Chapter 44: Demise

The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices echoing throughout the arena as the victor of the match raised her hand in acknowledgment.

The girl who had just defeated Kenny soaked in the applause, her icy blue eyes gleaming with satisfaction. Her sleek ice bird perched on her shoulder, its feathers shimmering in the light like frozen crystals.

She gave a little wave, her demeanor almost diva-like in its casualness, before turning to her bird.

"See? I told you there was nothing to worry about," she said with a smirk, her voice laced with playful arrogance.

The ice bird chirped in response, shaking its feathers, seemingly unimpressed by her confidence. She chuckled, patting its head lightly.

"He was no challenge at all."

Down on the arena floor, Kenny remained on all fours, bruised and battered. Patches of ice clung to his skin, chilling him to the bone where the girl's attacks had struck him.

He could hear her words, mocking, belittling, but he couldn't muster the strength to react. His vision blurred, his pride shattered into pieces.

This was supposed to be his moment of redemption, but instead, he found himself lying defeated once again.

In the stands, whispers and murmurs spread like wildfire. The academy students, teachers, and spectators exchanged shocked glances, their expressions ranging from confusion to disbelief.

"How could he lose like that?" one of the teachers whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"Has Rowan been neglecting Kenny's training?" asked Eliza, the academy's councilor, who had been instrumental in getting Eratz expelled.

Her sharp eyes narrowed at Rowan, who sat nearby, her expression accusatory.

Rowan kept his head down, his shoulders slumped.

"No," he muttered, avoiding Eliza's accusing gaze. "I've taught him everything I could, but Kenny never listens. He doesn't follow instructions."

Eliza's eyes narrowed, her voice dripping with disdain.

"This is disgraceful. He was supposed to be our academy's pride."

In the crowd, the students' voices filled the air, confusion and disappointment evident in their words.

"Kenny lost again?"

"What happened to him? He used to be unbeatable."

"He's not the same out of the academy… Not in public tournaments."

Crystal stood among the students, her eyes wide, unable to process what she was seeing. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach, her hands gripping the railing until her knuckles turned white.

Sitting a few rows above, Lisa covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes filled with shock.

"This can't be happening… not again."

(Weeks Later, Genova Academy)

The final days of the academic year were fast approaching, and the usually bustling corridors of Genova Academy now carried a weighty silence.

Whispers followed Kenny wherever he went, his once-proud stride reduced to a slow, defeated shuffle.

His hands were stuffed deep into his pockets, his gaze firmly planted on the ground as he walked through the hallways.

Behind him, Crystal followed at a distance, her steps hesitant. She wanted to reach out, to say something, anything that could lift the weight off Kenny's shoulders, but the judging eyes of other students pinned her in place.

Every time she gathered the courage to approach, she felt their stares, cold and unforgiving, and quickly diverted her path, avoiding him altogether.

Students whispered behind their hands as Kenny passed by.

"That's Kenny… He lost in the first round this time."

"Can you believe it? He used to be the best of our academy."

Kenny clenched his jaw, hearing every word. Each murmur felt like a needle pricking his already fragile heart. He was angry, embarrassed, but mostly… he was lost.

He kept walking, never lifting his eyes from the ground, unable to face anyone around him.

In the staff room, the atmosphere was no less tense. Eliza sat at the head of a large wooden table, her gaze like a knife pointed at Rowan and the academy's director. The director, an older woman with graying hair, looked between them, her eyes tired but expectant.

"We need to discuss Kenny's future," Eliza said, her voice cold and direct. "He was supposed to be our top beast master. Now… now he's just an embarrassment."

Rowan stayed silent, frustration evident in his expression. The director looked at him, her voice calm but firm.

"Rowan, you've been Kenny's mentor for months. Can you explain why this is happening? Why has he declined so drastically?"

Rowan let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples before speaking.

"Kenny is passionate about monsters, that's true. But somewhere along the way, his focus shifted. He's more interested in earning elemental spirits through achievements at the academy, instead of honing his skills as a beast master. He's forgotten the fundamentals of beast taming."

"Forgotten? Or was he never really capable of it?" Eliza shot back, her eyes narrowing. "The academy's structure is supposed to nurture talent, yet here we are, watching our supposed prodigy fall apart."

Rowan's frustration grew evident in his voice.

"The academy's structure isn't the issue. These students need real experiences. They need to face real challenges, not just controlled tests and domesticated spirits. They need to be out there, with real monsters. Kenny is… stuck. He's not growing because the environment isn't allowing him to grow."

The director considered Rowan's words, her brow furrowed in thought.

"So, is there any way we can bring Kenny back on track? Or should we start preparing to cut our losses?"

Rowan hesitated, guilt weighing heavily on his heart.

"I… I don't know. I've already seen one student's future fall apart, and now I'm watching it happen again."

Eliza leaned forward, her expression cold and unyielding.

"Maybe if you had fought harder for Kenny, this wouldn't be happening. Maybe if you had been more supportive, more proactive, you wouldn't be watching another student crumble."

Rowan looked up sharply, anger flashing across his face.

"You think I didn't try?"

"Permission to take over Kenny's case," Eliza said, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "I have an idea that might work."

The director raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Go on."

Eliza gestured to the door.

"Lisa, come in."

The door creaked open, and Lisa entered, her head bowed. She kept her gaze fixed on the floor, her shoulders hunched as though she wished she could disappear into the background.

Rowan's eyes widened.

"Lisa? What's going on?"

Eliza's smirk widened as she spoke.

"Lisa is close to Kenny. She's given me valuable insight into why he's struggling."

The director folded her hands, watching Lisa.

"Please, Lisa. Tell us what you know."

Lisa swallowed hard, her voice shaky.

"Kenny… Kenny was stronger before because he had someone pushing him forward. He's never been the same since that student got expelled."

Eliza nodded, leaning back in her chair.

"Explain further, Lisa. Why is Eratz so important for Kenny's progress?"

Lisa shifted uncomfortably, her eyes darting towards Rowan for a moment before returning to the ground.

"Eratz and Kenny were always in competition. Eratz was someone who could challenge him in every way. Without that competition, Kenny doesn't have the same drive. He needs someone to push him,someone who won't let him rest on his laurels."

Rowan sighed, his expression a mixture of frustration and resignation.

"So you're saying Kenny can only succeed if he has someone to compete against? That sounds like a weak foundation."

Lisa shook her head quickly.

"No, it's not just competition. Eratz was… more than that. He was a motivator, an inspiration. Kenny admired him, even if he didn't always show it. They made each other better. When Eratz was expelled, Kenny lost that spark. He's just been going through the motions ever since."

Eliza leaned in, her voice challenging.

"But why Eratz specifically? There are plenty of strong students here. Why not anyone else?"

Lisa's gaze finally lifted, her eyes meeting Eliza's.

"Because Eratz wasn't just strong. He was different. He kept challenging himself, he wasn't handed opportunities. He was a real genius, and Kenny saw that. It made him want to be better,not just for himself, but to prove that he could match someone like Eratz. Without him, Kenny feels like there's nothing to prove."

The director listened intently, nodding slowly.

"So you're suggesting that bringing Eratz back would reignite Kenny's motivation? That he would once again find purpose?"

Lisa nodded, her expression earnest.

"Yes. I truly believe that if Eratz comes back, Kenny will have the push he needs to get back on track."

The director's gaze turned colder, cutting off Lisa before she could say more.

"Eratz was expelled for cheating. Are we to simply overlook that for Kenny's sake?"

Lisa bit her lip, hesitation flickering across her face. For a brief moment, it seemed like she might argue, that she might say it was a false accusation, but she swallowed her words. She couldn't risk revealing everything, not here, not now.

Eliza leaned forward, taking over before Lisa could say anything else.

"Director, I understand your concerns, but the most important thing right now is to boost Kenny back to his full potential. We need our ace to shine again. Bringing Eratz back might be unconventional, but it's a risk we need to take."

The director sighed, leaning back in her chair as she considered Eliza's words. She turned her attention back to Lisa, her eyes narrowing.

"And you, Lisa. Are you sure this isn't just about something personal? You were close to Eratz, were you not?"

Lisa felt her heart skip a beat. She forced herself to look the director in the eyes, her voice steady.

"I care about Kenny, Director. This is about him. I want to see him succeed again."

The director studied Lisa for a moment longer before giving a curt nod.

"Very well. Eliza, proceed with contacting Eratz's family. Let's see if this plan can indeed bring Kenny back to where he needs to be."

Eliza's lips curled into a smile.

"Understood, Director. I'll make the arrangements."

Rowan shifted uncomfortably, clearly annoyed by the decision. He glanced at Lisa, who kept her head bowed, her expression unreadable.

"You're dismissed," the director said, her tone signaling the end of the discussion.

Rowan stood, giving a brief nod before turning and leaving the room. Lisa followed suit, her footsteps heavy as she made her way to the door.

Later in the Hallway Outside the Staff Room, Rowan was pacing, his mind racing as he processed everything that had happened in the meeting. He looked up when Lisa emerged, her face pale and tense.

"You really think this is the answer?" Rowan asked, his voice tinged with frustration.

Lisa stopped, biting her lip, her eyes avoiding Rowan's.

"I don't know," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "I just know that Kenny isn't the same without Eratz. And maybe this is the only way to help him."

Rowan sighed deeply, shaking his head.

"Lisa, do you have any idea what kind of fire you're playing with? Eratz was expelled under serious accusations, because of someone you're close to, and now you're pushing for his return as if nothing happened."

Lisa looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of determination and sadness.

"I know it's complicated. But I also know that sometimes we need to take risks to help the people we care about. I believe in Kenny, and I… I believe that bringing Eratz back will make things better."

Rowan stared at her for a long moment, his expression softening slightly. He wanted to argue, to criticize her choice, but he could see the desperation in her eyes, the hope that she was clinging to.

He sighed again, his voice quieter this time.

"Let's hope you're right, Lisa. Because if this backfires, it won't just be Kenny who's hurt. You know that, right?"

Lisa nodded, hardly processing the reason beyond Rowan's insistence.

"I know."

Rowan hesitated for a moment before reaching out, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Take care, Lisa. And think about what you're doing, really think about it."

She nodded, her voice barely a whisper.

"I will."

Rowan turned, walking away down the hallway, his shoulders slumped. Lisa watched him go, her heart aching with uncertainty.

She wished she knew if she was making the right choice, but for now, all she could do was hope, and pray that everything worked as she wished.

(Back in the Director's Office)

Eliza stood up, a pleased expression on her face as she addressed the director.

"With your permission, I'll reach out to Eratz's family. It shouldn't be too difficult to arrange a meeting."

The director nodded, but her face was serious.

"Do what needs to be done, Eliza. But remember,if this doesn't work, we'll have a much bigger problem on our hands."

Eliza smirked, her confidence unwavering.

"It will work, Director. Kenny will be back to his prime, and the academy will reap the rewards."

The director watched as Eliza left the room, her heart heavy with doubt. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a brief moment, allowing herself to breathe in peace.

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