Around 5:30 am or so in one of the academy's amphitheatres, Noah and James were running around the open stage with a few weights on their backs while Asher and Owen sat in the stands watching them.
"Huff. Huff. Asher, can we take a break now?" Noah cried out with a weary voice.
"Sure. That's if you're comfortable taking a position below the top 50." Asher smiled as he nibbled on a piece of biscuit he brought with him.
Gritting his teeth, Noah tightened his grip on the weights hanging behind him as he resumed his exercise.
'This is already the fourth lap, and it's their first time doing this. Does he want them to die?' Owen glanced at Asher with a bit of apprehension as he recalled what had led to this.
. . .