Ash stirred from his brief nap when Lana lifted him from the cot, his fingers catching Hajin's sleeve once more.
Two guards escorted the young apprentice to the northern record room, keeping both reinforced doors firmly closed behind them.
Lana placed a steady hand upon the boy's shoulder, ensuring that all remaining experiments occurred entirely outside his sight.
"He is finished with testing for today," she declared, stepping back into the southern corridor with a firm nod.
"Anything else happens outside his presence until the mountain settles down... I will not permit exceptions."
"Agreed," Hajin replied, turning toward the southern exit with Ferra and Juna beside him.
"Keep him inside the registry with the door guards until we finish our survey."
Ferra carried the locked equipment case out to the southern courtyard, setting it upon a wide outdoor table.
