The morning came and Captain Frown was gone. Marcel walked into the room and his crew was waiting. "What happened?" asked Marcel. "Nothing, we were waiting for you," said Greg. "We should probably get going, Gus is waiting for us at Black Lagoon," said Marcel. "Before you go, take this," said Bia's grandfather and gave Marcel a wooden carved mini chest. "Do not open it until your birthday," said Bia's grandmother. "Thank you!" said Marcel. They spent some more time with them and then left Mermaid Cove. Everyone gathered at the port to see them off. It was a moment they would never forget. After a couple of days, they arrived at Black Lagoon where Gus was waiting. "Took you long enough," said Gus while Marcel and his crew were coming towards the docks. Gus knocked on the side of the ship, "This is sturdier than before," he said. "Ready?" he asked. "Of course!" Marcel said. "Then get all the supplies you need because we are going in two hours," said Gus. Everyone rushed into the town to gather the supplies. After the two hours, Gus specified they departed Black Lagoon. "Where are we going?" asked Marcel while holding the helm. "West!" said Gus. "We are starting with your endurance first," he continued. "Endurance?" asked Marcel. "Facing harsh environments will help you and your crew overcome hard times, I know better than anyone how it feels to be stranded on a piece of wood in the middle of the sea without food or drinkable water for over a month," said Gus. Marcel was shocked to hear his words and understood the meaning of this training. Marcel slowly realized how much he and his crew changed over the past couple of months they were at sea. Every little adventure they faced, every treasure they found, every celebration and he knew that this was only the beginning. A new chapter was about to begin for him and his crew. For the time being, they had to focus and train hard under Gus's surveillance. Nothing could stop their determination.

When they reached the border with the Neverwinter they all got goosebumps and started shivering. When they went downstairs they realized there were no warm clothes. "What are you looking for?" asked Gus. "Where are our clothes?" asked Marcel. "Remember what I have told you? About the meaning of this training?" said Gus while smiling. "But this will be ten times harder," said Marcel. "Exactly!" said Gus and took off his clothes. The deeper they sailed the colder it got and their breath started freezing. After a couple of days, they were exhausted and were freezing. "I do not think that we will survive if we keep this going," said Marcel trembling from all the joints. Gus was sitting down on the deck and was looking at the horizon. He mumbled something and Marcel could not understand. Marcel got closer and asked him again, Gus was repeating, "Four more weeks!". When Marcel heard he passed out. After a couple of hours, he woke up and everyone was gathered around him. "What happened? How are you feeling?" they asked one by one. "Besides being cold... I am fine," said Marcel and got up. Gus was staying still in the same place. "This is simply crazy, we should get back," said Fred. "No!" said Marcel and took a seat near Gus. "We have come this far, we will make it!" said Marcel. As the days were passing one by one they joined Gus and Marcel on the deck. One week has passed since the incident and Gus got up. "Argh... I am hungry!" he said and stretched himself. "We are already out?" Gus came back on the deck and asked. Everyone was covered in snow and was frozen. "Eh... I guess it will take longer until you get used to it, I got a head start," said Gus and went to the helm. He prepared himself for a couple of minutes and then he jumped in the icy water. After catching some fish he climbed back on the ship and ate it. "It still tastes as bad as I remembered," he said. After a couple more days Marcel stood up. "Oh... Welcome!" said Gus and started laughing. "What happened?" asked Marcel and looked around. "Nothing... How are you feeling?" asked Gus while eating the raw fish. "Odd... I am not that cold anymore, how?" asked Marcel. "Never doubt my training young one," said Gus and looked straight in his eyes. The trick behind Gus's endurance training was that the more a body faces the cold the more the body temperature drops. When it drops low enough the body can not feel the cold as normal people. And giving enough time you will be able to face low temperatures without any problems. Gus was conserving his energy while standing still on the deck which later everyone else including Marcel did and the results were after one more week passed they were all awake again and moving. They spent the other two weeks getting used to the lack of supplies. At first, everyone was dehydrated and hungry, but after a couple of tries, they managed to eat the raw fish and eat ice and snow for water. The four weeks have passed and they passed the endurance test. Gus was proud of them but it was only the beginning. They followed Gus's instructions for the past five years and trained, they failed but never gave up and kept going supporting each other to the end. "The time has come," said Gus and grabbed Marcel's shoulder. "You mean...?" Marcel turned around and looked straight into Gus's eyes. "Yes!" said Gus and smiled. That night everyone celebrated the end of a long journey.

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