The morning sun dipped lower and lower toward the horizon. Its light turned reddish, and the afternoon glow gently caressed the incredible landscape that accompanied the guild mates' journey.
Finally, after many miles travelled in total solitude, the dirt road began to populate: carriages coming from the east coast or who knows where converged towards the great capital of Tentochu.
Merchants and travellers of all kinds rushed in every direction, knowing they had to reach their destination before darkness fell. Although many of them looked like tamers, the areas in between the Crimson Lotus camps were not a good place to spend the night.
The constant thought of Ryutaro's possible arrest haunted Yoichi, who couldn't stop thinking about it. If the gatekeeper hadn't rushed to their rescue, he and his companions would probably never have made it out of the Blackvault Mines.
Moreover, Enatsu's wounds would never have been healed. There were no population centers around the dungeon, and the farmers who inhabited the plantations of their last stop were too far away. If he and Shioko had transported Enatsu and Rokuro that far, the young merchant would probably have died.
Lying inside the carriage, he lay motionless in the sunlight. His apparent sleep was disturbed by the constant pain caused by his wound, and tiny drops of sweat trickled down his face along his ears and into his curly dark beard.
Enatsu's already unkempt appearance looked even more scruffy. His hair tousled and damp, his clothes soiled with dirt, and the gauze wrapping the wound increasingly soaked with the blood that was slowly being expelled from his chest.
Even if he had wanted to diverge from that path to try and catch more demons, Yoichi knew he had to reach Goldhaven in a hurry.
Finally, after a full day of riding, the distant lights from the outer walls of the capital were visible. The weary spirits of the travellers were lost in that magnificent vision, realizing that they had finally come home.
The roads and byways that surrounded the area had emptied, and the night had brought with it a profound silence, interspersed only with the sounds of crickets and other woodland dwellers.
Genuine fatigue weighed down on the tamers and their horses, who trudged forward with difficulty. Once again, Ichiro proved to be the most resilient: along with Yoichi, the Inoshuma led the line, making way for the rest of the team.
What was supposed to be a simple mission followed by a lavish reward had turned into a deadly nightmare. Even though the threat of Ogai was gone, the constant thought of other Void Summoners scattered throughout the region crept into the tamers' minds like a hot needle.
"We're here," Shioko affirmed, squinting her eyes and taking a deep breath.
"Ryutaro-Sensei," Yoichi said, drawing his master's attention. The young tamer wondered how he could manage to see anything in the darkness with that black veil in front of his eyes. "So? What are you going to do now? You could lie down next to Enatsu and pretend to be injured. The guards wouldn't notice it at this time of night!" he suggested.
"Mhmh..." a thinly veiled, almost inaudible laugh escaped the old monk's lips. "Yoichi-kun... we've already talked about this. I will not run away before my fate. I didn't run away after my exile from the Imperial Palace. Why would I do so now?"
"Because you have a purpose, Sensei! Because you have to help me becoming stronger! It's not enough for me to have the key to the Dojo to follow your teachings. How am I going to do that without anyone explaining to me how to behave?" Yoichi complained, trying to soften his teacher.
"You're a fast learner, boy. It only took you a few days to figure out how to summon the dragon flame; I'm sure you'll be able to learn how to handle it in just as little time," he replied. "I will continue to be your master and find a way to communicate with you. Follow my instructions and go to Takamori with your companions. Let them take care of your friend Enatsu and start your daily training. The more hours you devote to meditation and physical training, in less time you will be ready to leave," Ryutaro added, evading the proposal of his only pupil.
Those words dissipated into the cool night air as the main gates of the capital city grew closer and closer. Reaching the Tamer District unnoticed was an impossible task even at that time of night.
Imperial guards watched over all the entrances to the city constantly. Even if they had waited for the shift change, surely the Dojo area was also guarded, waiting for the gatekeeper to return.
The only way Ryutaro could get back to his hometown was in the prisons of the Nishiyama Palace. According to the old monk, the Emperor's men would not have been snooping around his Dojo room. But what if they did? How could Yoichi have continued his studies and the cultivation of his powers if Ryutaro's books had been seized?
Besides the ancient tomes of Emperor Tatsui, the most valuable item in that room is the katana hanging on the wall. If Ryutaro is going to be arrested, it's not safe to leave it in there, Yoichi thought, beginning to think more carefully and calculating the various available options.
Large torches protected by iron cages hung along the city's historic white walls. Although Goldhaven had become familiar to Yoichi's eyes, each arrival was as exciting as the first time.
Under the light of the four largest torches set up on the sides and above the Main Gates, a group of five or six guards were relaxing in peace. The men wearing imperial armor chatted among themselves, biding their time and waiting lazily for their shifts to change.
When the sound of the wooden wheels of the carriage carrying Enatsu grew louder, two of them stood up, looking in the direction of the travellers.
The yellow coat of Ichiro, the opener, was the first thing their eyes could perceive in that dark street, lit only by moonlight.
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