Blinky waits in the middle of the stairs leading down to the Heartstone Trollmarket while the three teens stand at the entrance and take in the sight before them. The Trollmarket was a city under Arcadia.
"This is..." Toby said.
"Yeah..." Jim added breathlessly.
"This is incredible," Raelle said.
"This is your home?" Jim asked Blinky as they walked down the stairs.
"Trollmarket is home, and heart, and sanctuary for all good trolls," Blinky told him, "This way my friends, there's much to see."
"Dang!" Toby said. He, Raelle, and Jim high-fived, "And here I thought the only thing underneath our town was dirty plumbing."
The two trolls and three teenage humans walked deeper into the Trollmarket.
"Stay close," Blinky advised, "Human feet have never graced the ground of Trollmarket before."
As they walked through Trollmarket, other Trolls took notice of the three humans.
"Human?" A troll asked as the three teens walked by.
"Friends," Aaarrrgghh corrected the troll with a growl.
"This is crazy! Are you getting this, Tobes?" Jim asked.
"Oh yeah, on it!" He said, taking various pictures with his phone.
They walk past a troll getting his stone skin carved, which would be the troll equivalent of getting a tattoo. Jim waves at them and says hello, causing the troll who was carving to mess up. Toby continues to take pictures of all of Trollmarket. Some trolls even posed for the pictures.
"Check it out!" Toby said, walking over to different types of crystals and pointing at them, "Peridot, Topaz, Cassiterite!" He gasped and went over to a big piece of crystal, "Korneroupi..."
Before Toby could finish his sentence, he realized the rock he admired was actually a troll. And the troll looked at him mildly annoyed.
"Uh, hi," Toby waved before rushing to catch up with the others.
"Your knowledge of minerals is almost Troll-like, Tobias!" Blinky commented, impressed.
"So, your kind, you all live here?" Jim asked.
"Trolls travel from afar to our market to find comfort and residence," He said, "You'll find almost anything you need, and some!"
While the three teens and two trolls walk through the Trollmarket, gnomes scuttle around their feet. They had white hair and beards, large noses, and black eyes. They wore pointed hats, gray shirts with bucklers, fingerless gloves, and brown boots. Jim kneeled to the gnome in front of him.
"Oh, hey, little guy! That's a cute pointy hat-" Jim said. The gnome hisses at Jim, showing its pointing teeth. Jim jumps back, "And pointy teeth!"
Blinky rushes over and stomps around, missing the gnomes as they run away, "Go away! Get out of here! Vile vermin! Begone!"
A gnome climbed on a rock and blew a raspberry before running off.
"What was that?" Raelle asked.
"Gnomes are vermin. Pick-pocket, scum of the Earth! We only tolerate them for their grooming services," Blinky points to Aaarrrgghh, who does not feel a small group of gnomes climbing on his large hairy back in search of parasites.
"Grooming?" Jim questioned.
"They eat the parasites on the larger trolls."
One of the gnomes nudged Aaarrrgghh's ear by accident, causing his eyes to widen before flicking the gnomes off his back.
Toby quickly runs excitingly to his friends, "Jim! Rae! Check it out! Maximum coolosity there!"
Toby runs back to what he wants to show them. Rae and Jim followed, but they stopped after a few steps when they got a view of what Toby wanted to show them. Toby kept running. It was a gigantic luminous orange gem.
"Look at that. It's amazing!" Jim said.
"It's beautiful," Raelle breathed out.
"Heartstone," Aaarrrgghh told them. Jim, Raelle, and Toby walk over to the railing of rocks with Blinky following them.
"The lifeforce of Trollkind! The means that keeps us from crumbling to stone, and the source of light and sustenance!" Blinky proudly explained.
"Okay, that's totally the bomb!" Toby stated.
"What are humans doing here?" A troll questioned, causing the four to turn around and see a group of trolls with faces of either shock or disgust.
"Fleshbags!"
"Puny!"
"I think we've attracted the paparazzi," Toby mumbled.
Blinky stepped in front, between the three humans and a group of trolls, "Friends, there is no need to be afraid," He began. Jim slowly and nervously walks up as he gave a small wave, "He is the Trollhunte-"
Suddenly, the group of trolls was broken in half as a troll pushed through them. The troll is large and muscular with blue skin and a set of big horns on his head. He has two yellow eyes and spiky growths on his shoulders, arms, and back. He wears a ring in his nose, a brown leather kilt with a wide black belt, which has a triangular gold buckle, and green and brown leather wrapped on his right wrist. He also has patterns on his shoulders, chest, and chin.
"What is this!?" The large blue troll questioned in anger.
"I was just getting to that, Draal," Blinky said to the troll while backing away.
"Human feet have never sullied the ground of Trollmarket before. Who are these fleshbags?" Draal demanded.
"Believe it or not, he is... um. How do I put this? Our new Trollhunter!" Blinky explained. All the trolls gasp in horror, and the gnomes hid behind the legs of the many trolls.
"He can't be the Trollhunter! He's not a troll!" Draal pounds the ground with his fists where Jim stood. Jim quickly stepped backward into Aaarrgghh.
"Amulet chose," Aaarrrgghh said.
Draal roared in anger. Jim backed up closer to Aaarrrgghh while he remained unaffected.
"Try to remain calm! Destiny is just-" Blinky began before Toby interrupted him.
"Show him, Jimbo!"
Aaarrgghh gives the human Trollhunter a reassuring smile as he pulls out the amulet and begins saying the incantation.
"For the power of Merli-"
"Glory," Raelle corrected her brother.
"Right, sorry. For the glory of Merlin, daylight is mine to command!" Jim said. The amulet ticks, surrounding Jim in a blue ball of magic before the Trollhunter armor appears on his body. Jim tries to lighten the mood by saying, "Pretty cool, right?"
The gnomes whimper and scatter away while the trolls murmur.
"A human? Protecting us?" A female troll questioned while another one fainted behind her.
"Bushagal!" Draal exclaimed, "I am Draal, son of Kanjigar and the amulet's rightful heir!"
"Uh- You're his son?" Jim turned to the two trolls, his sister and best friend, "He's his SON!?"
"Yeah, I can see how this could be a problem," Toby said.
"When my Father felled, the honor should've passed to me!" Draal yelled as his anger grew. He attempts to remove the Amulet from Jim, only for it to blast him and Jim backward. Aaarrrgghh caught Jim in his hands.
"Amulet chose!" Aaarrrgghh told Draal again before setting Jim down.
Draal stands up from the ground and says, "We'll see what Vendel has to say about this.
"Feel free to vigil. In the meanwhile, lots of Trollhunter business to be done! Draal, wonderful to see you as always," Blinky said.
Draal growls and glares at the group as they walk away.
The five walk through an entrance to a tunnel with smooth mirror-like walls with a glowing neon sword sign hanging above it. Toby runs his hands across the wall as he examines it, while Raelle looks at her reflection and makes a little goofy face when Jim's armor deactivates and the amulet drops in his hand.
"Um, what just happened?" Jim asked.
"The amulet responded to your unconscious command, Master Jim," Blinky said, "You are at ease, are you not?"
"I am, actually."
"It senses that! You are beginning to master it!"
"Hey, Blinky, out of curiosity, why didn't you tell anyone back there that I am the Witcher?" Raelle inquired.
"Well, the reason for that is because I did not want to cause a panic," He replied.
"Why would it cause a panic?"
"Because there are trolls who are wary of the Witcher. The Witcher is neither troll nor Gum-Gum, but a gargoyle. Beings that are guardians by nature. They protect and help who they wish. But that is not always helpful because of the Witcher's parentage. Trolls revere Witchers, but they do not always trust them."
"Wait a minute. Does that mean gargoyles are real?" Raelle asked.
"Indeed they are," Blinky responded, "Gargoyles can be found all over the world, but are mainly in Scotland, England, Japan, Guatemala, France, Romania, and Avalon: the birthplace of magic. They turn to stone during the day and come alive at night. The first Witcher created them with the help of Oberon and Titania to guard the world with her. You will most likely come across them in your life, Mistress Raelle."
They walk into a large stone room. Surrounding the room, statues on stone perches stood high above the ground. A rock bridge connects to the training ground, with a closed gate on the other side. And there are tiers and balconies for those to watch.
"Holy Trolls!" Jim exclaimed, "Is this a palace?"
"This is The Heroes Forge!" Blinky said with enthusiasm.
As they walk along the rock bridge, Toby peers over the edge to see how deep it is. Jim and Raelle stand behind him.
"Ooh," Toby takes out his phone and takes a picture.
"Hehehe," Jim chuckles before he pushes Toby and catches him before he falls.
"AHH! Don't do that again!" Toby yelled at Jim.
Raelle punches Jim in the shoulder. Jim lets out an ow and rubs his shoulder.
"Quit messing around. Come on," Raelle said.
Raelle does her best to avoid looking down since she is afraid of heights. When they reached the training ground, Jim looked at the large doorway that looked like a troll's mouth.
"Magnifico," Jim breathed before he looks around to see statues of trolls placed upon giant pillars around them, "Wait, are these?-"
"Trollhunters," Aaarrrgghh said.
"Your predecessors, Master Jim. A line of heroism that reaches back to the ages of Merlin!" Blink said before he walked over to an empty space, "This is the place of the final reposed, Kanjigar the Courageous. One day there will be a statue of you here, Master Jim. One day very far off into the future, of course!"
"Yeah, about that. There's just one thing I'm not getting?" Toby mentioned.
"Just one?" Jim asked.
"You guys are trolls, so "Trollhunter" sounds a little like you hunt yourselves, y'know?"
"Hunt bad trolls. Gumm-Gumms," Aaarrrgghh explained as he pressed his large hand on Jim, causing the human teen to fall forward a little and let a groan in pain.
"Not exactly the most terrifying name," Jim said.
"Yeah," Raelle agreed, "It sounds like you guys are talking about candy."
"In Troll-speak, Gumm-Gumm means 'Bringer of horrible, slow, painful, and thoroughly calculated death'," Blinky informed them.
"Oh," Jim said. Aaarrrgghh pressed his hand on Jim's shoulder and accidentally pushed him forward again. Jim groans before he looks back at Aaarrrgghh as he rubs his shoulder.
"But do not be too concerned, Master Jim. You as well, Mistress Raelle," Blinky assured, "The Gumm-Gumms were exiled to the Darklands centuries ago. Only one roams free!"
"And wants to kill you," Aaarrrgghh added.
"Wait, Bular is one of the unspeakably evil trolls!?" Toby said while Jim sighed and facepalmed.
"Indeed," Blinky said, "His father and the rest of them now remain exiled to the Darklands but they have been trying to escape for centuries! I sense ill times are upon us, hence the need for us to begin Master Jim's and Mistress Raelle's training now! Step back, please!"
They all step back a few steps.
"A little further, Tobias."
Toby takes a few more steps back.
"Oh, very well."
Blinky shrugs before his two right hands press a sphere into the wall. Large axes appear from the wall causing the three teens to run away in fear for their lives.
"That's a big blade!" Toby screamed.
"Oh no," Jim said before ducking away from one of the large axes. Suddenly a large blade appears from the ground, Jim rolls away to avoid the blade and presses his back against the wall like Toby.
Raelle, on the other hand, was out there with the axes and blades. She dodges every blade and axe coming her way by jumping, flipping, running, and rolling. Raelle eventually makes it to the wall and presses her back against it to keep away from them.
"Excellent reflexes, Master Jim! You as well, Mistress Raelle," Blinky praised them.
"Great! But maybe we could start off easy? Like you know, with less... grindy things?" Jim suggested as he panted.
"Yeah," Raelle agreed with Jim, "Work our way up to the deathly, large blades and axes."
"Blinkous Galadrigal!" A male troll's voice called out. Blinky quickly deactivates the room as a tall, pale, elderly, male troll with long, large horns, a beard, and eyes as white as his fur walks in. He wore a brown leather skirt with three glowing gens on his right hip.
"Blinkous Galadrigal," The troll called out again, approaching them.
"That's your name?" Jim asked.
"Horrible, I know," Blinky said.
"I wish to meet the fleshbag supposedly chosen by the amulet," The troll closes the gap between him, Jim, Toby, and Raelle. He looks to Toby and introduces himself, "I am Vendel, son of Rundel, son of Kilfred."
"Uh, Toby," Toby introduced himself, "Son of Ralph. I live with my Nana."
Vendel quickly grabs Toby's arm and lifts him from the ground as he pokes and examines him, "Produce the Amulet Trollhunter."
Vendel finds Toby's phone from his pocket and accidentally crushes it into tiny bits.
"My phone!" Toby groaned.
"I think I'm the fleshbag that you're looking for," Jim waved as he took out the amulet from his pocket.
"Amulet chose!" Aaarrrgghh told Vendel, pointing to the amulet.
"Hmmm, so Draal tells me, ridiculous! However, the amulet has been known to make ill-fated choices," Vendel glances at an upset-looking Blinky, "as YOU know better than most."
"What's that mean?" Jim asked, looking at Aaarrrgghh.
"Blinky trained Trollhunter before," The giant troll told him, pointing at a statue covering his face in terror, "Unkar the Unfortunate."
"Why's he "Unfortunate"?" Raelle inquired.
"First night out. Torn."
"Like conflicted?" Jim questioned, hoping that his guess was it.
"No. Limb from limb," Aaarrrgghh said, making a ripping gesture with his balled fists.
The two teens glanced up at the statue. Suddenly, the arm covering Unkar's face fell. Toby lets out a yelp as he narrowly dodges the falling arm that landed beside him.
"If the amulet chose true, the Soothscryer will reveal it," Vendel said.
"Please, Master Jim hasn't had even an hour's training!" Blinky pleaded with him. Hoping that the elder troll will forgo the Soothscryer.
Vendel makes a gesture for Jim to come over. Chuckling nervously, Jim walks over and puts his feet onto the two etched foot markings on the ground. The amulet dinged, and light is channeled through the floor engravings. A large platform rises in front of Jim, revealing a machine shaped like a troll head carved out of stone. It has six glowing red eyes and four pointy teeth.
"Behold the Soothscryer! It will judge your true spirit! Insert your right hand, Trollhunter," Vendel instructed.
"Um, I'm gonna get it back, right?" Jim nervously asked.
"That is part of the test," He told the young teen.
"Oh great," Jim said before calling and waving to his sister and best friend in a whisper, "Rae! Tobes! Come here and help me!"
Toby and Raelle run over to Jim with no hesitation.
"Okay, Jimbo. But I am not sticking my hand in there!" Toby said.
"Same goes for me," Raelle said.
The two give Jim a boost by lifting him with their hands under his feet. Jim hesitantly places his right hand inside the Soothscryer's mouth. Suddenly, the mouth clamps shut and hold onto Jim's arm.
"AHHHHH!" Jim hysterically screamed as he tried to get his arm freed. He accidentally kicks Toby in the face and Raelle in the stomach.
The Soothscryer opens its mouth and releases Jim's hand. Jim falls on top of his sister and friend.
Jim looks at his hand and smiles, "I'm okay!"
"Oh, everything hurts!" Toby said.
Vendel walks over to them and looks at the Soothscryer.
"So? Did Jim pass or fail?" Raelle asked, looking up at Vendel.
"Inconclusive," He replied, looking down at the teenagers before walking away.
"Inconclusive? Pfft, not doing that again," Toby scoffed.
"Wait, wait, wait. What does inconclusive mean?" Jim asked.
"It means," Vendel stops and looks over his shoulder, "Trollhunter, that there's never been a human to bear the mantle before. The Soothscryer needs more time to render its judgment! Let us all hope you live long enough to see."
Vendel continues his walk out of the Hero's Forge. Not long after, Jim, Raelle, and Toby leave the Hero's forge and Trollmarket.
The three teens walk their bikes home on the street to the cul-de-sac.
"Ugh, what have we gotten ourselves into, Rae?" Jim asked, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Um, trolls? A cool underground city? Indigenous gem forms? Heartstone? What you've gotten yourself into is total awesome mania, man!" Toby said.
"-If we survive!" Raelle added, "There is a giant troll after us who wants to kill us!"
"Come on! You guys are gonna get trained by the best! Blinky is-"
"His last guy got torn limb from limb! ON HIS FIRST NIGHT!" Jim interrupted.
They walked in silence for a few moments.
"So there's nowhere to go but up!" Toby told them. They reached Jim and Raelle's house and spotted Barbara's car in the driveway, "Oh no, looks like your mom's home. Okay quick! I was bike jacked by three- no, make it seven, members of the Bratva, that's the Russian mob, and then you broke into their hide-out to try to save me and-"
"Or, I could tell her your bike got hit by a car, but you're totally fine," Jim suggested.
Toby thinks for a moment, and nods, "Eh, that works too, I guess."
"Night, Tobes," Jim and Raelle said. The three teens went their separate ways to their homes.
Jim and Raelle quietly enter their home. The two saw their mother in the kitchen. They tried to sneak upstairs, but the two failed when they heard their mother's voice and stopped in their tracks.
"Jim! Raelle!" Barbara called, "I'm in the kitchen!"
The two put their backpacks on the post of the stairs and walk toward the kitchen.
"Hey, Mom! Oh man, you would so not believe, what happened to me and Rae on the way home from-" Jim said, about to give his excuse but stopped when he and Raelle walked into the kitchen, seeing Mr. Strickler sitting by the serving hatch.
"Look who stopped by!" Barbara said.
"Hello, Jim, Raelle," Strickler greeted.
"Mr. Strickler..." Jim and Raelle returned.
"Mr. Strickler came by to congratulate you," Barbara mentioned to Jim with a smile as she worked in the kitchen. She placed two cups down and reached for the fridge.
"Oh. That's really... nice!" Jim said, wondering what Mr. Strickler would be congratulating him.
"It's a great honor that you have been chosen to wield this mantle. I have no doubt you'll prove equal to the task," Strickler told him. Jim and Raelle became worried that Strickler knew Jim was the Trollhunter and Raelle the Witcher. Raelle became tense and readied herself to fight.
"Of?" Jim wondered.
"Why didn't you tell me you were trying out for Romeo and Juliet?" Barbara asked her son as she poured hot tea into Strickler's cup.
"Maybe we could back up a few steps?" Jim requested, still confused, while Raelle let out a breath and gradually relaxed.
"Jim, surely you knew you'd run the part of Romeo? After your breathtaking audition yesterday?" Strickler asked Jim while clarifying what he meant.
"Yeah, after the audition I had to run, but- wait a minute, I get the part?" Jim said, at first confused, but then surprised.
"I was just remarking to your mother that I'm a touch concerned about your being spread so thin. In particular, in light of your new commitment to the chess club."
"And I didn't even think you knew how to play chess!" Barbara lets out a laugh. Strickler takes a sip from his cup and instantly regrets it as the tea tastes awful, "Chess, acting, it's like you have this entire secret life that I know nothing about!"
"You have no idea," Jim mumbled.
"Atlas too carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. And I am concerned, like him, that you're over-extending yourself," Strickler said.
"I can handle it!" He told his teacher.
"A few days ago, you were falling asleep in class," Strickler mentioned.
"Wait, what?" Barbara became distracted and did not notice the cup was overflowing until she looked down. She gasped and reached for a towel to clean up the mess.
"Yeah, but-but now I am recharged and ready to go!" Jim accidentally punched a vase off the table and stumbled to catch it before holding it up by the base in a pose, "To be or not to be, right? Right?"
"Dude, that's Hamlet," Raelle told her brother.
Barbara laughs before she pours milk into the cup and offers it to Strickler.
"Thanks," Strickler said, "I don't want to overstay my welcome," He wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to Barbara, "My phone, Mrs. Lake."
"Please, call me Barbara," She insisted.
"Barbara," Strickler kisses her hand, "Delighted to meet you!"
Mr. Strickler gets up and leaves the house. Barbara looks at her son and smiles.
"He really likes you!" She told him.
"Yeah..." He said.
"I've never seen a teacher take such an interest before. We also talked about you, Raelle. He said that your grades have been improving and that you could have a future as a historian or an archeologist," Barbara walks over to her children, "And he has a point, Jim. There are only so many hours in the day! If your grades slip, even a little, I'm going to insist you cut back, starting with the things the two you do for me!"
"We like taking care of you," Jim told her.
"Except that it's my job to take care of you!"
"Do you know when I was old enough to ask about dad?" He asked, "Remember what you told me? You said, "We just have to take care of each other". And you said the same thing to Raelle after the adoption went through. That's all we're doing, mom!"
The three share a heartwarming hug before Barbara kisses her children on their foreheads.
"You must be starving. How about breakfast for dinner?" Barbara suggested, walking back into the kitchen, "Even I can't screw up an omelet!"
Jim laughed before mumbling, "Wouldn't be so sure."
"What?"
"-I said, 'Sure'!"
"Nice save," Raelle said to her brother as they walked into the kitchen to join their mother.
"Can you two watch the pot?" Barbara asked as she gathered three plates, utensils, and cups, "I'm gonna go set the table."
"Sure, mom. No problem," Raelle replied.
After Barbara left the kitchen to set the table, Jim took the lid off the pot and quickly tasted it. Raelle could not help but laugh a little at her brother as he gagged as it slid off his tongue and down his throat. Jim went to work by fixing it quickly before their mother returned.
Jim tasted his creation and enjoyed the new savoring taste. Jim quickly set down the spoon as his mother popped into view and smiled. Barbara tried a sip and was shocked, not knowing what Jim had done.
"You know, that's actually pretty delicious," Barbara said, proud of her work. She walks away from the stove to grab something as she asks her children, "So, Mr. Strickler, he seems very nice. Is he single?"
Raelle got goosebumps and felt chills run down her spine. She could not help but feel that someone was watching and turned to the window in the kitchen but saw nothing. Raelle walks toward the window and sticks her head out for further investigation. She could have sworn that someone was there.
"What? I-I don't know," Jim mumbled.
In the Hero's forge, Blinky circles Jim, who stood straight up in his armor and his sword raised. Since Raelle had yet to be able to transform or master control of her vocal abilities, she would observe or not do any of the hard training that Jim does. Raelle thinks it's because Blinky does not want to be blamed for the death of a Witcher who is new.
"Wider stance. Keep your frame. No, that's good, that's good. Yes, all right, fine. That's better. All right. Raise your sword, Master Jim," Blinky instructed Jim as he pushed the sword to a higher height while Jim stayed in the position that Blinky had guided him to reach, "Mm-hmm. Head up, chin out, stomach in."
Watching from the sidelines were Aaarrrgghh, Raelle, and Toby. Aaarrrgghh had dumped the contents of a paper bag into his mouth, burping as he swallowed.
"Mmm. What's this?" Aaarrrgghh asked.
"Dander from my Nana's Persian and a couple of hairballs," Toby replied.
Aaarrrgghh dropped the whole bag into his mouth and pointed with a smile to Toby.
"Mmm, tasty," Aaarrrgghh said with a smile before he burped again.
Jim never followed Blinky with his head or eyes, only focusing on the positions.
"The Trollhunter lives and dies by three rules. Rule number one: always be afraid," Blinky spoke.
"Afraid?" Jim questioned.
"Be afraid," Aaarrrgghh stated.
"Yeah, I don't think that'll be a problem. Whoa!"
Jim quickly ducked as a rock was thrown to his head by Blinky, and he dodged it easily. He turned his head to see Aaarrrgghh, with a closed fist, had caught the rock. With one gulp, Aaarrrgghh swallows it as Blinky continues, Jim's face full of shock.
"See? Fear is good. Keeps us alert. Keeps us on guard. Makes us vigilant. A hero is not he who is fearless, but he who is not stopped by it," Blinky threw two more rocks at Jim, the boy quickly avoiding all the stones.
"Got it," Jim said with a grin.
"Two: always finish the fight. An opponent must be given no mercy," Blinky laughed as he threw more rocks, Jim, using his sword as a shield.
"Okay, enough with the rocks, already," Jim complained, breathing heavily, "Always finish the fight?"
Suddenly, Jim was taken down by a rock hitting his head from behind him. A groan escapes him as Aaarrrgghh's hand is still stretched out after throwing the stone.
"Kill!" Aaarrrgghh told the human Trollhunter.
Toby and Raelle pointed to Aaarrrgghh to say he had done it while Jim stood up, his hand rubbing the sore spot forming on his head before facing Aaarrrgghh, Raelle, and Toby.
"What the heck," Jim said, slightly confused.
"Indeed. The Trollhunter must always vanquish his opponent through death," Blinky finished.
"Dude, that's harsh," Toby commented.
"Ours is an unforgiving world, Toby D. Hence, the third rule: when in doubt, always kick them in the Gronk-nuks."
"Gronk-nuks?" Jim repeated, confused by what Blinky meant. On cue, after a few steps of Blinky's foot, a large blade fell near the space in between Jim's legs. He screamed and backed away.
"The horror," Aaarrrgghh shuddered.
The large blade soon returned to its slot in the training ground.
"So, basically, you're saying that one-third of being a Trollhunter is kicking someone in the nards," Jim said.
"I'm already a huge fan of rule three," Raelle said.
A voice cut through their conversation like a sharp knife through butter, Draal entering the arena with a mocking grin.
"Ah! So, the Trollhunter's training begins," Draal approached Jim and Blinky. He mockingly bows to Jim, "I thought the great Trollhunter might accept my services as a sparring partner," He punches his fist into his palm, making Jim flinch, "Part of your training regiment, isn't it?"
"In due time, perhaps," Blinky told him.
"Why wait? I am eager to see your charge demonstrate his mettle," Vendel stated as he appeared above them all, overlooking a ledge as Jim looked at his sword.
"Actually, the sword's more made of, like, daylight," Jim stated, misunderstanding what Vendel meant.
"He means your mettle, your ability to cope in the face of adversity," Blinky explained.
"Oh. Yeah, I'm still working on the whole "mettle" part. Plus, you know, SAT words," He said.
"Let them spar," Vendel chuckled as he watched.
"No harm in it," Drall said, grinning evilly, as he walked to his position on the opposite side of the area.
Jim glanced with shock at Draal before catching up to Blinky.
"Wait, what do I do?" Jim asked.
"Hit him as hard as you can," Blinky simply replied.
"No, no. I mean, what do I do? I've never hit anyone," Jim confessed.
Blinky looked at him, "Ever?"
"I've never gotten into a fight."
"In your entire life?" Blinky questioned.
"All 15 years of it, yeah."
"You fought Bular, however briefly, and you were glorious," He reminded Jim, "Your blade work was impressive."
"Those were just my chef skills!"
"Exactly! The fight is within you, Master Jim. Trust yourself. One hit! One hit and you will be changed forever."
With confidence, Blinky turns Jim and pushes him to Draal. Jim, on the other hand, is worried.
"Begin," Vendel said with a booming voice.
Draal growls and slams his fists into the rocky surface, roaring as Jim lifts his sword. Draal ran at the young human Trollhunter.
"One hit," Jim said.
Draal rolled into a sharp ball, Jim yelping as he jumped from the path of destruction. However, as Jim looked above, he noticed Draal rolling up to the ceiling before falling from his ball. Fists ready. Once Draal collided with the ground and dust-covered the area in a grimy blanket, the impact threw Jim into the denser part of the fog. Not being able to see anything, Jim was tackled by Draal, the blue mist brightening over the fog as the dust cleared. He used his sword as a crutch, still not able to stand well enough.
"All right, all right," Jim groaned, "Now, just give me a second here."
Repeated punches met Jim, his groans mixing with the sounds of his metal armor while being pounded by Draal's rocky fists. Draal pulled the weakening Jim up and punched him closer near the cliff. Jim's strength was declining rapidly, his sword vanishing too. Draal lifted Jim over the edge. Jim looked down and clutched onto Draal's fist in fear of falling into great depths.
"Let him go!" Raelle yelled. She stood up and was about to help her brother, but Aaarrrgghh grabbed ahold of her and held her back.
"I've waited my entire life to inherit the amulet. I can wait until you fall in battle," Draal squeezes Jim, the boy letting out another agonizing groan before dropping him, "I suspect I won't have to wait very long. If you know what's good for you, you'll stay down and live, worm," Draal turns as he laughs, "Trollhunter."
Draal walks away, leaving Jim as Vendel sighs and disappears. Blinky, with remorse, watches Vendel leave and then looks at Jim, who could not look at his trainer.
After the defeat, the five walk out of the Hero's Forge and through Trollmarket. The four followed the young Trollhunter to the stairs where they had entered Trollmarket.
"He might be right. What the heck was I thinking? An amulet can't choose anyone. It's an amulet," Jim cried out.
"Jim?" Aaarrrgghh said. But Jim ignored him as he walked up the first few bright blue glowing steps.
"I understand you're upset, Master Jim, but you've had not a moment's training. There's no shame in what just transpired," Blinky said.
"Okay," Jim turns to them, "Well, then you were definitely not paying attention back there. Shame was about the only thing that transpired. Shame..." Jim sighs as he takes out the amulet and looks at it, "And realization. I don't know if Draal should be the Trollhunter or not, and I don't care. I just know that I am not."
Jim tosses the amulet to Blinky's feet. Once it rested, a stone hand had lifted it from the ground, Blinky holding it close as Jim continued to the exit.
"Master Jim, despite whatever doubts you may have about the amulet's choice, it is now bonded to you. This is a mantle you cannot refuse," He said.
The glowing amulet leaves Blinky's hands and right to Jim's. The boy caught it with wide eyes as his trainer had spoken. Jim gathered himself together as a frown thinned his lips as he dropped it back by Blinky and continued onward. Toby and Raelle shared a look before catching up to Jim.
"Watch me," Jim said.
On their way home, Raelle tried to help her brother by telling him that he just needed some more training and to ignore Draal because he was just jealous that he was not the Trollhunter. But her words fell on deaf ears as Jim never said anything in reply. The rest of their journey was silent until Jim and Raelle said their goodbyes to Toby before walking into their home.
The two siblings walked up the stairs and went to their separate rooms. When Raelle entered her room, she plopped on her bed and stared at her ceiling. She wondered what she could do to help Jim. A little while later, Raelle was reading a book on her bed when she heard Jim scream. She knew that the amulet had returned and managed to startle him.
"When is he going to accept the fact that he is stuck with it," Raelle muttered as she turned the page.
A few minutes went by, and Raelle placed a bookmark in the book to mark her place before going downstairs. She went into the kitchen to get a glass of water, but Raelle forgot about it when she spotted Jim in the backyard with a bat. She walked over to the window and watched her brother throw the amulet into the air a few times before landing in his palm.
"¡Buenas Noches!" Jim said. With one more toss, the amulet smacked against the bat. Raelle watched as the amulet flew through the air and out of sight, "Home run."
As he headed to the back door, the amulet was thrown back, bouncing off Jim's head. Moving his bat to find what had hit him, he found the amulet laying at his feet.
"Really?" He yelled before walking back into the house.
"So, how many times have you tried to get rid of the amulet?" Raelle asked, leaning against the walk.
Jim only looked at his sister, the amulet still in his hand, before walking to the stairs.
The next day at school, after a rehearsal for the play, Jim was at his locker in the courtyard. Toby and Raelle walked up to him and were about to have a conversation, but suddenly Raelle got goosebumps and felt chills run down her spine. She knew that something awful was about to happen. Raelle looked around and saw Steve approaching them. When he stood in front of the three teens, he got into Jim's face. Jim and Toby's smiles faded away while Raelle glared at the bully in anger.
"Where have you been? I scheduled your butt-whooping for yesterday, jerk face and freak. And you two didn't show. Tick-tock, remember?" Steve said as he pressed Jim against the locker.
"He was busy getting his butt whooped by someone else. Take a number," Toby told him.
"Back off, dweeb!" Steve threatened.
"Don't you have to work on your caveman impressions?" Raelle asked, mocking him. Her words earned a glare from Steve.
"Steve, me and Raelle are really not in the mood to do this right now," Jim told him.
"Duh! Nobody's ever in the mood to get their face bashed in," Steve said, "But that's what's going to happen unless you want to back down."
Students watched with worried glances, Claire and Darci appearing behind Toby, Claire's face morphing into a worried expression.
"Uh, w-we can do that?" Jim asked.
"No way I'm backing down from putting Steve in his place," Raelle muttered under her breath.
"Sure. You want to crawl away from me, on your knees, bowing in front of everybody?" Steve chuckled, "That's a choice."
Raelle chuckled before stating, "There is no way that I will ever bow to you, Pal-jerk."
Students murmured while Raelle stared at her brother in shock as he dropped his bag and landed on his knees.
"Whoa!" Steve gasped, "I didn't expect you to actually choose wussing over whooping."
Jim's eyes moved over to Toby and Claire's. With another glance, Jim then stood tall, reaching his full height. Steve chuckled before shoving Jim into a locker. Jim let out a groan as his back collided with the metal. Jim ducked as Steve punched where he last stood, dodging each blow. Raelle was proud of her brother.
"Keep still so I can punch your face!" Steve demanded.
As Steve tried to punch Jim, he didn't notice that Raelle was subtly sticking her foot out. Steve tripped over Raelle's leg and fell to the ground. He gets up and glares at Raelle.
"Oops. Did I do that?" Raelle asked in a sarcastic tone.
"You're going to regret that, freak!"
Soon, Raelle joined Jim in dodging Steve's punches. Jim managed to duck from each fist sent to him but one. His body dropped as Steve stood proudly over him. Jim's eyes were not on Steve but on the glowing amulet inside his bag. With a firm look, Jim remembered yesterday before standing. The words: " Your life will change forever with one hit." replayed in Jim's mind.
"Stay down and live, worm," Steve said.
Jim was about to reach for his amulet before realizing he didn't need it.
"Is that all you got?" Jim asked.
As Steve advances, Claire appears in front of Jim, using her arms as a shield.
"Leave him alone, Steve!" She begged.
"Butt out!" Steve shoved Claire to the side, her body flying towards Darci, Raelle, and Toby.
"Claire!" Jim exclaimed.
"Good thing your mom's a nurse," Steve laughed.
"One hit," He mumbled. His fist tightly formed as the confidence grew within him.
Jim throws a punch underneath Steve's chin, sending the bully flying back. Steve's bones cracked as a tooth landed beside his pained face. Steve stood up as he growled at Jim in anger, but he was pushed back to lying on the ground when Raelle pressed her foot against his chest.
"And for the record, our mom's a doctor. Not a nurse, you ken doll look-alike," Raelle told him.
The students from the crowd cheered as Toby ran to the side of his two friends, stepping on Steve's arm in the process. Claire smiled at Jim as she stayed beside Darci.
"You did it!" Toby cheered, "And without even kicking him in the Gronk-nuks!"
Jim looked shocked at what had occurred before smiling happily. But the happiness ended when a voice cut through the cheers.
"What is going on here?" Strickler questioned.
All the students stared at him in silence. Strickler examined the scene in front of him. He saw Steve lying on the ground with Raelle's foot on his chest, Jim and Toby standing beside her.
"Would anyone care to explain to me what has happened?" Strickler asked the students.
Toby, Jim, and Raelle looked at each other nervously. Jim opened his mouth, prepared to take the blame for everything, but Raelle beat him to the punch.
"It was me, Mr. Strickler. I punched Steve," Raelle confessed.
"Very well. Mr. Paluck, I suggest you go to the nurse's office. Miss Lake, follow me to my office."
As the crowd of students dispersed, Raelle turned to her brother and friend.
"I'll catch up with you guys later at the clubhouse," Raelle said before walking away with her teacher.
Raelle followed Strickler through the halls until they entered his office. Strickler sat on the edge of his desk while Raelle stood in front of him.
"Now, Raelle, would you care to explain to me exactly what happened before I arrived," Strickler said.
Raelle took a deep breath before she told him the 'story', "Steve wanted a fight with me and Jim because we rescued Eli from his terror when he trapped him inside a locker. We stood up to Steve, and he didn't like it. Steve got up in our faces because apparently, we missed our scheduled 'butt-whooping'. He walked up to us a few minutes ago and started provoking us. Steve kept calling me a freak. He chased after me and Jim. He pushed Clarie away after she stood between him and Jim. And he said that we are lucky our mom is a nurse. Jim didn't do anything, but I punched Steve and placed my foot on his chest before correcting him by saying she is a doctor. And then you arrived."
Raelle looked down to avoid Strickler's gaze but felt compelled to look up. She did and saw a sympathetic look on his face.
"Raelle, I am going to let you off with a warning, but you need to have better control over your temper. Artemis was known to be fierce, defensive, and with a fiery temper. She, like you, took offense to anyone wishing harm to those she cared for. And she was known to never turn down a challenge. You must learn to control your temper, Raelle. Or else it is going to get you in deep trouble," Strickler told her.
"I'll try and work on that," Raelle smiled, "Thank you, Mr. Strickler."
"Good. Now, try and stay out of trouble."
"I'll try, but I can't help it if trouble finds me."
Raelle walked out of the office with her head held up high. She always looked at Strickler as a father figure and felt he was one of the few teachers the students here liked.
Once outside, Raelle got on her bike and rode it to the bridge. After a few minutes, she arrived at the bridge, riding her bike down the canal and standing under the bridge. Raelle texted Jim and Toby in a group text to let them know she was there. A few minutes later and a portal was in front of her. Raelle walked through and saw Toby holding the Horngazel.
"So, what did I miss?" Raelle asked.
"You won't believe what just happened," Toby said, excitement in every word he spoke.
"Try me."
"Well, after we got to Trollmarket, Jim was determined to find Draal. After asking around, we went to the bar here in Trollmarket. Me and Jim overheard Draal saying that he wanted to fight Jim again, just to humiliate him. Jim then confronted Draal and said that his wish was granted. Jim said that Draal just had to name the time and the place," Toby told her.
"And when is this rematch?" Raelle inquired.
"Next week," He replied.
"Let's just hope that Jim gets more training before the fight because I do not know how I'm going to explain to my mom why almost all the bones in Jim's body are broken."