Garion looked at Rachel for a moment, his expression calm but firm.
"Now that we've chosen the members," he said, "it's time for you to train them."
Rachel nodded slowly.
"You asked if they can pass, right?" Garion continued. "Then don't leave it to chance. Train them until passing is the only possible outcome."
He leaned slightly forward.
"Push them," he said. "As hard as you can."
Rachel didn't flinch.
Instead, she smiled.
"Of course, Garion," she replied gently.
"I've already spent a lot of time in the library these past days. I've been studying their conditions, their habits, and where they still fall short."
She folded her hands together, then let out a quiet breath.
"I won't lie," she added softly. "It hurts a little, watching them get hurt every day."
Garion raised an eyebrow.
Rachel looked up at him again, her smile steady but warm.
"But pain that leads to growth is still better than comfort that leads to regret," she said. "And besides…"
