Chapter 2.9 - Rulend - Black Mist

It happened again it seems. Blax decided to go into his dangerous berserk mode. He decided to wear that cursed armor just to save me from being swallowed by this plant. I still remember that day. When we were out in the forest during our school camp last year. It was free time, Blax, White, and I decided to take a little walk inside the forest.

"You know what? I really love nature." says White.

"See. I told you it would be fun!" said Blax as he patted White on his shoulder.

"It's not like this is my first time going out camping, you know." White nervously responded.

"So why were you worried about this camp on day one?"

"I don't know. I guess I just don't understand how the world works yet."

"You're saying you are still childish?" I barged in.

"Yeah. Something like that, Rulend."

White still was without a magic back then. Even so, he was still an interesting person because of the feats he had done. I couldn't believe how he actually managed to beat Zone without even using magic. Two times! Even when Zone improved his magic. He also managed to stop The Seven Month War. But most importantly, he was humble. He never took the credit as the one who ended that war.

Meanwhile, I was always the same as I was today but I think I lacked something back then and I already forgotten what it was. It's not like it matters to me anyway. By the way, Blax just recently won a big duelling tournament. Yeah. He got a gold medal for beating all of his opponent thanks to his Super Strength and his mastery in sword-wielding skill. Not many people can say you got a gold medal for beating people up. Blax didn't do it out of revenge of course. He did it for 'Justice'. I don't really get it but I guess it was probably related to his past.

"So Rulend." Blax asked me, "Do you think I should quit next year?"

I stumbled and asked him back, "Quit? What are you quitting from?"

"Yeah. What's the matter, Blax?" White was also confused with the breaking news.

"You see guys. I was thinking of quitting from entering any other school tournaments next year. I felt like I had to take a break for next year. You guys understand right? Especially with what's going on next year."

"But isn't next year the year where we will get to join The Magic Duel. If that is what you mean then, you're right. We really do need to focus on that since that result will determine where we will go into the future soon." White agreed.

The Magic Duel. Other than it being a grand tournament between the final year students. It is also a final evaluation test before you step out of a wizard high school. As White said. The results of the evaluation will determine where we stand in this world. In addition to that, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity for a wizard to change their ranking without going through a lot of proceedings. Yes. It was actually hard for one wizard to actually change their ranking. You can't just change it by just showcasing your skill. Sometimes you have to make an impact. Be that as it may, The Magic Duel could even be bad news if they dare to dishonour it. They may had to redo it the following year and there was a chance that your rank will be dropped.

Lots of stuff was going on in our head coming into next year. The Magic Duel especially. Back then, we didn't think about the duel very often. We're usually just ride whatever was trending back then. It wasn't that big of a deal. Everyone were all happily enjoying their life. Hosuke was happy. Zone and Airi were alright. Rider and Lore was fine as well. Kaym was also great. Obviously, Haz has been busier these days with all of those research that he was doing. But in the end we were all just a group of friends who happens to like each other for some reason.

As we were frolicking around these beautiful forest and experiencing what Mother Nature has to offer, White sensed something.

"Do you feel it guys?"

"What is it? I don't feel anything." I looked around but there was nothing at all.

"Is this one of your lame joke, White?" said Blax as he continued to walk.

"No." White stopped him, "I'm not joking this time. I heard someone is calling."

I don't really know how White could hear such things. Especially when you are all alone inside this forest. But it seemed Blax also noticed it.

"You're right."

Both of them decided to follow the 'voice' that they heard. I followed them from behind to make sure we're not separated. But still, out of all people. Someone like me who has Investigation couldn't even hear to such a thing? I should be the first to notice it. The mystery finally unfolded when the two stopped. We ended up founding a single grave. Apparently someone was buried here. But why here?

"No name..." Blax looked at the tombstone to find some details of the grave.

"Could it be a murder?" White suggested.

I objected, "There's no way it's a murder. Why would a murderer even made a tombstone specifically for the one the murderer killed?"

"I see. So what do you think about this, Rulend?"

"Let us see..." I walked around the grave.

I properly observed the grave and notice that there was a black lotus planted on the grave. Out of curiosity, I pluck it out. Suddenly, a black mist appeared from where the plant was planted.

"What did you do, Rulend?" Blax asked.

"I don't know. I'm just curious."

"Should we dig it?"

"For real?"

"Wait hold on guys." White stopped us. "Are you guys seriously considering digging up a grave?"

"What's wrong?" Blax nonchalantly said.

"WHAT'S WRONG?! Who knows what under there!"

"It doesn't hurt to find out right?"

"Okay...But I'm not responsible for anything alright."

That was White. He was always this worried whenever we wanted to do something out of the ordinary. Like digging up an unnamed grave. But over the year, White has been loosened up a bit. Especially when he agreed to ask Zone to 'cheat' our way in the Magic Duel.

Anyway, we dug in and found out that a set of armor was the thing that made the black mist flows out into the atmosphere. It was all black. We didn't know who it belonged to. We don't know anything about it.

"Is there a body?" Blax asked.

"No. There isn't" I continued to observe, "There's no evidence that shows this armor was previously worn by anyone who was death here. It seems this armor was left as it is."

"Now why would someone made a grave for an armor?"

White gave us a logical answer, "I think it is safe to say that the owner decided to throw it out. I mean, where else would you throw out an old armor set? Next to the road? A forest would be perfect."

He's right. That was probably the logical answer that we all come to agree together. But what was still making me wonder was why does the armor set were releasing a bunch of black mist all around it. In addition, the area was getting darker thanks to the black mist.

"I think we should leave now." White suggested

They said 'curiosity killed the cat'. Well in this case, it didn't kill them, but it cursed them. Blax suddenly wore one of the gauntlet onto his arm. The gauntlet suddenly locked into his arm. Blax couldn't take it off.

"What are you doing Blax?!" Both White and I were in panic.

"I don't know. I can't take it off. Help!"

"Hold on, I'll try to find some help." said White as he immediately ran out to find help.

Things were getting intense when Blax was screaming in pain. I tried to pull the gauntlet off but it didn't budge at all. Black Mist began to cover all over Blax. Everyone could tell that Blax felt a very tremendous amount of pain right now. He was screaming while forcing himself to endure the pain.

"No! I don't want you!" Blax suddenly said something weird.

"Are you alright, Blax?"

"Get away from me!"

It was weird. Blax was like talking to another person but there was no one at all when I looked around. Was he possessed or something? I tried to wake him up by shaking him around but he didn't respond to me at all. It was all black.

I tried to grab onto the gauntlet but I was thrown away by a mysterious force. What exactly was going on? I looked at the grave that we dug and noticed that the other armor set were shaking. The armor set then levitated and went inside the Black Mist that was surrounding Blax.

"Blax..."

Blax suddenly stop screaming and the Black Mist was absorbed by something. It was revealed that the armor set was absorbing it. But what was more surprising was that, Blax was wearing it. Yes. The Black Knight Armor. I didn't know it at first but after that event, I made research about any sorts of black armor.

I founded out that it was once belonged to The Black Knight. His true name was never revealed at all. He was only known by that name. Legends said that he was an avenger who killed anyone who betrays their friend, family, city, or country. He was like a symbol of Justice. But the problem was that The Black Knight's way of handling things were too harsh.

One day a whole army decided to eliminate him because he may be too dangerous to continue doing his things. The Black Knight was very mad knowing that he was betrayed by the world itself just because of his blind justice.

I don't know how it relates to Blax. But, Blax seemed like a person who likes to talk about justice. I figured that The Black Knight Armor had chosen him for some reason. But other than that. I didn't really know. All that's left on the legends was that he was killed knowing he was betrayed by the world itself. I'm really worried about Blax condition. I sure hope he was hanging on to himself.

Who knows what Blax heard when The Black Knight talked to him. Maybe if Blax decided to tell us about it, we could figure something out about his problems. There I was. Feeling fearful of what's to happen to us. What took White so long to get help anyway? Well, to be honest. White was always a shy person. So it may take some time for him to convince some people just to get help. In any case, The Black Knight Armor was filled with mysteries for now. But sooner or later, I will uncover it.

TO BE CONTINUED