He watched as his breath fogged in front of him, and then he brought in a deep breath, and plunged straight into the lake, without further hesitation.
The shock of the cold hit like a hammer to the ribcage.
His chest tightened, and an instinct to gasp for breath kicked in. Had he not been accustomed to it from his swims with Dominus, then he likely would have swallowed a mouthful of water, ending the challenge before it even began.
He'd immediately gone down past his head, and the cold felt like a headache against his skull. He forced himself to remain calm, as his body got used to the sudden change in heat. The panic grew lesser with each moment that passed, and by the time he had surfaced, a calm remained.
His expression betrayed no signs of his discomfort. He leaned forward, and settled into a swim, his trousers feeling heavy about his legs. He was glad not to have his boots on. They would have made the affair even worse.
