Back in the Northwest Territory, the day was moving at a breakneck pace.
With Sylaris's hair freshly dyed and her spirits at higher levels, Zaliyah decided it was time for a grand tour of the fortress to show off her new look. Naturally, the first stop had to be the training grounds, where Harun always spent his mornings.
As Zaliyah and Sylaris approached the snow-covered yard, the sound of steel clashing against steel echoed off the battlegrounds. Zaliyah's mind drifted back years, remembering when he used to stand right here, clumsy and exhausted, trying to master his craft under the merciless eye of that grumpy old master.
The moment Sylaris spotted Harun towering over a cluster of sparring recruits, her face lit up.
"UNCLE HARUN!" she screamed at the top of her lungs, sprinting across the packed snow and launching herself at his waist.
