“Perhaps, warrior,” the shadow conceded. “But no matter how many words I utter, you cannot fathom the idea of wasting countless years of your life in a land where seasons come and go in the blink of an eye. A place where civilization struggles to take root, perched at the edge of the world. Enduring the bitter cold, living on meager rations, not knowing if you will survive the next blizzard or not.”
“Are you complaining to me, Old Man?” Lathea didn’t bother to hide her disgust. “Are you complaining about the choices you made for yourself? No one forced you to travel here. No one forced you to forgo the trial of the Heavens and the Earth.”
“You speak the truth,” the shadow exhaled heavily. “And I am not venting to you, warrior. Perhaps I am merely trying to convince myself that I am on
