Early in the morning, Kevin could be seen jogging along the forest trail outside the academy. His breathing was steady, a thin layer of sweat glistening on his forehead as he moved quietly through the trees.
It had been a week since the announcement of the Chosen Ones, and none of the five members had lost their badges yet.
What happened during that group training still lingered in everyone's minds—especially Emma's performance.
Defeating nearly two dozen students on her own and even subduing an out-of-control phoenix had left a lasting impression.
That incident alone was enough to make most students think twice before challenging the academy's top pick.
Even though Natalie and Gizel continued to receive regular challenges, neither had ever been pushed into a situation where losing their badge was even a possibility.
Now, only a week remained before they would be officially declared as the academy's representatives.
