"But... if no one has ever been able to find Shusaku, how can I find him? I don't even know what he looks like, nor do I have any clue as to where he might be," Yoichi replied, touching his chin and beginning to think of a solution.

The profession of the blacksmith was very common in Tentochu, and it certainly numbered thousands and thousands of skilled workers. However, if Ryutaro was insisting on Shusaku's figure, there had to be a particular reason.

​​

Yoichi also thought about the sword hanging on the wall of the Dojo's highest room. The chrome-plated blade and the perfect finish, the designs on the hilt, and the stability of the handle with the orange laces: if the image of that sword had stuck in the young tamer's mind, there was a reason. Its appearance had impressed Yoichi, who, though not a weapons expert, could appreciate its incredible workmanship.

"That's not exactly true, Yoichi. I've never been out of Goldhaven in all these years, so I've never been looking for Shusaku. If I were truly intent on finding him, I would have my own trusted sources to turn to," Ryutaro affirmed, still standing in a meditative position.

"Your sources? You have informants?" Yoichi inquired again. Ever since Ryutaro had rushed to his rescue after the Blackvault Mines fight, he no longer had the fear of asking him anything that was on his mind.

"They are reliable and discreet sources, yes. I have been exiled, that is true... but there are many people who, like me, have always remained loyal to the old Emperor and his men," the gatekeeper remarked in a satisfied tone. "Shusaku was a fat man with a lively personality... I doubt he went unnoticed all these years," he added.

Emperor Tatsui's blacksmith... if he were to get his hands on the Tetsuiasa, he could make one of the best weapons I could ever hope for. But how much will it cost me? I should have received Hyobe's reward by now, but the poor man was fooled just as we were. Yoichi reflected, thinking back to the death of the man in the cowboy hat, the instigator of his first quest beyond the Goldhaven area.

"I have no money, Ryutaro-sensei. True, I will receive a weekly reward from Takamori-Sensei, but I don't think it's enough to forge a weapon," the young tamer thought out loud, publicly exposing his problem.

"Your only concern should be to heal and get your strength back. When you have figured out what type of weapon best suits your fighting style and we have discovered Shusaku's exact location, then we will think about that as well," Ryutaro promptly answered. From his words, the gatekeeper made Yoichi realize that perhaps he knew a way to not pay Shusaku the commission, by virtue of their long-standing friendship.

Yoichi was satisfied with that answer and rested his back against the trunk of the oak tree. Having a power as great as his one meant having enemies, but also many allies. Who would have thought that a veteran warrior of Ryutaro's caliber would ever behave with such kindness?

The young tamer felt reassured and with his right hand grabbed the box containing the Tetsuiasa. Immediately afterward he lay it down on the woven straw mat and took one last look at the precious metal, wondering if Shusaku had ever worked with such a material.

If not, the personal challenge of forging a weapon from an alloy of iron and gold might have stirred the old blacksmith, exponentially increasing the quality of his work.

As Yoichi became immersed in his thoughts and the eyelids of his eyes grew heavier and heavier, Enatsu groaned in his sleep, making soft moans and moving his head from side to side. At the same time, Shioko was still in the same position, sleeping with her back turned to the fire.

Yoichi took the box and put it in his backpack, taking one last look at Kenji, who was already sleeping at the foot of the mat. When his gaze lifted, the branches of the oak seemed to fit perfectly into the puffy clouds of the night sky, ending with the bright stars.

A feudal world populated by warriors and demons with supernatural powers. A vast and partly unknown place, a repository of ancient prophecies and magical legends: Lumya was all this.

A slight smile appeared on his face as he thought about his new life. Although it had already been endangered numerous times in such a short time, Yoichi felt that the emotions he was experiencing in that young and powerful body, he had never felt before.

His friendship with Enatsu was probably the most sincere one he had ever experienced, even if the memory of that man who had died on the parquet floor of that unknown house along with his woman peeped out between his thoughts.

Even the relationship he had recently developed with Ryutaro made him feel confident and protected. The wisdom of a man who had dedicated his life to a cause filled his heart with pride and hope.

On the sweet notes of these thoughts, his weary body brought his mind to slumber, surrendering to the world of dreams for a moment and being pampered by the gentle night breeze. Under the song of crickets scattered across the rice and wheat fields, Yoichi fell asleep.

...

The next morning, contrary to what he had expected, the young tamer woke up on his own, opening his eyes to see the same branches of the oak tree illuminated by a different light.

The sun lingered on the branches of that majestic tree like dew on the grass, gently touching the face of Yoichi and his companions.

A feeling of well-being and healing pervaded the blond-haired warrior's body, culminating in a long, deep breath. When he lifted his torso from the straw mat, Kenji was at its feet, sleeping.

Beyond the small dragon demon, Ryutaro was incredibly still in the same meditative position, as in his most recent memories of the previous evening. The gatekeeper had probably meditated throughout the night, reaching a state of stillness comparable to deep, restorative sleep.

The bonfire in the center of the makeshift camp had been extinguished and the pile of dry wood in the middle had been completely consumed, turning into charcoal.