"Ryutaro-Sensei... but, if indeed the Emperor orders your imprisonment, don't you think he will ask you to return this key to him?" Yoichi asked legitimately.

"Yes, it is possible. When that happens, I will simply tell him that I am no longer in possession of it. I will explain to him that it was taken from me by someone or that I lost it. I will also add that my room is a receptacle for useless, dusty paperwork, nothing that the Emperor of Tentochu does not already possess," the gatekeeper replied. Judging by the promptness of his answer, Ryutaro already imagined the scene.

​​

"Shioko told me that your body, after hours of heavy fighting, was no longer able to handle all of Kenji's dragon power. Is that true?" the monk inquired.

"Yes, Sensei. When I reached the limit, I lost my senses and the use of my arms and legs. A feeling of fatigue I had never felt before enveloped my body, forcing it to shut down its main functions," Yoichi reported.

"Well, what you need is hard training, boy. You're going to train every day, from dawn until night. You will cultivate your spirit and your body, pushing your abilities beyond your limits and learning how to manage the powers of your Oracle. When you are ready, Takamori will know what to do with you."

Ryutaro's words rose into the air as graceful as the petals of a flower. When they reached Yoichi's ears, they fell on him like boulders full of responsibility and expectations.

His priority was to save Enatsu. Everything else fell by the wayside.

Just during those moments of anguished silence, with the sound of horses' hooves and carriage wheels in the background, something appeared on the horizon, to the right side of the travelers.

They were heading north, and their right-hand side corresponded to the geographical east. Shioko and Yoichi did not take long to locate the observation tower in which they had spent the previous night. Immediately beyond it, the village of Blackborough, though distant, was unrecognizable.

Under the incredulous and sorrowful eyes of the two tamers, the fishing village had been entirely razed to the ground: the rubble, which the day before had involved only a part of Blackborough, had now spread throughout the entire area.

The building of Kuniaki, the village shaman who had given Yoichi the Keikemon fruit, was no longer distinguishable among the debris. "Oh, no..." Shioko stuttered, finding the courage to speak.

She, Yoichi, and Enatsu had promised the citizens of Blackborough that they would soon be safe and that the threat of the giant demons would be eliminated. But the dungeon had taken longer than expected, and the absence of their Crimson Lotus plantation had been their doom.

Without the magical demon-repellant flower, that isolated, serene village had turned into their grave. Innocent children, women, and older men had been overwhelmed by the fury of some ravenous, evil demon, empowered and enraged by the power of the Blackblood.

Holding back from screaming in rage, Yoichi clenched his fists. His fingers pressed hard against his palms, already flayed by the marks of his nails.

Another of his promises had been broken: how could he call himself the tamer of a Golhaven guild if he couldn't even protect such a small village?

Images of Uncle Kuno began to flash before his eyes, generating a tear of sorrow. Without proper training, he would never have been able to counter such immense and evil power.

Hundreds of more people would die throughout Tentochu. The dungeons scattered along the land were potentially perfect bases of operations for their misdeeds.

If the Blackblood continued to expand like wildfire, the entire faction would be shrouded in chaos and darkness. All treasure-seeking tamers would be in constant danger, entering dungeons and losing their free will forever.

What had happened in Blackborough was only the beginning and even the capital city was in danger. "We don't know how many Void Summoners were sent by Gonshiro. Ogai spoke of dozens of warlocks like him, but we have no way of ascertaining the veracity of his claims," Yoichi affirmed.

After loosening the grip of his fists, he wiped away the tear that was running down his cheek and looked forward, turning his attention away from the ruins of Blackborough.

"How can this all depend on me alone, Ryutaro-Sensei?" the young tamer asked. In the tone of his voice, the gatekeeper sensed a veiled fear.

"There are things that are beyond our comprehension, Yoichi-kun. What I do know is that you were able to defeat an enemy never seen in Tentochu despite your low level of preparation. You used Kenji's power without even knowing it, boy," Ryutaro commented, almost praising his student.

"Yes, but... if Tentochu is about to counter such great power, we'll need an army! I can't be the only one who can solve this problem! Emperor Nishiyama should be notified," Yoichi added. Pronouncing the name of the imperial family, the memory of Princess Sui flashed through his mind like a bolt of lightning.

"As I have already explained, it takes time and patience, Yoichi. It's true, the danger is upon us, and it catches us unprepared, but Tentochu is a very vast nation. Even a devious plan like Gonshiro's could have loopholes. Keep the key I gave you carefully, reach the Dojo and go study all the manuals you find in my room," Ryutaro commanded.

"Every book, scroll... read everything and learn every page. Besides the little information about the Dragon Demons, the tomes I inherited from Emperor Tatsui contain information about the history of our world. The wars, the famines, the great droughts, and the moments of glory. The ink on those manuscripts trapped all those events for eternity."

"It will be done, Sensei," Yoichi promptly replied, sitting next to Enatsu.

The travelers' journey to Goldhaven proceeded in religious silence. Without a break in Blackborugh, another full day of travel separated them from the capital. However, unlike Taya, Ryutaro's two horses were slower due to the weight of the tow.

That detail might have delayed their arrival at the capital, but it would have made things easier for Yoichi. The blond-haired tamer would have had more time to regain the use of his arms, still sore from the overload of the dragon flames.