Chapter 8 The Three Knights

Tenna and Devi awoke that morning. They had slept all night where they were and as they stretched, they could feel pain in their neck and back from being stiff. Eric in bat form as well as Demi and Spooky flew over to greet them that morning.

"Morning you two!" Eric greeted them

"Hey!" Tenna yawned and stretched then cuddled her familiar as Mr. Spooky hugged her face.

"Man, I slept like a rock." Devi said "Hey, Eric are you feeling better?"

"Yes. a lot better actually." Eric replied.

"That's good." Devi replied sleepily

"I can't believe that bitch sent her minion after you!" Tenna replied in an angry tone."What a fucking coward! "

"Yeah, don't worry. He wasn't all that smart..." Eric implied "In fact, I think he had to do some searching around before finding me."

"So that tall guy that was in here," Devi began asking "was that Magnus?"

"Yes, that was him." Eric answered "He doesn't like to stay around as much though. Usually after he teaches me a lesson or gives me important advice, he leaves almost right away."

"Why?" Tenna asked

"He says he just doesn't want to get close to anyone..." Eric answered. "I think its because he's years old. He's seen a lot of death and all that. Probably just doesn't want to feel it anymore."

"That makes sense." Devi added as she kinda relate to him in some ways. Losing her past affairs due to personal reasons made her hard to trust or get close to someone at all. "When you go through things like that, its hard to want to be close to anyone. Your heart becomes hard and distant."

"Yeah..." Eric said sadly as he looked down. He remembered now that he was a vampire, he would probably go through the same kind of things in his now extended life period. He wondered how he'd be after so many years.

"Eric, are you okay?" Tenna asked

"Yeah!" Eric said as he cheered up for his friends. "Oh but I need to..."

"What I want to know is, what did that witch mean about us being some sort of knights?" Tenna asked "I thought we were mages?"

"What?!" Eric asked in surprised

"Yeah, she said we're some knights that will destroy her master or something..." Tenna explained

"You sound like you know something about this?" Devi told Eric. "Did Magnus mentioned this too?"

Eric nodded and said "Yes, he did."

"Did he explain any details of it?" Devi asked

Eric shook his head and replied "Unfortunately he didn't explain all that much. Just that all three of us are destined to fight this evil that once awaken long ago."

"You mean this evil thingy appeared years ago?" Tenna asked

"Magnus told me that long ago a great evil appeared and plunged this world into darkness and chaos." Eric explained "Then these knights arose and defeated it. However, as far as I'm guessing, it was not permanently. He said that there would be a time where the darkness would rise again and that new knights, would rise up and stop it."

"And he is saying that the chosen ones are us?" Devi asked

"Pretty much..." Eric nodded. 

"And that's what you meant when you told me, I needed to help save this world." Devi said to Demi. Demi nodded as she said "But I'm not sure of the whole knight thing. I know that you have the power to fight against the darkness."

"Why is that?" Devi asked Demi. "What's this 'light' that you keep implying?"

"Everyone has a light in their hearts." Demi explained "It's your very will, the one that makes you, you and where your dreams, talents and passion are born.  Some people's lights are stronger and brighter than others. In fact, so strong it can become magic! You guys have very strong magic because your light shines out the most."

"We really do have that in ourselves?" Tenna asked Spooky nodded as well as Demi.

"The darkness is afraid of this light, that's why its sending people to hurt you." Demi explained "I mean I dunno much about the knight thing, but I know by feeling that's what the darkness wants to do. It's afraid of you because it can't control you. Your light hurts it and prevents it from trying to take over your heart. Your will and light is just too great for anything to control you."

"So it wants to control us?" Devi asked

Demi nodded and said "Yeah, that's probably what happen with Johnny...His will wasn't strong enough to fight it off..." Upon saying this made Devi show a look of sadness and worry.

"So it wants us to be a slave to it?" Tenna asked

"That or being it's evil, it wants to feed on your misery..." Demi explain sadly. "Until there's nothing left of your spirit..."

"Okay...." Eric replied and dryly said  "That just gave us something to look forward to..."

"That's why you guys got to get stronger in your magic and your spirit." Demi explained "And defeat this, because a lot of innocent lives are gonna be lost to it! The whole world is practically at stake!"

"Whoa!" Tenna said as she cross her hands. "Time out! The whole world is resting on our shoulders? How can we fight this? We don't know a thing about the legend of the knights thing nor this darkness itself, except the basics, nor do we really know if we are these knights! How does everyone else know?!"

"Well Magnus did tell me who to turn to." Eric replied "He said to see someone at the mall. Two people actually. You know that antique shop you were at, Devi?"

"Yes?" 

Eric continued "Magnus said to meet someone by the name of Mina and Edgar there. He said they would have the answers to the rest of it."

This made Devi remember the old and antic place she was at when they were at the mall.

"Well let's go." Devi told them. "We're going to the mall!"

"So you're actually willing to go out, Devi?!" Tenna cheerfully and in amazed.

"Uh, yeah..." Devi said dryly and then said "But this time this is serious. We gotta meet those two and I'm pretty sure they do know, because I found something there that you have got to see."

"oh, alright then..." Tenna replied.

****
They finally got to the shop Devi was talking about. As Devi looked inside, she spotted the posters in the back and showed her friends it.

"Whoa..." Tenna replied as she looked at the posters.

"Okay, I understand with the black clouds represents the darkness." Eric in bat form explained as he sat on Devi's shoulder. "But it doesn't explain that much...."

"For that, I can clarify..." Said a voice from behind them. They all turn around in surprise to see a young girl, that looked no more than 14, in a black Lolita dress with white trimming. She had long black hair with a white frilly hair band that matched her dress. 
Behind her stood the very tall man with center parted hair but revealed to have a long , black pony tail in the back, stood beside her. He was wearing a long brown trench coat over a white shirt, black pants and he had round glasses. He smiled politely and had a gentle expression from him.

"Um, are you by any chance...?" Tenna asked

"Yes." The girl answered.

"Allow me to introduce ourselves." Said the man as he politely bowed slightly. "This young lady here is Mina Quingxin Shi (Zing xin shee) and I am her caretaker, Edgar Vargas. I believe we may be able to explain to you the answers you seek."

Devi's eyes widen That girl is Mina? The one we needed to see?

Surprised, yeah, this girl looked too young. I was expecting maybe an older woman to know but this kid? Was she really a kid. Something felt off a bout her eyes. They looked so cold and emotionless. What kind of kid has those kind of eyes?  I wondered at that point to even trust her. Glad, my thoughts would be resolved.

****
As Mina sat her tea down, they all sat together around a red wood table and she began explaining in a straight and kinda emotionless face. "Long ago, the darkness rose out from no where and covered this world, creating despair and chaos, as you may have been told. Four knights arose and defeated it, but before it disappeared, it vowed to return one day in the future. Four new knights must rise up and defeat it once again."

"Okay that doesn't explain a lot..." Eric replied. Devi tapped Eric's nose and hushed at him to be quiet.

"Oh don't worry, we know of his situation." Edgar said "The little bat is fine speaking around us." With that he placed a small saucer dish of tea for Eric so he could lap it up easy. Eric flew down and sip a little bit of it.

"Okay, well that doesn't explain a whole lot like Eric said." Tenna said "I mean whats with the whole knight thing and who are you, how do you know about us?"

"The knights were four outcasts that were shun from most of society back then." Mina explained "But regardless of being looked down upon, they still had hope of shining and showing people that we're all equals. It is still uncertain, being the legend is thousands of years old. They were called knights however, because they wore mystic armor. A special armor created from their own hearts.

As for how I know, your hearts I can tell are the strongest. Your familiars know about this. No other familiars of mages would know such a darkness is coming, yours did. Even you, Eric, had sensed something was coming."

"Well, now that you mentioned it, yeah I did..." Eric replied. "Before I met Devi for the first time, something spooked my dog and I kept hearing what sounded like a voice. I didn't know what the voice said and I thought it was my imagination. Then I heard the voice again before I met both Devi and Tenna again and felt like I had to go to a certain place. It felt like I was being guided to them."

"Wow, that's kinda cool..." Tenna replied and shook her head as she said "Wait, four knights? There's suppose to be fourth one joining us?"

Mina nodded but didn't say much else until Devi asked "Who's the fourth one?"

"The fourth one hasn't been uncovered." Mina told them "The light of the fourth knight is not strong enough for us to pin point it or they’re just not close. Even with my psychic powers, I can't find who the person is and where. The darkness is I believe, fogging up my efforts to find the person."

"Oh great..." Tenna replied "How are we supposed to find this person then?"

"The leader is said to have connection with the rest of the three knights." Mina answered "She will follow her heart and her heart is said to guide her to each knight, especially if they ever got lost." Mina then eyed Devi as she said this.

"Leader?" Devi asked and then pointed at herself. "Me?...."

Mina nodded and said "Your two friends gather before here because of you. You attracted their spirits and fate has connected all three of you together. Surely, you will attract the fourth knight and allow that person to open their heart to you."

Devi was a bit surprised upon hearing this. "I attract people around me?..." She asked quietly then looked at Demi who floated up and smiled as she nodded. Eric and Tenna looked at her with a warm expression on their faces.

"Why are you so surprised by this?" Mina asked

"Well..." Devi tried explaining. "For so long, I've always kinda had bad luck with people...One of the reasons why I stayed in solitude so much was cause, either people were toxic or someone that did care about me, got hurt in some ways. That's why I tried forgetting about people all together. "

"Such coincidences tends to play the mind into thinking the person themselves are bad luck." Mina explained. "It may appear that you attracted the wrong attention or seemed jinx, however, I can tell that, that's not the case. You're not bad luck nor jinx in anyway. The misfortunes of others are brought by their own personal auras."

"Huh?" Tenna asked

"I think she means that the people I had issues with or got hurt was because of their fault." Devi explained

"Take your friend there." Mina said as she eyed Eric. "He risked his life because it was his wish to protect you. It was not your doing nor any negative energy that caused what had happen. Even if he didn't meet you, he would have had this done to him anyway, being his nature is to protect those he cares for."

"Woah...." Eric replied. "You...you read our minds or something?"

"It's a psychic gift. Forgive me if I intrude...." Mina replied with a slight hint of embarrassment. "I tend to read minds so I could know who they are and know if I'm right about something. I hope you don't take it personal...I tend to also do it without meaning to either..."

"It's okay..." Eric replied.

 Devi replied a little sadly. "I guess..."

"Everyone goes through negative events." Edgar explained "Including ones that seem to link as a chain, making us think things like we're bad luck or there isn't any good in the world. However, when in reality, its just one of those things that test us in life. It's life and the great one (god) testing to see if we can become stronger."

"Um...." Tenna replied looking at Edgar as if he was crazy. "Okay...." Then she turned to Devi and said "See I told you, you were just overacting!"

Devi sighed and humored her a bit "Okay, we get the point. I'll try listening to you a little more often..."

"Really?!" Tenna asked excitedly.

Devi looked at her blankly and said "No..."

Tenna made a pouted face while Devi looked away with a smart elic smirk! This made Demi giggled a bit at her master.

"Anyway, so how do you know of this legend?" Devi asked.

"As I said I'm a psychic and my family has always carried the legend." Mina said "In fact, my ancestors are believed to helped the original knights of light. They would help guide them and lend them words of wisdom. In fact, it is how my family got their last name. It means 'Messenger of Light'. "

"Cool..." Tenna replied "So you own this whole antique shop?"

"It's my family's shop." Mina explained "It's been in my family for years. We just moved it to the mall to get more customers."

"Where is your family?" Eric finally asked. This made Mina turn her head away.

"Oh, they're out on business a lot." Edgar explained as he placed another cup of tea for Mina. "Right now they're out of the country, actually, so I take care of her for her parent's sake. Though she really doesn't like talking about it."

"Oh, sorry..." Eric said as he knelt his head down in respect.

"Oh...its fine!" Edgar told him cheerfully.

"So we're suppose to have magical armor?" Tenna asked "When do we get those?"

"When you become more skilled in your magic," Mina explained "your heart will decide when the time for you to gain your armor."

Then they heard some commotion outside. They all ran out to find Nny causing random destruction at the mall. He had been firing out blasts and destroying anything in his path.

"Aww shoot!" Eric snapped "What the hell is he doing?!"

"Causing destruction where ever he goes!" Tenna replied "But why do I feel like he's doing this to get our attention?"

"You're right..." Mina said as she walked slowly up. "I read his aura, he is doing this to get your attention."

"You can..." Before Tenna asked Mina nodded "I can read a person's thought waves from miles a way. Now mystic knights of the light! You must go and stop him! Show the light within your heart."

"Right!" Tenna said but before she moved forward, Eric flew up to her and kissed her to turn back into his vampire form.

"Sorry, Tenna!" Eric said with his hand behind his head. "But Devi threaten me if I kissed her again..."

They took off and fire out their attacks at him. Johnny looked at them and said "So, you showed up...I knew you would."

"Nny, stop this!" Devi snapped out of sheer anger.

"I can't stop..." Nny said "Not until you are dead!" With that he blasted at her in which she dodged. Eric summoned his energy blade and slammed it down upon him, in which Johnny responded by stopping it with his hand, using his mystic energy to protect his hand and push a bit back.

"Enough is enough, Nny..." Eric sneered at him.

Johnny only responded to him blankly "Don't call me that...I don't like it when you me by that name."

Then he pushed and tossed him in the air. Eric just summer-salted in the air and landed on his feet. They attack and struck at him with much effort for a while, until all four of them got tired. As Devi was taking a few  deep breaths, Johnny tried taking a strike at her. Devi blocked his attack with her fude brush, but she and Demi could only hold on for so long before, he manage to knock the weapon out of her hands. Demi reverted back into her doll form and was lying knocked out on the ground.

"Demi!" Devi shouted worriedly as she scooped up her familiar.

Johnny was about to slam his energy force blade down on her but as she looked up at him and shouted "Johnny no!" he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Something just caused him to hesitate in his attack. He looked into Devi's eyes and just stared at her frighten expression in her face for a bit, before lowering his blade down.

He looked at Demi as well and then thought about the doll he had in his pocket. Demi managed to look up at him curiously. Then laid her head down on Devi's hand again. "Demi!" Devi cried again.

Something strange happened after that. Johnny began breathing kinda weird as his face became sad. Devi looked up to see Nny's face. He seemed to be actually crying. Tears were almost forming in his eyes. His crying seem to be out not of insanity or wanting for her to die, but out of remorse a bit from what he's done.  Devi could feel just by looking into his eyes, of agony and pain. He almost looked like he just wanted someone to end his suffering or help him in some ways. For the first time in a long time, he actually looked like a human being at least in Devi's eyes.

From a far, Mina and Edgar watched, when Mina noticed something as she looked at Johnny. As if to see something within Johnny. Devi suddenly reached  her hand out to Johnny, as if she wanted to help him, in which she did wanted to. Johnny looked at Devi's hand but when he tried to reach it, a mass of pain surged within in him and it forced him back. He then almost struck Devi again.

"Devi, look out!" Eric called out as he jumped in and shielded Devi with his body but again Johnny held back. It was like he was struggling to keep from attacking Devi. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. Eric and Devi notice this and looked at him surprised by his behavior.  He then took off and disappeared.

"Are you okay?" Eric asked Devi.

"Yeah..." Devi said as she nodded then looked at Demi though who managed to wake up. "Demi, are you alright?"

Demi nodded and said "Yeah, sorry, I got a bit shaken up a bit, but I'm okay..."

"Thank goodness..." Devi said as she cuddled her little friend.

"That was weird." Tenna said as she came over to her friends. "Why did he held back from attacking you?"

"I dunno..." Devi answered bewildered herself about the incident.

****
"After your fight." Mina said "There is now doubt that you are truly the knights of light." Then explain "When you gain experience and your heart feels its ready, you will gain your armor."

She looked at Devi and said "You are the leader, Devi. The one with passion and a loving heart within that connects those to you. The one that represents creativity and love."

Then Mina looked at Tenna and said "Tenna, your cheerful outlook and honest feelings for your friends, makes you the knight that represents joy and honesty"

"Ooh!" Tenna replied "That sounds just like me!" Then she did a heroic pose holding Mr. Spooky in her hand as if he was still in staff form.

Then lastly, Mina turned to Eric and said "Eric, for your desire to help others and to protect those you care for,  makes you the knight that represents generosity and loyalty."

Eric was a bit surprised and didn't know what to say really about it.

"What about the fourth knight?" Tenna asked "How do we find him or her and can you tell us what this fourth night represents?"

"Like I said, you will know the fourth knight when your leader feels connected to the fourth knight's heart. Just keep alert of those around you. Follow your instincts and the knight shall appear. As for the fourth knight's title, it is uncertain, but it said that the fourth knight will represent freedom and forgiveness."

"So, maybe look out for a person that has those kind of traits..." Tenna said

"It's not as simple as that." Mina said

"Things like this are never simple." Devi finally said. "But I guess that's just how it rolls. Still, do you really think I'm the leader? I mean I screwed up a bit during the last battle..."

"You will grow stronger in time." Mina told her. "You are still inexperience and learning your powers and what to even do with them. You will make mistakes just like all humans do, but with experience, you will learn from your mistakes and show more and more that you deserve to be called a knight."

Devi and her friends looked at her a bit surprised by all her wisdom. This caused Mina to look down shyly.

"And we will help you." Edgar said as he stepped in. "We know a bit of the mystic world as you can see, we'll be able to give you advice and even help you a little bit with your combat skills."

"Well, that certainly helps." Devi said "At least we're no longer in the dark about this stuff."

"Yeah and we also gain new friends!" Tenna said. "Yay! More people for Devi to interact with!"

Devi sighed and rolled her eyes at her friend as well as did a face palm. She just wished Tenna would give that a rest. Demi jumped on Devi's head and said "Well, you have to admit, it is nice interacting with other people."

Devi just looked up at her and just shrugged doing a slight nod in agreement. She still wasn't so sure of having more people involved in her life, but deep inside she actually felt happy. Except something still bothered Devi. She was wondering about Johnny and his actions today...