Statue

"It's just a simple dagger, nothing but a metal object. I'm glad you keep it. Anyway, your skill is too big to stay hidden among the trees of this forest. I can teach you to control your Nekage's powers and help you start your Demon Tamer career," Sada replied, relaxing his arms.

"Er... yes, why not. I..." Yoichi stammered, failing to understand where that man wanted to go with it.

"If you want to continue this conversation, I'll be waiting for you at the headquarters of my Guild, in the Tamer District of Goldhaven. You can find it easily; It's the only building with the roof covered in green tiles," the moustached man interrupted, "it's not the most important of guilds, but it could be a good start."

Enatsu remained silent, looking at his friend's uncertain expression. With a discreet look, he tried in every way to suggest him to accept that unrepeatable proposal.

"Thank you for the offer, Sada Takamori. See you at Goldhaven," Yoichi replied with conviction, repeating his interlocutor's full name to remember it more easily.

"Very well, you look like a determined guy full of potential. Goodbye," Sada commented, greeting both Yoichi and Enatsu with an elegant bow and walking towards the inside of Ambershire's circular walls.

"Oh. Wow. Wow! I still can't believe how you managed to do what you did and... just when you succeed, here's a guild master that pops up and starts courting you! Hahaha! Unbelievable!" Enatsu rejoiced, continuing to watch Takamori walk.

The two adventurers, still incredulous that they had experienced all those fortunate events one after the other, gawked at the people in the crowd splitting up. Those who until recently were spectators of the fight between him and Kato began to carry out the ordinary tasks of their routine, entering and leaving the golden and white walls of Ambershire. The yellow domes of the two tallest palaces continued to shine in the sun.

"So? Can we go? You said this place is too good not to be visited!" Yoichi insisted, whose voice seemed imbued with a new positive spirit.

I don't know how it's possible, but I still like living in this world. I wonder what the catch is, he thought, making his way to the entrance of the borough.

As soon as they entered the radiant Ambershire, the merchant and the farmer opened their eyes and sharpened their eyes, getting trapped in its shimmering colours. People of all ages and rank walked everywhere, moving goods of all kinds on carriages drawn by horses and bulky demons.

Long wooden stalls containing colourful foods never seen before filled an entire area to the right of the entrance. Talking to each other and trading their merchandise, the merchants who inhabited that happy place seemed to behave with love and kindness towards their craft and their neighbour.

Yoichi, initially a little lost in that beautiful chaos, walked slowly forward, looking around. Suddenly, his toe touched a hard object, forcing him to stop. The omnipresent sunlight could not illuminate that precise spot, cut out of the shadow of an imposing statue about five meters high.

"Hey, watch out! Watch your step. You were about to crash," Enatsu chuckled, grabbing Yoichi's shoulders, who stepped back, looking up to the top.

The statue depicted a man in armour with a spear in his hand, facing forward. While in a war position, he rode a giant tiger, from the back pf which four wings popped up, identical to those of an eagle. That majestic vision caught the attention of Yoichi in a special way, making him stay still and look at it for a few seconds, without saying a word.

"Okay, you don't have to say that... you don't remember who you are, I doubt you will remember our Emperor," Enatsu mumbled, interrupting his companion's thoughts.

Yoichi looked at the statue from top to bottom, and an engraving on the square stone at the base of the statue caught his eye.

'Emperor Nishiyama – Third Battle of Dragoncliff'

"Is he the emperor?" he asked, already knowing the answer, tilting his head to look at the statue from another angle.

"He is Emperor Nishiyama, and that is his oracle, a Torasagi" Enatsu explained, without wasting time, knowing that his friend was a quick learner.

Wow, a four-winged tiger demon... it's so much bigger than Kenji and Sora! I'm sure its level is incredibly high, reflected Yoichi, focusing on the raging eyes of that stone tiger.

"He is the Emperor of Tentochu, I guess. You told me that a different emperor rules the opposite faction", Yoichi replied with accuracy, perfectly recalling the young merchant's explanations when he showed him the world map.

"Correct. He is not only the emperor of our faction but also the strongest of our warriors. This statue depicts him as riding his Torasagi, he fought against Kamakiri's army for the conquest of Dragoncliff Island," Enatsu continued. "This battle is remembered by everyone as the bloodiest in Lumya's history. That day many tamers lost their lives."

Enatsu's expression, which as always could not mask his inner emotions, darkened. Yoichi shifted his gaze to him, realizing that that story just heard had left a void in the soul of that affable and cheerful merchant.

"I'm afraid to ask you what is that face for, but I can't hold back," Yoichi muttered, "were you there?"

"No, Yoichi, I wasn't even born. My grandfather was there. The great Yanatsu, a warrior in the service of the imperial family," Enatsu sighed, looking up at the statue. "My grandmother told me that he died to save Emperor Nishiyama and that his intervention was fundamental to the fate of the battle. Unfortunately, I wasn't lucky enough to meet him."

"I'm so sorry, Enatsu. I'm sure your grandfather was a great man and that his own blood runs through your veins. You know, ever since we left the farm, I always thought you're wasted as a merchant!" Yoichi exclaimed with a smile printed on his lips, trying to raise Enatsu's morale.

"Me? A fighter? Trust me, you don't know me well! Ehehe!" the young black-haired merchant chuckled, scratching his chin under his unshaven beard.