Yoichi inadvertently captured the attention of some of the warriors who were meditating on the ground floor, the widest of the structure. Apologizing with a bow and making them realize that the noise was unintentional, he finally reached the exit of the Dojo.

In front of the door, a rectangular atrium was scattered with shoes and boots of all kinds. Without realizing it, the young tamer had also broken that rule, walking with his muddy boots on the wooden floor. ​​

Fortunately, one of the heavy door leaves was already open. Yoichi walked out, finding himself next to the golden statue portraying the imperial tiger. That feline’s large clawed paws were resting on the sides of the door, and the details of the sculpture were so accurate that it looked real.

Looking up, Yoichi took one last gander at Goldhaven’s Dojo. At the top, the heron statue rested on the pointed roof, the same roof that had sheltered him for three days.

It was as if Ryutaro’s room was the ‘nest’ of that heron, the gatekeeper’s secret hideout. A place where time seemed to stand still.

Dozens of warriors in light green armour were fighting on the tatami, chatting cheerfully to each other. Being busy in their personal growth, no one noticed Yoichi walking to the gates of the arena.

He thought back to everything he had discovered: Kenji’s true nature was a dead giveaway that he had the power to change the fate of the war. The balance of constant battles between Tentochu and Kamakiri, the two factions that had long since fought against each other, would begin to weigh in Tentochu’s favour.

A dragon demon would overthrow the destiny of the nation in which he was reborn, his home nation. However, he appeased his euphoria, rethinking the unclear details of that discovery. Ryutaro had immediately specified that many warriors would oppose him: possessing a dragon would not only give him power, it would also endanger him and all his friends.

When Kenji evolved, he would probably take the appearance of a real dragon. At that point, no one would mistake it for a Nekage, and his life would change forever. Was it really a wise choice to travel the world with Enatsu and Princess Sui? How could he carry that heavy burden?

Ryutaro’s wisdom and calmness in providing him with information a little at a time had made him realize that everything he had seen was not a joke. If he concentrated, he could still sense the heat of those flames on his skin.

But why the desert? Of all the places he could have imagined, why had his mind teleported him to a dry, lifeless place?

Ryutaro told me that in the vision created by Therion’s Tear, nothing is left to chance. He explained that every detail, sound and smell, has a precise meaning and connects to something in my mind. Yoichi thought. Maybe I was in a dessert because I don’t remember who I am?

As the young tamer continued to examine recent events, looking forward to talking about it to his best friend, his feet moved fast through the city streets.

Goldhaven, as every morning, was teeming with joy and vitality. Its citizens crowded the busy streets, causing pleasant chaos.

Kenji was clinging to its master’s leather pouch, as always. As hard as he tried, Yoichi had not yet realized that such a small demon, which always looked like an angry lizard, could become more than six meters tall.

Deep in thoughts and with his stomach continuing to growl, he had forgotten to summon Ichiro. Although he was not far away, he would reach the Nightblades headquarter in half the time on horseback.

“Let me say hello to Ichiro, okay? I haven’t met it since the last battle… I’d like to check on its condition,” Yoichi spoke in a low voice. Every time he had to recall Kenji inside his body, he apologized as if he was disappointing it.

The little dragon nodded the horned head, preparing for the recall phase. Yoichi took a deep breath and, without stopping walking, uttered Kenji’s real name.

Being already close to his chest, the transformation of his body into an air current was practically imperceptible from the outside. However, Yoichi was forced to bend forward when it entered his chest, resting his hand on the ground.

In the Tamer District, where people were used to seeing demons everywhere, no one noticed him too much. As if nothing had happened, before he started walking again, he pulled his Inoshuma’s Demon Tooth out of his backpack.

In a natural gesture, as Kenji’s burning continued to pervade his chest, he stuck the Demon Tooth between the street tiles. Ichiro took shape in a yellow aura, neighing, happy to see his tamer again.

“Hey, Ichiro! Hi, dude!” Yoichi rejoiced, stroking the big snout of the Inoshuma. “How are you?”

Ichiro approached its nose to its master’s hand, inviting him to keep on petting. Despite its proud and hard character, the horse demon seemed to have missed its tamer.

Checking on the good physical condition of his steed, which after the fight against Kato’s Kuwatako had lost an XP point, Yoichi jumped on his back.

He headed to the Nightblades headquarters. He could think of nothing but the goodies that awaited him in the dining room. Although the morning was the busiest time of the day, perhaps breakfast leftovers were still on that horseshoe table.

As Ichiro trotted proudly through the streets of the Tamer District, a group of soldiers caught his eye. Four men and two women spoke in confidence, gathered in a circle on the street corner. They were wearing the Emperor’s Heralds read armour.

One of them, a brown, helmet-haired boy, stood still with his back resting on the wall. Beside his feet, a strange little demon looked like the stump of a tree.

In addition to the oak-like bark, small bumps looked to act as limbs. Instead of arms, two thick green vines.