The Noble presses a concealed stone beneath the ruined prayer hall. A section of floor shifts, revealing a narrow stair descending into darkness.
Six armored guards remain above, facing the ivy-choked entrance. The boy stays with them, while the Noble leads Miyamoto Mifune down the cramped steps.
The Noble
No one follows us below unless I permit it. The records matter more than the courtyard.
The stair opens into an archive crypt. Temple shelves crowd the walls, their scrolls furred with dust, while one oil lamp burns beside a prepared table.
The Noble
Here, the temple kept its debts, names, and promises hidden from the daylight. This note may show us which lord they mean to break first.
He sets the wax-sealed note on the table but does not open it. The flame trembles in the stale air, throwing the shelves into long, narrow shadows.
The Noble
Stand where you can see the stair, swordsman. If the seal bears a trap, I would rather discover it with your eyes upon me.