BIG HAT RYAN: SIDE STORIES -VOLUME I-

Tome I -The Black Mage- Part 1

A dark and hideous creature walked the trail at midnight. Dressed in old rags fashioned from rotting linen, it carried a single wicker basket. Adopting a human posture, its ominous figure roamed into town. Before first light, its figure could be seen retreated back down that same trail, leaving a trail of blood behind, dripping from that closed basket. And it would be the next morning that a funeral would be held for the youngest child of the village. On the twelfth of each month, the creature would return until one day in its stead, a child returned cold and shivering and covered in blood not a single parcel of clothing about it. As the townspeople offered him shelter, that very same night, everyone laid dead wiped off the face of the Earth by a plague. But the child, he wandered forth yet.

With a whoosh of his coat and a reflexive movement to his back, Big Hat Ryan pulls forth his sword to meet the eager strike of a young knight. The shrill ring of metal clashing resounded throughout the town square. Quickly a crowd gathered and what would be a fan club of the young knight begins cheering, awed by his very appearance. So the knight from under his blonde bangs, throws them an egotistic look and a white smile to seal his arrogance: a declaration of victory no less.

He was Night Henderson, a child of nobility destined for knighthood since before his birth. And yet, still an adolescent, he let his status go to his head, he let his talent become him; he had the audacity to challenge the king of his very own nation. With an expression of naivety and the glint of a foolish eagerness in his eyes, his smiled begged for attention and heroism. In a standoff with his king, Big Hat Ryan, his confidence doesn't waver even in his presence, and as the blades of their swords cut into one another, the two are forced to jump back to break the stalemate, for this was not a farce of sheer strength but that of skill and refined technique.

Standing at one end of the square, donning an oversized mage's hat, and an intricately designed great sword, forged of a pure, heavy, dark metal through and through, the king, Big Hat Ryan, smiles at the knight's continued temerity. He throws the blade of his sword to the ground using the hilt as support as he laughs to himself of his foolishness.

Taking offense to Big Hat Ryan's belittling, Night Henderson rushes forth with a much smaller and thinner longsword.

"Still at it with your same childish games are you, Henderson?" Big Hat Ryan makes conversation as he parries Henderson's attacks one after another, merely amusing him and making him look a fool to the crowd. While there were many opportunities for a riposte, Big Hat Ryan continuously allows Henderson to regain himself and swing again. "Surely, you should be focusing on becoming a knight at your age."

"What are you talking about—I'm already—the—best—knight—in the kingdom!" Henderson continuously swipes, talking between strikes, and trying his very best to land a hit.

"You say that but you seem to be aiming at my sword; you'll never defeat anyone like that." Quickly, Big Hat Ryan throws Henderson's balance and holds him at sword point with ease. "And there you have it." Big Hat Ryan shrugs his eyebrows to the group of girls cheering for Henderson. In a moment's notice, they change their cheers to that of Big Hat Ryan.

"My fan club!" Henderson pouts, astonished at their easy betrayal.

Big Hat Ryan offers the defeated and bitter Henderson his hand. Quickly Henderson's attitude changes and he offers a smile of sportsmanship to Big Hat Ryan as he takes his hand and is pulled to his feet.

"You're much too arrogant Henderson."

"Maybe so, but it does not change the fact that I must beat you, my greatest rival."