“I’m sure Sada-sensei is already on the ground floor waiting for us. I won’t tell you again, he doesn’t like to wait,” Rinji added. His voice sounded more serious than the previous day. In his hasty movements, there was some anxiety about keep them on schedule.

“We’re coming, we’re coming right now, Rinji” Yoichi spoke, stretching himself and beginning to walk towards the staircase. Clumsily, Enatsu got dressed, took off his pocket-filled coat, and followed his companion. ​​

The rest of the Nightblades still slept blissfully in their beds. On the third floor, Shioko’s red hair and Yoshiko’s blue hair popped up from under their blankets.

That still warm and dormant vibe, which smelled of sleep and tranquility, instilled a certain peace in the hearts of the two adventurers. Unlike the previous days, during which Yoichi was dominated by anxiety about capturing his first demon since the morning, the young tamer had woken up in a different spirit.

The first floor, that is, the dining room, was unrecognizable: the tables had been emptied from every plate and junk, the food residues were gone along with the tablecloths, and the chairs were arranged in line under the table like trained soldiers.

Faced with that vision, Yoichi couldn’t help but think about how Takamori managed to tidy up all that mess with the only help of Ayaka, his mantis-demon.

Upon reaching the ground floor of the green-tiled tower, Yoichi, Enatsu, and Rinji found themselves alone within the building entrance hall’s four squeaky walls.

“I knew it, we’re so late. The Master will be very angry! Come on, move!” Rinji quaked, fearful like a rabbit. In a hurry, the three tamers walk out the front door.

The birdsong and the red sunlight that caressed the roofs of the buildings, gave Goldhaven a different, perhaps even more striking, look.

The streets of the Tamer District were deserted: stray cats chased undisturbed rats popping up throughout the city’s ancient sewer system. It was reassumed up in some cramped hole at the foot of the palaces, useful for collecting rainwater.

A few meters from the Nightblades tower, Sada Takamori was standing in the middle of the road. His hands crossed behind his back and his gaze turned forward, towards the Emperor’s Heralds headquarter.

“Sensei. I humbly apologize for the delay. I am ready to suffer all kinds of punishments and I swear it will never happen again!” Rinji groaned. The gentle giant knelt down, his gaze pointed at the tiled floor of the road.

Not knowing how to react to that apparently exaggerated gesture, Yoichi and Enatsu stood still behind Rinji.

“You may delay, but time will not. Every moment of my life spent waiting, it’s a moment less that I can devote to my purpose” Takamori replied. The voice of the Master of the Nightblades sounded particularly solemn as if he were reciting the passage of a sacred book.

He turned to his three disciples and continued, “do you believe that your time is more precious than mine?” he inquired, addressing Enatsu and Yoichi face to face. Although his mustache gave him the usual funny appearance, Takamori’s expression was now sharp and severe.

“Absolutely not, Sada-sensei. As our comrade Rinji said, it will never happen again,” Yoichi promptly repeated. Playing the game and trying to behave respectfully, he bowed his head. Enatsu did the same, holding yet another yawn.

“We only have a few hours to peacefully train in the arena, before the Heralds come to disturb our quietness. This was the first and last time I gave you some of my time. C’mon, let’s go,” Takamori stated, accepting an apology from his tamers and starting to walk down the street.

Last night he looked like a chatty, playful guy. His character changes drastically during training time. Honestly, I don’t mind a little discipline. Yoichi thought, recognizing in Takamori’s seemingly bipolar behavior, maturity of thought, and great professionalism.

Dominated by a deep meditative silence, time passed quickly. The distance separating the Nightblades’ base of operations and the training arena, located on the other side of the Tamer District, was traveled at a decisive and steady pace.

Marching like soldiers behind their Sensei, Yoichi and Enatsu reached the huge structure that housed the training area. Rinji was closing the line.

Takamori stopped. When the guild chief turned to his pupils, Ayaka scampered on his head. The demon-mantis stood motionless on its tamer’s balding head, looking at the three men in front of him with its big white eyes.

“Goldhaven’s training arena is the most graded and oldest in the nation of Tentochu. This sacred place has hosted the most important warriors in history, those who have changed the course of events, fighting for our people and allowing them to thrive”, Takamori explained. His hands crossed behind his back. “It consists of two areas: the largest is called the ‘arena’ and is the geographical place where tamers can train their fighting techniques and unleash the maximum powers of their demons” he continued.

Yoichi and Enatsu nodded politely. Standing still, they respected the silence, hanging from the lips of their Master.

“The area enclosed within the only building beyond these walls is the sacred Dojo of Goldhaven. The use of weapons or fights of all kinds is strictly forbidden within it. Anyone who wants to meditate and cultivate their inner power will be able to go to the Dojo and stay there without any time limit”, the guild master added, pointing to the sturdy grayish walls that surrounded the area, discordant with the white rock that adorned the rest of the city.

That sacred place was so large that it occupied a good chunk of the western sector of the Tamer District. The hexagonal structure of its walls reflected the geometric balance beyond them.

Peach flowers hung from their long branches of dark wood, popping out beyond the edges of the walls, about three meters high.

Yoichi and Enatsu continued to respect the religious silence, waiting for further instructions from their Sensei.