章 178: Breakfast

The warm sunshine of the morning seemed to have broken the flow of wind from the previous evening. The temperature had risen and the heat that characterized the plantations south of the capital was beginning to make itself felt. 

Noises from the carriage interrupted Yoichi's yawn, and he stretched his arms upward and turned his gaze in that direction.

Believing that he had been the first to wake up, he was astonished to find that Shioko was no longer there, on her straw mat. The archer didn't seem to be around, but Taya was still tied to the tree along with the other two horses. 

The sounds of Enatsu came from the carriage, while he was waking up from his long sleep. Perhaps the effect of Ryutaro's ointments had worn off and the still open wounds were causing him pain.