Chapter 45: Parental Gambit
Kenny stood in the training ground, beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, as he concentrated on controlling all of his elemental spirits simultaneously.
The spirits danced around him, each representing a different element: water, fire, lightning, earth, and wind.
The challenge was immense, to channel the power of each one without losing control, and Kenny was struggling.
His fire spirit flared up unpredictably, while his water spirit faltered and became barely visible.
Crystal watched from a distance, her gaze tired and flat.
She murmured softly to herself, her voice laced with both weariness and disappointment.
"It's always the same thing," she said, barely audible.
Her eyes showed a deep exhaustion, a result of seeing Kenny's continuous struggle and lack of progress.
Suddenly, Lisa appeared beside her. Crystal barely acknowledged her at first, continuing to watch Kenny, but then something caught her attention.
She flinched, turning back towards Lisa, who wore an oddly bright smile, too bright, in fact.
It was unnatural, the first time in months that she smiled like that and it had to be after Kenny's fall.
Lisa quickly noticed Crystal staring and looked away, but she couldn't quite hide her smile.
Crystal's eyes narrowed with concern. "What… what's with her?" she murmured to herself.
Her eyes shifted back to Kenny, who was still struggling to maintain control of his spirits. Something was wrong. She could feel it.
At the same time, Rowan and Eliza sat in an office, their eyes scanning over pages of student records.
They were focused on one task, finding the information they needed to contact Eratz.
With them was Melcin, the same teacher who had hurled racist insults at Eratz during the debacle that led to his expulsion.
He was visibly annoyed, slouched in his seat.
"Why are we doing all this work for a criminal?" Melcin muttered under his breath.
Eliza shot him a sharp glance.
"Keep your venom for later, Melcin, and maybe try to work as hard as Rowan here. He's certainly putting in the effort... perhaps because he's particularly interested to meet again a certain student." She smirked, casting a knowing look at Rowan.
Rowan ignored the comment, flipping through the files until he finally found the one he was searching for.
"Got it," he said, lifting the file slightly. He scanned the page and found the contact information for Eratz's parents.
"We can reach out to his parents."
Later that day, Rowan and Eliza contacted Eratz's parents, surprising them with a request to meet.
Eratz's parents, Liora and Marcus, were both taken aback, considering it a divine opportunity. They agreed and arranged to meet at a fancy café in Grushia.
The café was upscale, the atmosphere refined and elegant. Liora and Marcus sat across from Rowan and Eliza, their demeanor polite and dignified.
Rowan, however, seemed distracted, his eyes scanning the surroundings before settling on the couple.
After a few pleasantries, Rowan got to the point.
"Did Eratz come with you today?"
Liora and Marcus exchanged a glance, a hint of discomfort passing between them. Liora spoke first, her voice tinged with a hint of disdain.
"We refuse to have an animal in our house. We didn't raise our children to act that way. It's something Eratz must have picked up from his... Genes, but it certainly doesn't belong in our home."
Rowan's brow furrowed, Liora's words were terrible, but there was a visible tragedy: she had white hair and a dark skin, she was herself an Ishtarian.
Eliza murmured under her breath.
"Some people are so disgusted by their own roots that they deny them completely and try to act like someone else. It's always fascinating to watch."
Marcus cleared his throat, trying to maintain his composure.
"Eratz has been living with his aunt and uncle in the countryside," he explained.
Rowan was taken aback by the way they described Eratz, the disdain evident in their words. But it was a potential consequence. He pushed forward.
"We'd like to offer Eratz a chance to return to the academy," he said, his tone steady. "We believe he deserves another opportunity."
Liora and Marcus were stunned, exchanging another glance, this one filled with confusion and hesitation.
They both hesitated, and then Liora spoke, her voice uncertain.
"Are you sure about this? Our other children are also very talented, Kian and Lila have always followed the rules, they've shown nothing but dedication. They deserve this opportunity more."
Rowan shook his head, his eyes narrowing.
"We aren't here to talk about Kian or Lila. We're here for Eratz."
Eliza leaned forward, her expression firm, cutting in before Liora could respond.
"We want Eratz, only Eratz." she said, her voice leaving no room for argument.
A brief silence followed. Liora looked visibly annoyed, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Marcus, who had been listening intently, cleared his throat, glancing at his wife before leaning back in his chair.
A sly smile formed on his lips as he spoke.
"Fine," he began slowly, "as his parents, we'll allow Eratz to return... on one condition. You must also recruit our other two children, Kian and Lila."
Rowan's jaw tightened.
"What are you..." he began, but Marcus raised a hand, cutting him off.
"Kian and Lila are just as capable, if not more so. If you want Eratz back, then you take all three. Otherwise, you can forget about it."
Eliza tilted her head slightly, a smirk tugging at her lips.
"Finally showing your true colors?" she said, her tone mocking. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Liora's expression turned cold.
"You can mock us all you like, but the fact is, Kian and Lila are exceptional. They're the ones who should be given opportunities, not someone who tried to abuse a young girl."
Rowan let out a frustrated sigh.
"We're trying to give Eratz a second chance. This isn't about Kian or Lila," he said, his tone sharp. "Eratz deserves..."
Marcus cut him off again, his voice firm.
"You want Eratz back? Then you take all three of them. That's the deal."
Eliza held up a hand, silencing Rowan before he could respond. She looked at Marcus and Liora, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"You're really going to bargain your own son like this?"
Liora crossed her arms, her expression unyielding.
"We're doing what's best for all of our children. If Eratz is going to be given a second chance, then Kian and Lila deserve theirs too."
After a few moments of tense silence, Eliza finally leaned back in her chair, a reluctant nod following.
"Fine," she said, her tone begrudging. "We'll take Kian and Lila too. But make no mistake, this isn't definitive, even for Eratz. He will have to prove himself, and so will your other children."
Liora gave a tight smile, while Marcus nodded, satisfied.
"That's all we ask," Marcus replied.
The tension hung in the air for a moment longer before Eliza stood, signaling the end of the meeting.
"We'll be in touch," she said curtly, turning to leave.
Back at their home, Liora, Marcus, Kian, and Lila were celebrating. The atmosphere was lively, the two youngsters beaming with pride.
Liora and Marcus sat at the head of the table, glasses of wine in hand, their smiles wide and triumphant.
"You see? We knew it would work out," Marcus said, raising his glass in a toast. "Our family deserves the best. And now, Kian and Lila, it's your time to shine."
Kian leaned back in his chair, a smug grin on his face.
"Of course, Father. Unlike Eratz, I actually know how to make the most of an opportunity. I won't let you down."
Lila, sitting beside him, nodded in agreement, her expression just as smug.
"We're not going to embarrass the family like he did, We know what it takes to succeed."
Liora smiled approvingly, her eyes flicking between her two younger children.
"That's right. You two are nothing like him. You've always followed the rules, always shown dedication, and you don't look like him. Now, you have the chance to prove yourselves. Just remember, we expect nothing but the best from both of you."
Kian and Lila exchanged a look, their eyes gleaming with ambition.
"Don't worry, Mother," Kian said."We'll make you proud."
"Yeah," Lila chimed in. "We won't be losers like Eratz. We're going to show everyone what real talent looks like."
Marcus chuckled, nodding in agreement. "That's the spirit. Just remember, this is your chance to shine. Don't let anything, or anyone, stand in your way."
The celebration continued, the family reveling in their perceived victory.
Days later, Liora and Marcus, along with Rowan and Eliza, arrived at Cassie and Roger's old house. But when they knocked, there was no answer. The place seemed empty.
Eliza's patience wore thin, and she turned to Liora and Marcus.
"Are you playing games with us?"
Marcus looked bewildered.
"There must be an explanation," he said, but Liora was already on her phone, dialing a number.
Farther away, Cassie picked up, her voice cautious. She was in an empty room, away from the noise outside, where Eratz, Colin, and Roger were loading their belongings into a car, preparing to move to a new home.
"Where are you?" Liora demanded, her tone cold and sharp.
Cassie hesitated, her heart pounding.
"We're at Lugina... but why do you care, Liora?... Are you planning to come and apologize to Eratz?"
Liora scoffed.
"Apologize? Don't be ridiculous. Stop with these foolish questions. We're coming to take Eratz back."
Cassie felt her heart sink, her face flushing with both fear and anger. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
"... Eratz doesn't need to go back with you, Liora. He's happy here. He's made a life for himself, and we treat him like our own."
"Hm? What are you saying? Cassie what's that? You think you can replace us?" Liora snapped, her voice rising. "Eratz belongs with his family, not in some backwater village. You have no right to keep him from us."
Cassie's hands trembled as she gripped the phone.
"Liora, please... Just think about what you're doing. Eratz deserves at least an apology from you, not more orders. You don't even listen to him. He deserves respect."
"Respect?" Liora's voice was filled with anger. "He's been nothing but trouble. We're giving him a chance to come back, to be part of something. You think you know what's best for him, but you don't. We're his parents."
Cassie's eyes welled with tears, her voice trembling.
"He's not just some possession, Liora. He's a person, and he's finally happy here. Please, don't take him away from us. I love him as if he were my own son."
Liora paused, taken aback by Cassie's words, but then her resolve hardened again.
"Stay out of this, Cassie. We're coming to take him, and that's final."
Cassie's heart pounded, her fear turning into desperation.
"No. He will stay with us," she said, her voice breaking with emotion.
And before her sister could respond, she hung up the phone.
Liora and Marcus, visibly furious, relayed the situation to Rowan and Eliza. Eliza, however, seemed unfazed. In fact, a satisfied smile spread across her face.
"Well, now we know where to find him," she said, her tone almost gleeful. She turned to Rowan. "We'll change the location of the summer expedition to Lugina."
Rowan was a mix of emotions, disappointment that they hadn't found Eratz right away, but also something else. His heart pounded at the thought of seeing Eratz again.
The announcement was made at Genova Academy, the summer expedition would be to Lugina, and excitement buzzed among the students.
They were oblivious to the true intention behind the change in plans.
On the day of departure, several buses were lined up, ready to transport the students and staff.
The air was filled with chatter and excitement. Kenny sat in the back, groaning as he looked out the window, disinterested.
Lisa, on the other hand, seemed unusually happy, a smile playing on her lips.
Crystal watched her with a worried expression, unable to shake the feeling that something was wrong.
On another road, car, Liora, Marcus, Kian, and Lila were in a car, also heading toward Lugina.
Everyone was converging on the same point, unaware of the storm that was about to unfold.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone