While Lucen and Vardon were finally having their long-overdue father-son conversation, the members of Thornefang were enduring a different kind of trial on the frozen training grounds.
Snow crunched beneath their palms as they did push-ups in tight rows, breath misting in the frigid air. The cold bit into their fingers and faces, but Sir Thalos showed no mercy.
Those with Aura managed to endure longer, gritting their teeth, muscles straining. The rest? Arms shaking, lips blue, bodies shivering as they struggled to keep form.
Sir Thalos stood nearby, cloak fluttering in the northern wind, arms crossed and unimpressed. He slowly shook his head.
"Pathetic," he muttered.
Then, loud and clear, his voice boomed through the training ground.
"As I told the young master, I will mold you all into real warriors. You may freeze, break, or collapse trying… but you will become strong. That much, I promise."
