Two or three stablemen guarded each of the fences, and about ten people welcomed customers to the central counter. It was placed along the longest side of the building, inside of which it was not allowed to enter.
As always, a large wooden banner near the roof read 'City Stable'. Yoichi and Enatsu approached Shioko together.
"Greetings, Miss Shioko. I see you're in the company of new traveller friends," a middle-aged, skinny, clean-shaven man exclaimed with a smile.
"Good morning. Besides Taya, I'd like to rent an additional horse," Shioko affirmed, resting an elbow on the counter. She forced another customer who was paying one of the cashiers to move half a meter in her rude manner.
"Of course, Miss Shioko. Just one extra horse? If you take two, the price is discounted and..."
"As I said. Besides Taya, we just need one more. You can put it in the guild's tab, thank you," the red-haired girl woman. In a gesture of annoyance, she banged her hand twice on the counter and walked away to the largest of the fences.
The man who cordially welcomed her looked at Yoichi and Enatsu, holding the same smile. "I guess you've recently known Miss Shioko. Don't be afraid, even if she has some rough ways, she's a true warrior of honor!" he cheered.
The two companions thanked him nodding and then followed their comrade. As soon as he saw her arrive, one of the fence's stablemen automatically walked up to the horses.
Free to run and munching the grass constantly irrigated by the waterfall water, which flowed underground, more than fifty stallion horses were scattered beyond the high wooden fence.
The groom, a low-fat man wearing a funny leather cap, pulled reins and a saddle out of a large trunk. Soon after, he approached a white horse and spuced it up with all the necessary accessories for the trip.
"Miss Shioko, Taya is ready to go" the little man spoke, approaching the stallion at the gate of the fence and handing over its reins to the warrior-woman.
"Hey, hello, baby. I missed my girl, you know that?" with a rather unusual way of behaving, Shioko petted her horse's muzzle, kissing its soft black nose. "We need another one. Round trip, we'll be gone at least four days", she added, treating the groom as if he were her subordinate.
"Um... of course, my lady. I got it. I think I got just the thing for you," he replied, taking a look at Yoichi and Enatsu, still to wait in the rear.
Approaching the horses again, the groom equipped a dark brown stallion. He stroked its mane and slipped the reins with a speed and professionalism worthy of his expertise.
"It is tireless, a real fury. Unlike Taya, quite lighter, it needs to drink more water. He is a trained horse and obeys most standard controls. Here it is" the little man in a leather cap explained.
Opening the gate, Shioko let Taya and the other horse out. The brown stallion was taller and heavier. Without even looking at him, she delivered its reins into Enatsu's hands.
"Thank you, Shioko. And thanks to you too!" the merchant spoke, hanging his head in respect.
"Part of the job, dear customer. I wish you a pleasant journey!"
The sweetness with which Shioko deal with her horse makes me think. As I imagined, that girl isn't as bad as she looks. Piece by piece, her mask will fall, Yoichi pondered. Grumpy with anyone, the red-haired girl treated her horse like a daughter.
With backpacks full of supplies and horses ready to ride, the three adventurers were eager to go on their mission. Enatsu and Yoichi's first real outdoor quest was ready to be faced under the watchful eye of an experienced warrior.
After thanking and greeting the groom, they walked away from the city stable. The sound of waterfall water splashing over the quiet surface of the lake got further and further away.
While the orange sunlight painted the outlines of the buildings and city walls, the Nightblades warriors left the Main Gates of Goldhaven. Yoichi recalled Kenji and summoned Ichiro, the only demon among their mounts.
Although the Inoshuma lacked reins and a saddle, Yoichi's legs had become accustomed to the shape of its back. Without any effort, the young tamer would be able to travel great distances and complete the new quest of his system.
In addition to finding the necklace, in fact, he would have far exceeded the 80 miles that would grant him a secret reward: an extra skill for his Oracle. Without wondering why, Yoichi knew that the writings of blood, until then, had never lied, and he intended to do every thing they asked with determination.
Just as he and Enatsu were immersed in their thoughts, reflecting on what kind of place the Blackvault Mines might be, Shioko broke the silence. "I guess you've never faced a dungeon before. Don't you?" she inquired.
"No, never" Enatsu answered, after a moment of hesitation.
"So, there are a few things you need to know. The place where we are headed is an intermediate difficulty dungeon, suitable for three people. The number of tamers is not binding. It is a piece of simple advice. If you two faced it yourself, you'd be brutally killed in a few minutes, but if Sada-sensei came in alone, he'd be able to complete it without any problems," Shioko explained, riding.
Yoichi and Enatsu remained silent to listen.
"Once you enter, if you choose to get out without having it completed before, your demons' XP points will be halved."
"What?!" the merchant gasped. "I've never heard such a thing! I thought dungeons were simple places where tamers go to catch rare demons!"
"Well, it's clear that those who told you such nonsense had never completed one. By my account, I've already finished the Blackvaul Mines three times," Shioko chuckled.
"How can you complete a dungeon?" Yoichi interrupted, trying to get straight to the point.
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