The sun was up in the sky. Green fields extended everywhere to the infinite.

The young knight sat in a rock under an oak and rested. His hand let loose the grip of the dragon headed sword and took his helmet off. He stared at the horizon, where the road extended to a forest, past a river and to a mountain. And beyond the mountain? Who cares.

"Damn!"

He wished to be back at his house with his friends. His parents had died when he was 15 and never saw him becoming a knight of the Order of the Celestial Dragon at age 18. Legend said that he was the only one of his kind that helped his kingdom when it was under attack from evil forces. To honor him, the Order was created. Only the most skilled and honorable persons could become part of it. They were the kingdomīs finest...

Until some mad alchemist found the way to produce gunpowder in great quantities. Now even the most humble farmer could kill a monster just by pressing a trigger. He knew the day would come when he and the others would be replaced by firearms. But somehow, he hoped that day would come after he had the opportunity to serve his king and prove his worth. Until he saw the first division of harquebusiers practicing in a field near the castle.

Suddenly he felt really old. And useless.

So here he is, in a quest to find a place that needs a knight. Was the princess kidnapped? Is the neighboring kingdom about to declare war on yours? Or a dragon burned the fields? Just call Kal and the problem will be solved, he thought. He would laugh if it wasnīt so sad.

He put the helmet back on, grabbed the grip of the sword (custom made for every knight of the Order) and followed the road again. Somewhere, someplace, there was a great adventure just waiting for him to start.

He didnīt want to make it wait.