Two hours later, Garron gently woke all the children by kicking them softly on their legs one after another, as the sleeping children groggily stirred awake before immediately straightening the moment they recognized his face.
"Up."
Garron muttered, as he continued moving through the clearing without giving anyone the opportunity to remain asleep.
Within only a few minutes, the children had all gathered around the campfire, as while many of them rubbed their heavy eyes to stay awake, Garron gave them no chance to fall back asleep, as once everyone was seated, he immediately began with his speech.
"Alright, listen up."
Garron said, as he crouched beside the fire and began turning the dried fish carefully so that they roasted evenly.
"Tonight’s meal is hot and fresh, because we were lucky enough to find clean water, a safe clearing, and a river with enough fish for me to catch without wasting too much time."
He explained, as several children instinctively glanced toward the fish with hungry eyes.
"However, do not mistake this for what life will be like every day from here onwards."
Garron warned, as his gaze swept across the circle of tired faces watching him from the other side of the fire.
"There will be days when you are lucky enough to eat fresh meat, days when you will have nothing but dried strips from the supplies I brought, and days when if things go badly enough, you might not eat anything at all."
He continued, as the children immediately grew quieter at those words.
"Some of you have lived as slaves, bastards, or unwanted mouths for most of your lives, so I know that sleeping hungry is not some new horror for many of you."
Garron said, as his tone remained blunt rather than sympathetic.
"But trust me when I say that hunger feels very different after a full day of marching, carrying supplies, climbing slopes, and circulating Aether until your body feels hollow from the inside."
He explained, as he lifted one roasted fish slightly away from the flame to inspect its skin.
"When you were starving inside a village, at least most of you were standing still, scrubbing floors, fetching water, or doing small chores that miserable adults called work."
Garron continued, as several children lowered their eyes without saying anything.
"Out here, hunger comes after your legs have already burned through everything they had, your shoulders have been crushed beneath your satchel, and your Soul Vessel has been drained dry trying to keep you moving."
He said, as the firelight reflected faintly against the edge of his sword resting beside him.
"That kind of hunger does not merely sit inside your stomach...."
Garron explained, as his voice gradually became heavier.
"It crawls into your knees, settles inside your back, weakens your grip, slows your thoughts, and makes even the simplest decision feel like something your mind no longer has the strength to make."
He continued, as the children around the fire remained completely silent.
"As for tonight, you’ve all been fortunate enough to stop beside a clean river, where you were able to refill your canteens, wash your wounds, and even clean yourselves if you wished."
Garron said, as several children instinctively glanced toward the gently flowing river behind them.
"However, don’t become accustomed to comforts like these. The journey to the Valdrak Empire will take us roughly two months, and if my memory serves me correctly, between this river and our destination, we’ll probably come across no more than five places where fresh water is available abundantly for our use."
He continued, as the children looked at one another with surprise.
"So whenever you find fresh water, treat it like treasure. Drink what you need, refill every container you own, and think twice before wasting even a single mouthful, because bathing, washing your clothes, and cleaning yourselves are luxuries that may one day cost you your life if they leave your canteen empty when you need it most."
He explained, as his gaze slowly swept across every child gathered around the fire.
"If circumstances allow it, then take full advantage of the opportunity. If they don’t, then you’ll simply have to tolerate the dirt until the next chance presents itself.
Because no soldier has ever survived a campaign because he smelled pleasant."
He concluded, as a few tired smiles quietly appeared around the campfire.
"Starting tomorrow morning, the journey you’ve experienced today will become your everyday life."
Garron said, as the faint smiles immediately disappeared from the children’s faces.
"Each of you will be assigned responsibilities, and every responsibility will directly affect the survival of everyone else.
Some of you will stand watch throughout the night and sleep only after everyone else wakes up.
Others will carry the heavier supplies during the march.
While some of you will gather firewood, fetch water, or be responsible for hunting food."
He continued, as the children listened with increasing seriousness.
"If you’re given a task, then you’ll either complete it properly or you’ll bear the consequences of failing it.
If the hunting party returns empty-handed, then the hunters will eat last.
If those responsible for gathering firewood fail before nightfall, then they’ll be the ones shivering beside a dying fire.
If the night watch falls asleep and the camp is attacked, then every person here will pay the price for one individual’s negligence."
He explained, as not a single child dared interrupt him.
"Out here, your mistakes won’t remain your own for very long. One person’s carelessness quickly becomes everyone else’s problem, and that is why I expect every one of you to take your assigned duty seriously."
He concluded, as the weight of those words settled over the group.
"And don’t think for even a moment that becoming refugees means your training has ended. If anything, your real training has only just begun."
Garron said, as he slowly pointed toward the dark wilderness surrounding the camp.
"During these next two months, I’ll continue teaching every one of you how to become stronger.
Whether it’s weapon drills, physical conditioning, circulating Aether, or simply learning how to survive in the wilderness, every single day will become another lesson.
There will be days when we’ll suddenly begin running halfway through a march, days when you’ll be forced to circulate Aether while climbing mountains or crossing raging rivers, and days when we’ll carve our own path through forests where no trail exists."
He continued, as many of the younger children quietly swallowed.
"So enjoy tonight while you still can. Eat well, wash yourselves if you want, wash your clothes if you want, and sleep however you find comfortable, because this is likely to be the easiest evening you’ll have for quite some time."
Garron concluded, as he finally picked up one of the roasted fish before looking around the campfire one last time.
"Starting tomorrow morning, your days will follow the rhythm of a soldier rather than the comfort of a villager."
He warned, as a faint smile slowly appeared across his otherwise stern face.
"And that is when your real training towards becoming an Ascendant begins."