After another twenty minutes of painstaking progress, they reached a vantage point.
And there it was.
The Sanctum of Eternal Wisdom sat in a cleared area surrounded by ancient forest. The monastery was old—stone construction that had weathered centuries, walls thick enough to withstand sieges, architecture that spoke of a time when religious institutions needed to defend themselves from raiders.
The main building was three stories tall with a distinctive bell tower rising another twenty feet. Smaller structures surrounded it—dormitories, storehouses, a stable, what looked like training grounds. High walls encircled the entire complex, maybe fifteen feet tall, with a single main gate visible from their position.
But what caught Satou's attention was the activity.
Soldiers. Lots of them.
