Emma knew what she had to do.
She returned to the academy the next day.
Not to fight.
To ask questions.
CHAPTER 4 — THE SECOND CHALLENGE
Daniel was waiting when Emma arrived.
He had already heard about the box.
“I owe you an apology,” he said.
Emma crossed her arms.
“For what?”
“For what I said to your mother.”
She nodded.
“That was wrong.”
Daniel looked toward the mat.
“Your father used to stand right there.”
Emma stepped closer.
“Did you believe him?”
“About what?”
“That the academy was corrupt.”
Daniel was silent.
Finally he answered.
“I believed my father.”
“And now?”
Daniel looked at the old photograph.
“Now I know I was wrong.”
Emma studied him.
“Then prove it.”
Daniel frowned.
“How?”
“Open the records.”
The suggestion spread through the academy.
Former students were contacted.
Old files were found.
Parents were interviewed.
Marcus provided copies of documents he had hidden for years.
The evidence was uncomfortable.
Several students had been promoted without completing required examinations.
Some had been pressured to compete while injured.
And financial donations had influenced decisions that should have been based on ability.
Daniel was devastated.
His father's portrait no longer looked like a symbol of pride.
It looked like a question.
One evening, Daniel stood before the students.