on the bed on the left. The other side is mine. I might be able to lend you some nightclothes, but I’m not convinced if they would fit.”

I guess that’s her way of telling me I’m shorter, so what if I’m petite, only a jerk would point it out. Don’t get angry, Nara! I thought to myself. I was going to need to be subtle if I wanted the truth.

“Do you think a size five will fit you?” asked Julie.

“Are you in love with Jason?”

Real subtle, Nara, you did a fantastic job! I am such an idiot!

“What?” said a flustered Julie. “That really isn’t something you should ask a person you just met... but to answer your question... no... I’m not in love with Jason Gardner. I only just met him yesterday. Nobody in their right mind could fall in love with someone they just met.”

“Well, it can happen to some people,” I said, my face glowing red with embarrassment. “I mean, what about love at first sight?”

“There is no such thing,” said Julie. “It is a fairy tale, besides, love can’t happen instantly. I know from experience. My father would say that he fell in love with my mother the first time he saw her. They eloped a year later and the truth was... he never did love anything or anyone but himself. But the question is — why would you ask me something like this? Do you think you’re in love with Jason or something?”

“Of course not,” I lied. “I am a princess, not a fool.”

“Good,” said Julie. “Because I’ve seen what happens to girls who fall for somebody too fast, and it never ends well.”