The bright sunshine showered upon the Chief Minister's palace, casting the painted curtains in a radiant and gentle light. Yet as one traversed the long stone path, delving deeper into the interior of the palace, darkness gradually engulfed the light, just as the cold, hard stone bricks replaced the soft fabric of the curtains, creating an atmosphere of chilling gloom.
The elder proceeded down the steps with calm and measured steps, each one precise as if measured with a ruler. This was not intentional, but rather a habit of precise control over his body that had developed over the years. Leaders of the Mexica had always come from outstanding samurai, receiving the finest teaching from early childhood, along with decades of relentless training. The elder had also been an Eagle Warrior when he was young, shedding blood in fierce battles against the Tepanecs for the establishment of the Empire.
