Nathan left the inn after securing Shigeru and his men for the journey ahead and made his way toward the entrance gates of Minami Kyoto.
On the way, he took a short detour to rent a horse. If they were heading to Death God Valley, he wanted as few delays as possible once everyone was assembled. By the time he reached the gates, the light had begun to soften, spilling a warm gold across the road, the walls, and the passing crowd. Traders were still shouting out their last offers for the day, carts creaked over the stones, and the smell of grilled meat and sweet batter drifted lazily through the evening air.
Nathan tied his horse near the outer post and looked around for Shiina.
She had said she would wait for him here once she was done. At first, he did not see her anywhere. He scanned the gate, the road beyond it, the gathering of travelers, the guards, the nearby stalls.
Then a voice rang out nearby, bright and delighted.
"So good!"
Nathan turned.
