A resounding clang of a bronze bell emitted into the stadium, and the spar began. Ninkan stayed where he stood, and Axonlage was forced to sprint across the pad to get to him. Suddenly, he did a move Ninkan had never seen. Pivoting on his foot, he spun, moving his leg straight at Ninkan’s face, and swung his sword at his thigh simultaneously. He blocked the heavy sword with his hand, and ducked to avoid his foot. Then he jack-knifed up in Axonlage’s blind spot, driving his rapier toward Axonlage’s unprotected armpit. Axonlage parried the rapier by jumping back and swinging his sword in a circular fashion. He knew what he was doing. Ninkan turned to the attack. He jabbed with his rapier repeatedly, making his silver sword dart at his head, chest, thigh, and back to the head again. Axonlage desperately parried the attacks, surprised by the speed of the jabs. He had enough, and, holding the sword with two hands, he swung the sword with all his might at the rapier, causing a crack, and sending the rapier, and his arm, flying backwards. Ninkan stumbled to recover, but Axonlage jabbed with the hilt of his sword, which connected to Ninkan’s face. Stars flew as the blow landed, and Ninkan fell back, hitting the ground. His vision started to black out, but he fought for control. He rolled away from Axonlage’s sword, and jumped up, which allowed him to get on his feet. Axonlage continued with his attacks relentlessly, flinging sword blows at Ninkan. He dodged these sword slashes with grace, and with an agility not seen in the Academy, Ninkan side-stepped a swing, and disarmed Axonlage with a flick of the wrist. The sword hit the ground with a clang, and Ninkan leveled his rapier at Axonlage’s neck.

“Stop the battle! Ninkan has won!”

A stunned silence swept the gym, but after a few moments, Ninkan’s fellow supporters erupted with a cheer.

“Ninkan. I need to speak with you.” said a voice behind him Ninkan turned around, and saw a tall swashbuckler. He had a scimitar buckled to one side, and a bow slung across his back. He wore a black cloak, a red veil, and a black tunic. His boots were lined with knives, and one of his eyes were green, the other blue.

“Look! Its the Legendary Swordsman of the South!” yelled out a student. Everyone turned around, and gasped. He was known as the Bane of the Bandits, the Plunderer of Pirates, the Thief of the Greedy, and the God of the Scimitar. He was a legend. And he was talking to a lowly student.

“There is no need for warm welcomes.” The Swordsman chuckled. He waved his hand for the students to sit down. “I just need to talk to Ninkan, and I will be off.” The students groaned. They wanted to learn a thing or two about the awesome techniques of the Legend. “Hush, hush. I may be able to stay for an hour.” The students roared with approval.

“Sir? I am extremely honored by your presence. What is it that is so urgent?”

“You use combat strategies like no other student here. Where are you from?”

“The Northern Lands, sir.”

“Yes… There is a resemblance. Could he be..?” the Legend muttered to himself.

“Sir? What is it?”

“You are the son of the King of Swordplay.” Ninkan’s heart skipped a beat. That was impossible. The King of Swordplay was the creator of the Sword itself!

“Sir… how..?”

“Your movement, the way you speak, and the way you dress… Yes. You are the Prince of Swordplay.”

“But… my parents. They died. I saw them die.”

“Those were your foster parents.” Ninkan sagged to his knees. He was the Prince of Swordplay. A billion questions assaulted his mind. “You will come with me. After I teach these children a thing or two about agility.”

Ninkan looked at his hands. He looked at his rapier. He was a master by blood. He was a master of the sword. He was a Legend.