For the next few months, things were wonderful in the Masaki Kingdom. Only minor skirmishes occurred with the southern kingdom of Drakkar. Head Knight Jiro and the Cerulean Knights put down each skirmish quickly.

Months after Jiro's time as Head Knight he met, Xeres Drakkar . . .

"Come out now!" ordered Jiro to a man hiding in the bushes near the border with the kingdom of Drakkar.

The man came out, his red hair ungroomed, and his green eyes staring Jiro down. He wore a white headband, red plate mail, and a rapier on his waist. "I don't want any trouble, so just let me pass, I�m an exile of Drakkar and I seek sanctuary in the Masaki Kingdom," said the man. Jiro looked at the man and asked, "What's your name?"

"My name is Xeres, Xeres Drakkar," replied the man.

"Know the power of the kingdom of Drakkar!" flashed the words of Vlad Drakkar, ten years ago.

"Drakkar, huh? Prepare to die," stated Jiro, coldly, as he reached for his katana. "Hey, I don't want any trouble!" exclaimed Xeres. Jiro eyed him again and said, "Then die like the dog you are."

Xeres drew his rapier, and pointed it at Jiro. "We don't have to do this, you know." Jiro stared at him and smiled, saying, "Oh, yes we do Drakkar." Jiro charged Xeres and began the offensive. Slashing, stabbing and thrusting at the confused Xeres. Xeres was barely able to defend himself from Jiro's assault. Damn, this guy is serious! I don't have any choice now! thought Xeres to himself.

Xeres parried one of Jiro's slashes and pushed him back, several feet. Pointing his open hand toward Jiro, Xeres shouted, "Celestial Fire!!"

Suddenly a blazing fireball was thrown toward Jiro.

Jiro brought his katana back and screamed, "Maho kiritsukeru!" as he slashed at the oncoming fireball.

The blade of Jiro's katana met the fireball in mid-flight, and, with a loud crashing sound and a flash of light, the fireball was thrown off its course to the left of Jiro.

The fireball smacked into a rock face and exploded, shaking the ground.

Now, both of the men stood there gasping for breath.

"How, how could he stop that?" asked Xeres. Exhausted, Jiro said, "I've studied for years how to master this sword, I won't be taken down that easily."

Suddenly, a group of horsemen came from behind Xeres. Xeres turned to face them and shouted, �This is a Drakkar Death Squad, they�re only after me so get out of here!� Jiro, surprised by Xeres� statement, ran to Xeres� side with his sword ready to help the man he just fought with.

�Don�t ask questions, Drakkar, I just want a fair fight, after they�re gone we�ll finish what we started!� exclaimed Jiro.

The fight did not last long; both Xeres and Jiro easily defeated the death squad in pursuit of Xeres.

�Now are you ready to die, Drakkar?� asked Jiro as he felled the last soldier. �You�re not serious, are you?!� asked Xeres.

Jiro�s eyes narrowed as he said, �I told you after they were killed, that we would finish this.�

Xeres dropped his rapier and said, �I�m not going to fight with you, you�ve just saved my life; I owe you now.� Surprised, Jiro thought to himself, What is this, I didn�t think Drakkars had any honor? He then said, �Fine, come with me to the capital, and become we'll see if you're really as honorable as you sound if I make you pay your debt by becoming a Masaki soldier.� Xeres� eyes widened as he began a smile, and asked �Okay, are you sure you can get me into the kingdom with your king�s approval?� Jiro smiled and said, �I�m Head Knight Jiro Masamune, my only superiors are the royal family, and the King's an old friend of mine.

�You�re Head Knight Jiro?!� exclaimed Xeres.

�Yes, I am,� answered Jiro as he sheathed his katana. �I just fought with the man the Drakkar soldiers have nicknamed �The Sword Demon� and lived!� exclaimed Xeres. �You�re a skilled fencer yourself, Drakkar. You shouldn�t be surprised you survived, your skill is what saved you,� Jiro said.

�Not to make fun of you or anything, but I always thought you�d be taller,� said Xeres to Jiro. Jiro grumbled and said, �It doesn�t matter how tall someone is, so long as they�re able to get the job done.�

Over time, the two men became allies, trusting each other more than they did any other. Soon, Xeres proved himself in King Flik's eyes and gained his trust as well and soon was named a Cerulean Knight, and the Infantry Captain.

For several more months, the Masaki Kingdom grew, and prospered until . . .