"However, expansion creates opportunities for those willing to seize them."
Several villagers leaned forward slightly while listening.
"The Empire is prepared to offer your tribe fertile land near the northern settlements alongside proper housing, livestock assistance, trade protection, and access to Imperial markets," Garron continued. "Your children will grow up with access to medicine, blacksmiths, education, military protection, and cultivation techniques far beyond anything currently available inside Frost Valley."
An older villager frowned afterward.
"And what exactly does the Empire gain from this arrangement?" the elder asked cautiously.
Garron smiled faintly.
"Loyal citizens."
The answer caused several people nearby to laugh quietly while others remained visibly skeptical.
Another elder spoke afterward.
"You expect us to abandon the lands our ancestors lived upon for generations simply because outsiders promise us warmer homes?"
He asked, as Torak finally stepped forward after hearing that.
"Our ancestors also froze to death here generation after generation," he replied bluntly. "They starved here. They buried children here. They survived because they had no better options."
His eyes swept across the crowd slowly.
"We do."
Silence followed those words briefly.
Then Garron continued speaking once more.
"The Empire does not expect blind trust," he said calmly. "Which is precisely why I proposed something beneficial for both sides before relocation begins."
Several villagers exchanged curious looks afterward.
Torak nodded slowly before raising his voice again.
"To demonstrate good faith, Recruiter Garron Vale has agreed that starting tomorrow, he will personally train every child below the age of fourteen within Ashfang Village."
That announcement immediately caused the crowd to erupt into shocked murmurs, as Torak raised one hand to silence the crowd before continuing.
"Within one year, he claims he can turn those children into true Ascendants capable of surpassing the primitive hunting techniques our tribe has relied upon for generations."
A younger hunter near the fire scoffed loudly afterward.
"And we’re simply supposed to believe some outsider can transform children into warriors within a single year?"
Garron calmly met the man’s gaze.
"If the Empire’s methods were weak, our banners would not fly across half the northern territories..."
He replied evenly, as that confident response caused several nearby villagers to nod unconsciously.
The Empire did have a pretty strong reputation in these parts, and hence, seizing the momentum, Torak stepped forward once again.
"I will send my own two sons to train under him," he declared firmly. "And if you trust my judgment after all these years leading this tribe, then you should send your children as well."
Uneasy whispers spread once more.
However, Torak was not finished.
"In fact," he continued while his expression hardened slightly, "I have already made my decision regarding who will participate."
The crowd slowly quieted again.
"Not only the sons and daughters of Ashfang..." Torak said, while his voice carried across the firelit gathering. "But also the bastards, the slaves, and every child within the proper age range will undergo this training."
That statement stunned the gathering into complete silence.
Several elders immediately frowned while others looked visibly alarmed.
As one older woman rose to her feet almost instantly.
"You intend to waste Imperial resources training slaves?"
She demanded sharply, as Torak snorted after hearing that.
"I would rather possess strong Ascendants serving this tribe than weak mortals capable of achieving nothing meaningful," he replied coldly. "Strength benefits Ashfang regardless of where it comes from."
Another elder slammed his staff against the frozen ground afterward.
"And what happens if these slaves gain too much strength?" the old man demanded angrily. "What happens when they stop obeying?"
Torak’s eyes narrowed slightly.
"Then perhaps the problem lies with masters too weak to control them."
That answer immediately split the council.
Several younger hunters burst into rough laughter while many older elders looked deeply disturbed by the idea.
Arguments quickly erupted throughout the gathering afterward as voices rose louder around the fire pit while villagers began debating among themselves fiercely.
Some supported the proposal enthusiastically after hearing promises about fertile land and Imperial opportunities.
Others feared abandoning Frost Valley entirely.
While several seemed horrified by the thought of slaves receiving warrior training alongside their own children.
Yet despite the resistance coming from certain elders, the direction of the gathering slowly became increasingly clear as greed began spreading through Ashfang Village far faster than fear ever could.
As in the end, Torak had deliberately not informed the clan members about the recruiter’s true plans for these children.
As for now, he had decided that the best approach was to keep everyone except his most trusted men in the dark, until the opportune moment came to reveal the truth.