"On horseback, we should be there in about two days. Sada-sensei allowed me to rent a horse from the city stable," Shioko replied. She vigorously tightened the water flask cap, putting her head and arm under the lace with which she would carry it.

"The city stable? You mean we're going to get horses that don't belong to the guild?" Enatsu asked, not knowing that the capital offered that possibility. ​​

"I own a horse, as well as your friend, from what I know," Shioko spoke, referring to Yoichi. "It is not convenient to travel in two on a single steed. The master decided to pay a horse for you. When we come back, we will return it to the city stable," she confirmed.

Enatsu nodded his head. He did not imagine that Takamori could be so accomodating, making it easier for them to achieve their 'personal' quest. The search for the necklace at the Blackvault Mines was not in the guild's interest but was part of the pact between the guild leader and Yoichi.

When all three tamers were ready to go, they made their way to the exit. The noises of food in their bags and the metal equipment echoed in the tower's narrow square rooms.

Before reaching her fellow travellers at the front door, Shioko went up to her room. When she came back, a short bow was tied behind her shoulders. Next to it, leather laces held a quiver, tied on one shoulder. Inside of it, no arrows.

Enatsu avoided asking that grumpy girl any more questions. On the contrary, Yoichi did not hold back his curiosity. "I know it's probably a meaningless question, but... why are there no arrows in the quiver?" he asked, smiling.

Shioko did not answer. She grabbed a door handle and pulled it hard. The leaf of the old door crept on the uneven wooden floor.

"If we travel together for two days, maybe it's better if we improve our communication, don't you think?" Yoichi continued, following his guildmate. "I understand that you are not very chatty, but..."

Before the young tamer could finish the sentence, Shioko lowered herself on her knees. In an incredibly fast movement, she performed a low kick backwards, striking Yoichi's ankle. Unbalanced by the kick, he fell with his back to the ground.

The next moment, the red-haired girl rode on his abdomen, pulling out the bow and pointing the edge of its wooden rod at his throat.

In less than three seconds, Shioko had immobilized Yoichi, showing an incredibly fast and accurate combat technique.

"What the fuck are you doing?!" Enatsu gasped, stepping back in fear.

Yoichi looked at Shioko. Their faces were a few inches from each other. The Nightblades tamer's red hair hung to one side, touching the worn floor.

"I don't care if the master saw something in you. You and your friend are just losers, so don't you dare talk to me like that. We're not friends, and we never will be, so drop that smiling expression from your face. It hits my nervous system," the girl grunted. After getting even closer to Yoichi's face, she detached the bow from his neck.

Yoichi began breathing again, and Shioko raised from the ground. Resting one hand on the floor and getting up in a handstand, she landed on her feet and with the bow on her back.

As Enatsu helped his comrade get up, she walked out the door.

"That girl creeps me out, Yoichi... these days, I seriously believed that Sada-sensei did it on purpose. Rinji could have come with us or... I don't know... the charming Yoishiko maybe! Why her?" Enatsu mumbled, squeezing his friend's hand.

"Uff... she's got a temper, but... she's wearing a mask," Yoichi replied, walking out the door.

"What do you mean?"

"That little girl is aggressive and behaves like a wild beast, that's true. But I'm sure over time she'll get used to work with us. All she needs is a little calm..." the young tamer commented again.

Enatsu closed the tower door. Just as the three adventurers moved away from the headquarter, Toshi was walking from the opposite direction. The pale Nightblades warrior relieved Shioko and Enatsu, guarding the tower in Takamori's absence.

"Arf! Arf!" he barked, passing by Enatsu and making him jump with fear. "Hahahah! Schmuck! Hahaha!" giggling like a bully, that strange-looking warrior headed to the tower.

"Fuck him! We've been here less than a week, and we're still being treated like the village idiots! One day I'm going to show that guy what I'm capable of, I promise!" Enatsu growled. The merchant vented his frustration as soon as the pale-faced warrior was far enough not to hear his words.

Yoichi continued to watch Shioko. She walked carelessly through the streets of the Tamer District. With her hands in her pockets and her long red hair covering part of her face, anyone who saw her moved to let her through.

He thought that if only he had told everyone of his true power, she too would begin to treat him with due respect. However, the old monk had been clear about it. From such huge powers, enormous responsibilities and pressures would have come.

Biting his tongue and breathing deeply to soothe his spirit, Yoichi continued to follow his companion beyond the district walls. Staying about ten feet away, he used the loudness of the crowd to talk to Enatsu in confidence.

"Hey, Enatsu... now that Shioko can't hear us, I have something extremely delicate to tell you," he whispered, following Shioko out of the corner of his eye.

"Uhuh! I knew this time would come," the merchant rejoiced. "Tell me. I'm all ears!"

Yoichi told him in broad terms what had happened that morning as he made his way from the Dojo to their guild tower. He told him he had spotted the villain, learned his name and discovered his belonging to the Emperor's Heralds guild.

Enatsu tried to disguise his amazement, avoiding attracting Shioko's attention. "What?! A member of the Heralds? I knew those pieces of shit smell like the bad guys, but I could never imagine such a thing!" he said in a low voice.

"Princess Sui must have kept the secret about the events of that night. We know many people are not even aware that the Emperor has a daughter, so how can we frame her attacker?" Yoichi spoke, asking his smart friend for advice.