Soon enough, Zephyrion and the trainees were led down the mountain, toward the northwest path, where Garrick was already waiting before a wide crevice, a sheer vertical opening.
The trainees had already begun whispering among themselves when Garrick clapped again, drawing their attention.
"Alright, runts. Listen carefully. Today… you're climbing Hell's Steep."
"What!?"
"H-Hell's Steep?"
"Isn't that for the Steel trainees?"
"Don't you need to be at least mark three for that?"
The trainees' eyes widened in shock.
'Hell's Steep.'
Hell's Steep was a long-standing tradition in Calderalth. The entire climb was embedded with a scrambler, forcing trainees to ascend without any active use of their elements.
It was mostly used for Steel trainees, and was a right of passage before one could truly become a Steel.
Due to the perilous terrain and sheer steepness, mark three was the minimum requirement to climb it safely.
"Enough."
