Treasure Trove

A moment after lashing out at the knocked-out enemy, she threw himself into the young tamer's arms, hugging him tightly. "Thank you! I was afraid I was going to die... that man would not stop in front of anything!"

Yoichi remained motionless for a few seconds. His astonished gaze framed Enatsu, who shrugged his shoulders. The young tamer spontaneously reciprocated the girl's hug, knowing that it would help her feel comfortable.

"I only did what anyone else would do. The important thing is that you are all right and that your wounds are just superficial", he commented, stroking her back and then detaching himself from her. "Rather... what were you doing alone at this time of night?" he inquired, centring the point.

The eyes of the two interlocutors were very close, and her cheeks suddenly turned red. "I... well, I was... phew. It's a long story," she answered evasively, looking to the floor in embarrassment.

"I don't want to cause you any more trauma, but... I'd like to know more about that villain who attacked you. Did he use the powers of a demon? Where is it now?" Yoichi insisted, determined to receive that information.

After those words, all three of them looked around as if none of them had thought of that detail. The noise of the drop of water remained the only one present. The atmosphere of the alley, despite the dim light of the torch, was still ghostly.

"Yes, he was a tamer, just like you and your friend. His demon... well, I can't describe it. After forcibly dragging me into this alley, he summoned it and used its powers to immobilize me. I couldn't see what it looked like and..."

Distracted by the girl's frightening tale, the two adventurers did not realize that something was wrapping the body lying on the ground. Green tentacles from the high roof of the building were sticking under its arms.

The sudden noise of those coarse vines, the same one Yoichi heard when the enemy immobilized him, caught his attention. "Hey! What the hell is going on?" he asked.

His gaze traced the sturdy green vines wrapped around the mysterious man's arms. Tight on his armpits, they lifted his body, causing it to crawl on the wall upwards.

"For fuck's sake! We have to stop him; he's running away!" Yoichi boomed, running towards him and jumping on the wall. For a few inches, his hand failed to grasp the enemy's foot. As if he were a lifeless puppet, he continued his upward trajectory along the wall until he reached the roof of the building.

Once at the top, his body was dragged where Yoichi's and his companions could not reach: a mysterious force had rescued him, taking up his body and dispersing its traces.

A trail of blood along the filthy wall of that damp alley was all that remained of the attacker.

"Damn it!" Yoichi fumed, banging a fist on the wall. "That son of a bitch ran away. I knew his demon was still here somewhere," he continued. Even if he had found a way to climb to the top of that slippery-walled tall building, he wouldn't have been able to track him down in time.

"Don't worry, Yoichi. I'm sure that bastard will think twice before raping a girl, next time," the young woman interjected, referring to his rescue operation.

"He should not have escaped. He tried to kill me and my demon... and I let him go. Umpf..." Yoichi mumbled. The young tamer took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

"Um... are you going to spend here all night? I don't," Enatsu interrupted, beginning to walk with determination to the exit of the alley. Yoichi and the girl followed him without adding anything else.

The illuminated and more than a few meter wide streets were like a breath of fresh air for the two adventurers. That cramped, dirty alley seemed to belong to another city.

"Oh, dear. I was drowning in there," Enatsu commented, looking at the wooden torch in his hands.

"What about that? Where did you get it?" Yoichi chuckled, trying to break the tension.

"I didn't know how to do it and... well, I took it off that wall" Enatsu confessed. The merchant pointed to an iron hook on a wall in front of them. His words exerted a burst of liberating laughter and a smile in the young girl.

"I thank you infinitely for saving me, and I apologize for putting you in danger" she remarked, bowing her head as a mark of respect. "Oh, I also apologize for slapping you in the face. Hahah!" she chuckled, referring to Enatsu.

"Being slapped by such a beautiful and kind girl does not happen every day. Apology accepted!" the merchant answered, winking and taking an elegant and playful bow.

"Anyway, I didn't even get a chance to introduce myself. My name is Sui Nishiyama," the young woman affirmed. She tied her hair in a ponytail with a lace of white cloth with her snow-white hands.

After those words, an awkward silence enveloped the two adventurers. Yoichi and Enatsu looked at each other with wide eyes and a half-open mouth.

The same hands that a moment earlier tied the soft black and long hair detached the metal comb-shaped hairpin. "So? Have you lost your word?" she asked, smiling with her eyes.

"Nish... Nishiyama?" Enatsu stammered, incredulous.

"Yes. I am the youngest daughter of Tentochu's Emperor. The only daughter, actually," Sui replied, touching her chin and looking up at the sky.

"I humbly apologize for speaking irreverently, my lady! I didn't know you were the Emperor's daughter, I beg forgiveness!" Enatsu theatrically gulped, kneeling and resting his hands and forehead on the cold floor as if he were in the presence of a goddess.

Did I hear right? The Emperor's daughter? Did I just save the daughter of the divine Emperor Nishiyama?! Yoichi pondered, couldn't believe his ears.

"Yoichi! What are you waiting for! Bow before her!" Enatsu whispered, making a gesture with his hand and grabbing his companion's trousers.

"Hahah, stop it. Please, you embarrass me like that," Sui replied, begging her new friends to behave normally. "You may wonder what the Princess is doing around the streets of Goldhaven. Well, the least I can do is tell you the whole truth."