In the aftermath of the fight the king´s knights secure the castle again. Outside there is a man waiting for Hi. The man wears a kimono a jacket with fur on it and a round bamboo hat, he is armed with one katana and a wakizashi. He has white hair and black eyes."I´ve been waiting for you heir of fire!" the man says. "Who are you? I have a feeling that i have seen you somewhere!" Hi answers. "I´m sure you have. First time seeing you though. I heard you are strong and wield a sword quite well. I´ve seen you in action. How about a bout? I´ll tell you about me if you win." he tells him. "Alrighty then. I won´t hold back!" Hi says. "I´ll observe the duel samurai!" Sozin says looking at him as if he knows him. "Thanks, let´s not waste any time then!" he says. "3,2,1 and begin!" Sozin says counting down. Hi draws his sword while he is still counting. He assumes a stance with the point of the sword pointed at his enemy his thumb on the crossguard. The samurai assumes low standing position with his hand on the sword having released the sword from his scabbard with his thumb as to sheathe it out easier. Hi approaches him with a quick light stab. The samurai sheathes his sword as soon as he attacked and swiftly aims for Hi´s neck. Hi realizes and pulls his sword back to block with the crossguard. The samurai holds his katana now with two hands close to his head and then points it forward at an angle. They slowly circle each other waiting for the next move. Hi raises the sword overhead pointing the tip to the ground at an angle. The samurai strikes at him but Hi blocks it with his sword and uses that force to strike him with a reverse edge cut. The samurai jumps back. The samurai charges in close with his katana with his left hand blocking off Hi´s sword and attacks him with his wakizashi. He realizes the attack and pulls his head back. The samurai hits Hi´s armor and his wakizashi bounces off. The samurai backs off sheathing his wakizashi again and holding his katana with two hands. Hi attacks in that moment but he hits something hard. It´s magic armor made from neutral armor wrapping the body in protective suit of mana. The samurai uses that moment to strike at Hi. Hi manages to barely dodge having some of his long hair cut. Hi covers his longsword with fire magic. He increases the swords range and attacks him from a safe distance. The samurai cuts trough the fire attacks and moves in closer. He launches a vertical cut which Hi dodges under blocking with his sword just in case. Hi is now behind him having moved at an insane speed accelerated by his fire. He points his sword at him from behind. The samurai turns around striking at the blade but Hi with one hand adjusts his crossguard at the moment of the strike to get it out the way and unsheathes his one handed sword pointing it´s tip at the samurai´s neck. He held the sword with both hands and has no choice to surrender. "Alright you got me!" the samurai says surrendering. Hi sheathes his swords and so does he. "Hi has won!" Sozin says proud. "I must say that speed was something else i wasn´t expecting such an explosive increase in speed and range. You caught me! Now that i know what you can do i won´t lose a second time in duel with just swords at least. Allow me to introduce myself." he says putting his hat off and bowing. "My name is Byakuya and i am one of the nine sword deities. The second one from kano-country." he says. "So that´s where i have seen you. I saw a drawing of yours once. I assume the first one is the legendary sword god who lived in our country. " Hi says. "That´s right i am a descendant from that sword god. His blood flows in my veins albeit mixed with other blood from my family. He was quite the historical figure although no one is sure if he really achieved all that." he says. "The sword god? hmm. I heard of him met some of his disciples once. Including you!" Sozin says. "What? You? From that time ? the wandering monk?" Byakuya asks surprised. "You might the surprised to where else i´ve been to. Everywhere.. well almost everywhere except that treacherous island out in the ocean." Sozin answers. "What island?" Hi asks. "The whirl!" Sozin answers. "What´s that?" Hi asks. "Trust me you don´t wanna know." Sozin says. "Oh ok. Anyways what is your true reason for being here Byakuya i trust it wasn´t just to test my strength." Hi tells him. "Alright. I´ll tell ya! Gotta keep my promise. I am here to join your part heard you guys are still searching for more members!" Byakuya answers. "Yeah you are now. Welcome partner!" Hi says shaking his hand. "Nice to be here!" Byakuya says. "Might be a while till we hunt again. Gotta do some things back home after all i am the heir of fire´s current leader. We´ll open the borders for travel and trade with the holy kingdom of light." Hi answers. "Can you do that?" Byakuya asks. "Sure can! My father talked with the shogun and he says it´s fine!" Hi says. "The shogun?" Byakuya asks surprised. "Well the strongest and leading clans need to have strong ties to keep us in check. We are only second to the shogun´s power. He has the national treasure unlike us so we must obey." Hi explains. "I guess i should keep up with the news more!" Byakuya says. "Until then! Well guys it´s been fun while it lasted! Everyone is free to do whatever now that our next quest." Hi tells the party. "Yes!" they say. "Well back to hunting criminals!" T´chal says teleporting away. "Back to the elves we go!" Yuxuan says teleporting away with Vernon and Gale. "More research needs to be done and more teaching back at the academy. Let´s go Sascha!" Magnus says teleporting away with her. "See ya!" she says. "Gotta submit my report to the guildmaster!" Erik says teleporting away. "Well have fun you two!" Hi says teleporting away to his home. "And he is gone!" Sozin says. "You wandering around too?" Byakuya asks Sozin. "Yep continuing on on my journey." Sozin tells him. "Same here! More opponents to challenge!" Byakuya says. "Let´s go together then. Through the dark forest. To find something exciting!" Sozin says. "Yeah!" Byakuya says too. "Can you tell me some stories on the way? About other swordsmen you met!" Byakuya asks of him. "Yeah. Gotta do my job as an old man!" Sozin says. "You´re not old... at least in dragonkin standards." Byakuya says. "Flattery won´t get you anywhere. I know how great i am whitout you telling me." Sozin says. "Alright alright. I wasn´t asking for any life lessons!" Byakuya says. "You know what you´re right. Since you asked me for swordsman stories i´ll tell ya" Sozin says. The both of them walk into the forest into the sunset.