Knight School: A Mystic Brats Novel Vol. 1

Jason and I gathered all of our fellow students at Duma’s. Barry had returned with footage of the current attack on our school. You notice how I said this was our school, right? Because this isn’t just some academy — it’s home. When my father lost his mind he, destroyed my family’s house and my older brother, I had nothing. Now, one of the few things that keeps me from being haunted by that tragedy is knowing I have a place where I’ll always belong... and you know what? Jason feels the same way. Lord, I’m starting to sound like Nara.

“Alright, now that we’ve seen what’s happened,” said Jason. “It’s time to act!”

The crowd of teenagers looked scared. Don’t get me wrong, some students my age seemed ready to fight, but the younger kids were petrified. One of them spoke up. “W-what do you want us to do, Jason?”

“I want — I need you to help me fight,” said Jason. “We need to protect our home!”

Bryan Blasky stepped forward to object.

“Why should we fight?”

“I know there are rumors of the school shutting down... and they’re true. But this is our last chance to prove our worth to Legend and save the only place that accepted us after we lost the people who mattered most. The Knight Academy has taken care of us — now it’s time for us to return the favor!” Jason had hit the chord with most of the students, although Blasky wasn’t done yet.

“That’s not what I meant, Gardner! Why should we fight and follow a psychopath like you?”

“Our pasts have shaped us in one way or another, Blasky. The teachers at the Academy have tried their best to mold us into deadly soldiers. Even if they have succeeded, it will be our pasts that fuel us in battle, but it is our job to be able to control how far we go... how to remember who our friends truly are. I lost sight of these things. It took me this entire year to learn why we’re really here — to protect what we care about. So, I know I’m not your first choice to lead this battle, but if you want to save our home, then working as a team is the best chance we’ve got!”

“How are we supposed to fight without armor or weapons?” asked Blasky.

Jason smiled at me. “Julie, would you like to answer that?”

I walked over to Jason’s side as he spoke. “The Council moved every piece of weaponry into the storage building behind us, even the previously untested equipment. I was tasked with the duty to take inventory —”

“So what?” Blasky interjected.

“So... I have a key!”

In seconds, all of us had entered the storage building. There were many gasps at some higher-end tech. I could have sworn that I heard Barry let out a girlish squeal when he saw the Rollers. The Rollers are huge four-wheelers with the size and power of a tank. Jason and I had been beta testers for half of this equipment. Some of this tech helped keep Jason alive during his battle with Kevin... just not much longer.

Jason’s fatal injury had come as a surprise to me. I was still unsure of my feelings for him after his spell infection. How can he love me if he’s attracted to Nara? Don’t misinterpret me. Nara is my best friend, but sometimes your best friend can be your greatest enemy. I’ve lived by one simple philosophy since age ten — trust no one. It’s kept me alive. I had never felt such happiness as I do when I’m with Jason, Nara, and Barry. I let them in. It was great while it lasted. There is a part of me deep down that wants to believe in Jason and Nara, though right now, I don’t see that happening. And what I nearly let happen on Christmas... is that one of the reasons why he’s attracted to Nara? Because I shot him down? Is that the true man behind his pessimist facade? ...All I can feel now is confusion, pain... and anger.

We split up into three groups. Barry led the ground assault with a small army of Rollers. Barry was the obvious choice. He’d kill me for writing this, but he has a higher IQ than half the world. He is the only person capable to lead this fleet of tech and power. The Order members had brought assault vehicles of their own. Their greatest weapons are the Hyper Canons. A dark, magically powered canon that can wipe out a ten-mile radius. In our third year, we’re taught to disarm these abominations, but Barry had barely been at the school a year and had prepared for this. We equipped the Rollers with a Sound-Wave Disruptor, a small machine that can cancel out any electronic or mystical device it’s aimed for.

The earth trembled as the Rollers thundered to the Academy. The Order members took aim, but were not fast enough to stop the Sound-Wave Disruptor. With their assault vehicles rendered useless, Barry blasted the Order members into submission. I could hear Barry yell over his communicator, “Don’t leave a single tank standing!”

I could see Jason’s strike team flying down from above in miniature hover crafts called Wingers. These Wingers were equipped with paralysis gas bombs and smart missiles. The missiles blasted apart the Academy’s towers, destroying the Order’s reinforcements. Smoke covered the falling debris as it crushed our enemies. I tried to find some remorse for their injuries or deaths, but no compassion could be found. It was because of them, the Knight Academy — our home — would never recover. My thoughts started to drift to Jason... he vowed to never kill any living person. He feared that an act such as that could transform him into a monster like Ocron. How could Jason survive if he wasn’t ready to do what was needed? Or had he broken his code by launching a missile?

My team consisted of three Fourth Years and myself. All of us were T.A.’s and knew exactly what the Order’s main objective was — Ocron’s freedom. This we couldn’t allow, and I was ready to put an end to Ocron if or when the time came. Our only available way to the Detention Center was by submarine. The only passage the Order didn’t know about was an Aqua-Tunnel, which is a huge, underwater, corridor that could connect to any aquatic transportation created by Legend.

Once we were inside, I sent the others in separate directions, so we could block each exit. It didn’t take me long to find Ocron’s section. I walked past the cell where Legend had been keeping Kevin Tyson — it was completely broken and the Soldier of Osiris was gone. “This just keeps getting better and better,” I whispered to myself. Finally, I came across Ocron’s private cell, it was empty... or so I thought...

“Well, well, if it isn’t Gardner’s girlfriend.”

I turned around to see Ocron, Kevin, and ten Order agents. Each of these men were armed with shields and swords, even Kevin with his glowing blade of choice. Ocron was smiling wickedly at me.

“I’ll give you five seconds to surrender,” I said, raising my sword.

“You must be the dumbest girl at this pathetic school,” laughed Ocron. “You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and outmatched! I’m going to kill you with pleasure! Then, you can go join your older brother!”

“He’s right, y’know, you are going to die,” said a voice.

Rick’s ghost had appeared again. This time he was more clear and vivid than ever before. He’s wrong, I thought. Don’t pay any attention to him. I may be outnumbered and outgunned... but I’m never outmatched!

“Time’s up!”

The battle began as I charged at Ocron. Three of his knights intervened — I was sliced on my arms and legs — I struck back — two crumbled to the ground and two more took their place. I slashed three chests with a killing blow — but instead of dying — their wounds disappeared in a puff of black smoke. I looked down at my sword and saw that their blood had melted the blade halfway down. What were these men made of? Were they even men at all? Without my sword, I would have no choice but to play defense.

“What’s wrong?” Ocron smiled. “Never fought a Draughkine Knight before. They are the future of mankind. The hybrids of demons and human souls. The opposite of your dear Mr. Louis. They are the Order’s highest ranking warriors — nothing can stop them!”

“Ocron, stop boasting and kill the bitch already,” said Kevin, in almost a bored voice. “Her death will cause Jason Gardner one last moment of pain before he finally dies.”

“What the bloody hell, do you mean, boy?” snarled Ocron. “Why is Gardner dying?”

Kevin ignored him, turning to one of the other Draughkine Knights and said — “Everything’s in place, Damien. All we need to do is strike your stone with my sword and the blast will wipe out this whole area. Now, will you give me the map?”

“A deal’s a deal,” said the Draughkine Knight named Damien as he handed over an ancient-looking scroll. “I am thankful that Merlin introduced us. Give the Purifiers my best wishes, my dear soldier.”

The Purifiers? They couldn’t mean — not Dad —

“Hey, boy, I asked you a question — why is Gardner dying? How did it happen?” Ocron looked angrier than I had ever seen him before, but why was he so concerned about Jason? Did he just want to be the one who ended Jason’s life?

Kevin turned back towards Ocron and smiled a devilish grin. “Because I poisoned him. He’ll be dead in two days... if he doesn’t die tonight, that is.”

“That wasn’t part of the plan, Damien,” said Ocron. “You said that Gardner and his mum would live! That they would be mine!”

“Did I?” smiled Damien. “You must be mistaken.”

“YOU PROMISED!”

Ocron charged at Damien, but the Draughkine merely laughed and teleported behind Ocron. Damien stabbed Ocron through the back as the once-mighty Order member dropped to his knees.

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Ocron!” said Damien, gleefully. “After all — you should never trust a demon. Now, what to do with the girl...”

I thought for sure that I was going to die then and there. But the Draughkine Knights backed away from me as I turned around and saw — Jason, bloodied and beaten with his sword raised high — Nara, her hair singed and smoking while she floated in the air — Barry, mounted on his Roller — and Mr. Louis, fire spurting out of his hands, shoulders, and arms.

“Mr. Tyson — assorted scum — allow me to reintroduce you to my students — the Mystic Brats!” said Mr. Louis. “Now get away from Ms. Brooks...”

“...before we make you!” yelled Jason.

It was astonishing — only an hour ago we were divided — now we were a team once again! Damien removed his mask, revealing wavy, black hair, and red eyes. “Don’t worry, Kirk, I wouldn’t dream of killing Julie before her time came. You of all people should know how important time is.”

Mr. Louis looked disconcerted for a slight second as he said, “I’ve... fought you before, haven’t I?”

“You really can’t recall your past,” the Draughkine smiled. “I guess, I’ll have to introduce myself, then — my name is Damien Drake.”

“You didn’t come here to free Ocron, did you?” asked Mr. Louis.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. Did Mr. Louis know this monster?

“You know he does, Julie,” said Rick. “He’s going to betray you, just like the rest of your so-called team. They’re not your friends. They will never care about you. They will only kill you in the end.”

My hallucinations were getting worse. I hadn’t had my injection for too long. My head felt as if it was on fire. I was going to die at any moment.

“You are so perceptive, Kirk!” said Damien. “Of course, we didn’t come here to free Ocron — we came here to destroy him... along with your precious school!”

Damien pulled his sword out from Ocron’s back and shoved his stone in its place as Kevin stabbed it with his sword... Ocron’s skin started to bubble as he fell to his knees in pain. “Why are you doing this to me? I’m your best General,” yelled Ocron.

“Correction, Ocron, you were my best General,” laughed Damien. He looked back at Mr. Louis. “This is a Human Energy Bomb. It uses dark magic to expand a person’s soul until it explodes. It should take out this little underwater complex in the process as well. And since I know you’ll find a way to survive — I’ll see you soon, Kirk!” Damien and his knights disappeared in a puff of black smoke. Ocron’s body had started to glow, at any moment he would blow.

“GARDNER — TELL YOUR MOTHER — THAT I LO —”

Ocron’s shouts were drowned out as the bomb’s energy started to overtake his lungs. Rick held out his hand to me. “It’s time for you to die, Julie. Come to me...”

“NOOOOO!” I yelled. My head hurt so bad I could barely hear or see anything else. I couldn’t move for the pain.

“JULIE!”

I felt someone cover me, it was Jason...

“What... are you doing?” I asked weakly.

He smiled painfully as the explosion came in a blazing fury. “Leaping off that cliff again!”