The next morning, Lenox retrieved the recruits from their tents early. "It's foggy, we want to make sure you can perform in any kind of weather situation we could encounter." He explained as he walked the small group of four towards the training circle. "I'll be right back, I have to go make sure Nikodemus is awake so that he can observe you," Lenox explained before disappearing into the fog. Ayden and Milo paired off, as usual, as did the other two recruits, for sparing practice. After several minutes, a crowd started gathering around the training circle.
"This must be the end of our training! They wouldn't be gathering around like this if we weren't being initiated," Milo said excitedly, lowering his practice sword. He started to wave at the onlookers, but they all had their arms crossed, and looks of disdain, distrust, and anger peppered the crowd. "Wait…why don't they seem excited? Don't they need help? Isn't that why they're training us?" As the final words crossed his lips, Nikodemus could be seen entering the training arena, his black broad sword over his shoulder. A wave of horrified realization washed over Milo's face, and he raised his own sword in defense. A barely trained warlock with a practice sword was no match for the vampire who had been training for years with his custom sword. Before anyone could react, Nik swung his sword and relieved Milo of his head.
Shock fell over the recruits, but the crowd let out one unanimous cheer. "This is what the Council thinks will stop us!" Nikodemus yelled, holding up the now severed head by its hair. "They send spies in here, who think they can outsmart us! If anyone else dares cross my family, I swear here on this day that the same fate will befall them!" Another cheer from the crowd, and Ayden felt his stomach turn. "Do not cross the Rogues!" Nik boomed, his voice echoing and the crowd chanting with him. "Don't cross us," he growled menacingly to the remaining three recruits. Giving the now headless body a swift kick, he set off back towards his tent.
"Well…that was unexpected," the female vampire among them mused thoughtfully. Ayden nodded in agreement, and the third recruit promptly threw up and then fainted. The female vampire rolled her eyes. "Look, we need to practice. I, for one, am not a spy and would like to prove my worth. You seem like a more trained sparring partner, anyway. Shall we?" Ayden shrugged, not wanting to seem too disturbed by what had just transpired. They continued their training, silently working harder and harder until all three suns were high in the sky.