"This will delay your return even longer, Ryutaro-Sensei," the young tamer affirmed, stretching his sore shoulders. The bruises on his arms were almost gone, and the burning sensation had noticeably diminished.

"I don't care, Yoichi. I am ready to face any decision of the Emperor. Whether I meditate in my humble abode or the dank cells of the imperial prisons, it makes no difference. No matter how much he wants to hurt me, my spirit is more solid and strong than any temporal punishment," Ryutaro replied, once again proving his innate wisdom.

​​

"Come, help me tie the horses to that trunk," he added, dragging the reins of the horses carrying the carriage with him.

By the time the sun set beyond the horizon, bestowing the world to the moon and darkness, the makeshift camp of the four travellers was up and running.

The horses had been quenched and fed. Their reins, including Taya's, had been tied to a sturdy trunk of an ancient oak tree that lined the path.

Under that big-branched tree, the Goldhaven travellers had lit a modest bonfire, sitting around the fire and resting their weary bones.

To everyone's surprise, the provident Ryutaro had taken care to bring supplies with him, even though he had hurried to their rescue. When the gatekeeper opened a clean cloth containing several onigiris with sesame seeds, Yoichi and Shioko's eyes twinkled like those of two children on Christmas Eve.

The corners of the tablecloth in which the food had been carefully wrapped did not come out of the mat placed underneath it beforehand, preventing it from being contaminated with soil and dust raised by the wind and coming from the street.

The onigiris brought by Ryutaro looked very tasty, and although they were not particularly fragrant foods, their smell brought Enatsu back to the world of the living.

Shioko went for the second time to draw water from the well located in the centre of the rice field. At the specific request of Ryutaro, whose fame went far beyond the walls of the capital, the family of farmers who managed the area had lent them a large wooden bucket without a second thought and without asking any questions.

With the help of his friend Yoichi, Enatsu also managed to freshen up, eating and drinking until he finally felt better. The deep wound in his abdomen did not seem to have healed under the leaves of that healing plant.

However, Ryutaro's ointment was having its effect, allowing the young merchant not to faint from the excruciating pain constantly. Next to him, the brave Rokuro also woke up and began to eat rice balls filled with vegetables from its tamer's hand.

After dinner, late into the night, Enatsu slept in the carriage, while his companions and the gatekeeper sat around the fire. Shioko had already been sleeping heavily for a few minutes, having not rested for a moment since the night before.

The archer's bow and quiver were less than a meter away from her mat, within reach of her arms. Her red hair fell gently on the grassy ground, and her back, facing Yoichi and Ryutaro, was going up and down, accompanying her rejuvenating sleep.

Yoichi, resting his back on the trunk of the imposing oak tree, could not help but look at his master. The dark veil in front of Ryutaro's face made it impossible for anyone to tell if he was asleep or not: his legs were crossed to support his body, and his hands rested gently on his knees like two lotus flowers on the calm surface of a pond.

The guardian of the sacred Goldhaven Dojo was immersed in a deep meditative state as if he had escaped the surrounding reality. His legs rested on the ground like the roots of an age-old tree, and his torso was motionless with a straight back, as if his body had been in that position for all eternity.

When did he enter this meditative state? Gee, I didn't even notice! Yoichi thought. Placing one hand on the ground and twisting one leg, he tried to lean towards the monk, entering his field of vision.

The gatekeeper did not move an inch. He remained motionless in that position, breathing carefully and precisely and controlling every muscle in his body.

"Can't sleep, Yoichi?" - Ryutaro's sudden words startled Yoichi, who could not believe that his master's eyes were moving under the veil in front of his face. Trying not to fall to the ground unbalanced, he returned to his original position, sitting on the mat.

"No, Sensei. I've been sleeping all day. Now I'm having some difficulty," he replied promptly. Inside him was a deep embarrassment because he tried to spy on Ryutaro to understand more of his meditation techniques.

"I don't need to open my eyes to know what's going on around me," the gatekeeper continued, breaking the awkward silence. Shioko and Enatsu continued to sleep blissfully.

"Um, I... I just wanted to..."

"And there's no need for you to justify yourself either. I hope that one day you too will be able to meditate anywhere, Yoichi-kun. The act of meditation reconciles you with the world, helping to heal your inner wounds and cleanse your soul of all impurities. As long as you use brute force without controlling your spirit, you cannot call yourself a true warrior" - after that sentence, Ryutaro's hands turned.

His palms, previously facing upwards, rested on his knees. The gatekeeper's head twisted slightly, pointing in the direction of his young pupil.

Judging by the way he talked about it, Ryutaro was exceptionally knowledgeable about meditation. Yoichi recalled his first and last visit to the Goldhaven Dojo when he heard that explanation: inside, dozens and dozens of people were sitting in silence meditating, occupying every tiny space in the large square rooms.

Unlike fighting or training demons, meditation could be successfully performed by anyone. It did not matter what rank they came from or what their working class was. Every citizen could meditate and raise his or her ego, forgetting about problems for a moment.