Around the palace and throughout the square, including the large stone tatami, there seemed to be no other people. Theoretically, without a temporary gatekeeper, anyone could have entered that sacred place, violating the rules that Ryutaro had enforced for decades.
A strong melancholy feeling pervaded the young tamer's chest. Although he had not known his faceless master for a long time, he had formed a strong bond with him. So strong that it led Ryutaro to violate the very rules to which he himself was subjected.
Yoichi climbed the steps leading to the entrance, looking up and letting the moonlight touch every part of his face as if it had magical regenerative power.
His right cheekbone, his chin, and one of his two eyebrows had been scratched from recent fights. Yoichi felt no pain, but he realized, once again, that Kenji's draconic power did not make him invincible.