'It was a test, just like I thought,' Kieran mused, watching Jacob.
There's no way they'd throw a bunch of kids into danger without a guide. He just wanted to see who was ready to die if it came to that... Not me, though.
His eyes narrowed.
I can't die. Not until I kill them... and find her.
His fists clenched tightly in his pockets.
The anger bubbled again—memories of Frank and his thugs, of Jane, and everything that happened at the academy.
All of it made his blood boil.
But he kept it down. Buried it. For now.
Jacob turned back to address the rest of them.
"The rest of you," he said, voice firm, "we move to the training realm now. Stand tall. You're no longer just kids—you're respected Awakened."
With that, he led the group through the gates of the Blue Fang faction base.
Kieran glanced over his shoulder, back at the ones who stayed behind.
Their faces were hollow, like something had been torn out of them.
And maybe it had.
They'll regret that choice, he thought.
