Chapter 141: In the Light of the Moon

Chapter 141: In the Light of the MoonThe group remained frozen in the alley bathing in a pale, silver light from the distant streetlamp. It was as if the entire world had paused, leaving only the cold silence of the night biting against their skin.

Gabriel stood apart from the others, his hands clenched at his sides. He stared at the spot where Eratz had disappeared, his expression troubled, a deep crease forming between his brows.

He looked toward Crystal, standing a few steps away. She hadn't moved since Eratz's final words, her face pale. Her eyes were wide, void, staring blankly into the empty space.

Finally, the silence was broken by a soft sigh. One of the younger teachers spoke up. "Well," the woman said quietly, her breath visible in the cold air, "at least now it's settled." The words fell flat, met with a collective unease. There was no sense of resolution, only a heavy emptiness that hung between them.

The director pressed her fingers to her temples, massaging away a tension that had taken root there. She closed her eyes, inhaling deeply before letting out a weary sigh.

"Prepare to leave tomorrow morning," she ordered.

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel, her steps echoing sharply against the cobblestones as she walked away, her silhouette fading into the mist.

The remaining teachers exchanged uncertain glances, the discomfort palpable in the air. For a moment, the group remained silent, watching her go, but then, with a sudden burst of energy, Rowan dashed in the opposite direction, chasing after Eratz.

The other teachers exchanged worried glances. One of them, a younger man, stepped forward, raising his hand as if to call Rowan back.

"Rowan, wait..." he started, his hand reaching out.

But another teacher, a tall man with a kind, weathered face, placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him gently.

"Let him go, he needs this." He said quietly.

The group watched as Rowan broke into a hurried stride, the sound of his footsteps fading quickly as he disappeared around the corner in pursuit of Eratz.

Rowan nearly stumbled into the alley, panting hard as he caught sight of Eratz's back. He reached out, his voice strained, barely above a whisper.

"Eratz, wait!"

Eratz stopped but didn't turn around. He stood there, hands in his pockets, the cold breeze tugging at his hair. He sighed, glancing up at the faint light of the moon.

"You could have started with this, Rowan, but it doesn't matter now. Whatever you say, it won't reach me anymore."

Rowan swallowed, fighting against the tightness in his throat, forcing himself to breathe. The sight of Eratz's back made him ache with regret. He took a step closer, desperation clawing at his heart.

"I know," he rasped, his voice trembling. "I don't deserve your forgiveness. That's not why I came."

Tears welled up in Rowan's eyes, blurring his vision as he took another step. He couldn't see the path forward, only the shattered pieces of what he had once cherished.

"I was wrong, Eratz. So wrong," he choked out. "I failed you when it mattered most. I should have believed in you. I watched you walk away, and I did nothing. I did nothing to stop it, and I've hated myself every day since."

Eratz didn't turn, though his head tilted just slightly, as if listening.

"You were more than just a student to me," Rowan continued, his voice cracking with emotion. "You were like a son. I was so proud of you, of everything you were becoming. And then I... I destroyed it all. I let you down when you needed me the most. I didn't believe in you, and I lost you because of it."

He fell to his knees, the cold, rough stones digging into his skin.

"I know you didn't cheat, Eratz. I've known it in my heart all along. But that doesn't matter anymore, does it? What matters is that I lost you. I lost you because of my own weakness, and it's a pain that I can't bear anymore."

The silence that followed was agonizing. It seemed to stretch forever, the cold seeping through Rowan's bones, pressing down on him until he could barely breathe.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Eratz moved. Slowly, he turned, his face impassive, his gaze steady and unreadable. It was a look Rowan had never seen before, an expression void of the warmth he remembered, yet, devoid of anger and resentment.

"Stand up," he said quietly.

Rowan hesitated, looking up with tear-streaked cheeks. He took a shuddering breath, then slowly rose to his feet, swaying slightly as if the weight of his guilt was pulling him back down.

Eratz met his gaze, his eyes steady and cold.

"Things have changed, Professor," he said, his voice softer now. "They'll never be the same again. I don't care about being right or wrong anymore. I don't care about proving my innocence or seeking revenge. I've found new things to live for, new reasons to move forward."

He paused, a faint, sad smile tugging at his lips.

"It's sad that it ended like this between us. But the Eratz you knew is gone. The person standing before you has different goals, different challenges, and I've made my peace with

that."

Rowan's face crumpled, but he nodded slowly, his head bowing in acceptance.

"I wanted to guide you," he whispered. "To see you reach the top, to be part of your journey. But I failed. I failed you in every way."

"Let's say we failed both of us," Eratz agreed. "But that doesn't mean you have to keep failing. You still have a chance to guide others. Life goes on, Rowan. It always does. You can be in Hell one day, but leaving it or staying in it is on you."

Rowan wiped his eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath. He forced a smile, weak and filled

with regret.

"I'll always watch your matches," he said softly. "I'll follow your path to the top. And if you ever need someone to listen, I'll be there. I'll do anything for you."

Eratz looked up at the stars, a quiet, reflective look on his face.

"... Since you're offering," he said after a pause, "there's one thing you could do. Something

in memory of the past."

Rowan's eyes brightened slightly, a flicker of hope returning.

"Anything," he said quickly. "Just tell me."

Eratz turned back to him, his gaze steady.

"I want Genova Academy to enroll my younger siblings, Kian and Lila."

Rowan blinked, clearly taken aback.

"Kian and Lila? Your siblings? Those who live with the kind of parents you have?" he repeated. "But... I might be wrong, Eratz, but I think it's pointless. They hate you. Your

parents have..."

Eratz raised a hand, cutting him off.

"I didn't ask what they think of me," he said, his voice firm. "See? This is exactly why we've

drifted apart. You care too much about what people think, you judge people based on a public opinion. I don't. I don't need them to love or hate me, I'm their older brother, and that's all that matters. With different name or skin."

Rowan swallowed, a look of sadness mixed with admiration crossing his face.

"You haven't changed at all in that regard," he murmured, his voice thick. He let out a weak, wavering laugh. "I swear to you, Eratz. I'll look after them, as I should have looked after you. I won't fail you again."

For the first time that night, a genuine warmth spread across Eratz's face, a smile tinged with

nostalgia.

"Good," he said simply, his voice barely more than a whisper. He turned away, taking a step into the shadows. "And remember, we never had this conversation."

Rowan chuckled, a bittersweet sound, as he wiped away the last of his tears.

"Maybe that's why people keep pushing you away, only to realize what they lost when you're gone," he murmured, more to himself than to Eratz.

Eratz raised a hand in a casual wave, already fading into the darkness.

"I'll see you around, old man," he called back, his voice echoing softly in the empty alley. Sёarᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Rowan stood there, watching him disappear, feeling both the sting of loss and the faint warmth of reconciliation. He took a deep breath, his voice a quiet whisper to the night.

"Take care, Eratz," he murmured, before turning and walking back toward the others, the weight on his shoulders somehow lighter.

Back into the restaurant, the atmosphere had shifted. Everyone around the table, kept glancing between the door and each other.

Mercury's eyes lingered on the door, worry creasing her brow. After a moment, she pushed her

chair back and stood.

"I'm going to check on him."

But before she could take a step, Victoria raised her hand to stop her.

"No, we don't know much about Eratz's past. That's his story, his history, and we have no

right to interfere."

Mercury looked at her, clearly torn.

"But... he's been gone for a while. What if..."

Victoria shook her head, her voice gentle but resolute.

"We need to trust him. Whatever happened out there, it's for him to share or to keep to

himself. When he comes back, we'll greet him with a smile." She offered Mercury a reassuring

look. "Today is his day, let's do our best to make him feel enough warmth once he comes

back."

The group fell silent once more, exchanging glances, trying to ease the tension that hung in the air. They waited, eyes flicking to the door with each creak and murmur from the hall. After a few moments, the door swung open, and Eratz strolled in, hands tucked casually in his pockets, an easy smile on his face.

"Sorry about that," he said, glancing around at the group, his voice light. "Took longer than

expected."

Everyone turned, their expressions a mixture of surprise and relief. Kaida stood up, carefully

examining his face.

"You okay?" she asked.

Eratz grinned and nodded, letting his gaze pass over each of them.

"Yeah, never better."

He moved to sit down, and as he settled in, they all leaned forward, their curiosity finally

spilling over into a flurry of questions.

"How are you feeling?" Ryder asked.

"Did everything go okay?" Mercury's eyes searched his face.

"Is it all... settled?" Catarina added cautiously, her brow furrowed.

Eratz raised an eyebrow, answering each question with a simple nod or shrug, as if it had all

been nothing. "I'm fine," he repeated, his voice light and calm. "All's good."

For a moment, they all looked at each other, then back at him, unsure. Finally, Kaida relaxed,

giving him a smile.

"Well, it's good to see you're alright."

Eratz nodded, a glimmer of warmth in his eyes.

"Yeah. To be honest... I'm just impatient now. There's so much I want to get to, so much to

look forward to. You won't believe what I..." He paused, then flinched slightly, as if he'd just remembered something important.

"Oh, wait," he said, standing up suddenly. "I forgot..." He headed to the door, leaving

everyone exchanging puzzled looks.

He returned moments later, holding someone by the wrist. As they stepped into the light, everyone's eyes widened in shock.

Raya stood there, looking slightly nervous. She gave a small, awkward wave.

"Uh... hi."

Eratz smiled.

"I found her wandering outside, so I picked her up on the way. She has a little history with us,

but she looks like a friend. Oh, and, Ms. Victoria, she's a free agent so I invited her to join

Crescent Moon."

Raya offered a slight nod, standing straighter.

"I'd be honored to join you."

For a moment, it felt as if the entire restaurant had collectively stopped breathing, every pair

of eyes fixed on Eratz and the girl beside him.

Then, they exploded.

A chorus of shocked exclamations erupted, voices overlapping in a chaotic mix of disbelief.

Zara's jaw dropped, and she shot to her feet so quickly that her chair clattered to the ground behind her. "What the hell?!" she practically shouted, her wide eyes darting between Eratz and Raya. She threw her hands up, gesturing wildly.

"Eratz, do you realize what you're doing? If we keep poaching people like this, we might

actually get sued or... or worse! What's next, Raya? Are you secretly part of some Yakuza agency? Are we going to have to fight big guys? Pay a huge ransom, or... sacrifice Catarina?!"

Catarina's eyes went wide. "Mew?!" Eratz chuckled, shaking his head.

"Calm down, Zara. She's completely free, no contracts, no debts. We're good. And besides

we've got enough money to sign every contract now."

Raya rised a finger.

"Still, it's not about the money," she said quietly. "My role is to be a blade for my lord. And

that lord... is Eratz."

"As you say, pal." Eratz nodded.

"Zara..." Victoria's voice cut in. "Get me a napkin and a pen."

Zara blinked, momentarily thrown off her tirade.

"... What?"

"A napkin and a pen!" Victoria's eyes were wide. "Now!"

Zara, her face twisted in horror, frantically searched for a napkin and pen while Victoria, with

a calm but forceful grip, guided Raya to her seat, her fingers pressing into her shoulders as if making sure she wouldn't slip away.

The entire table remained frozen, a collective gasp of realization hanging in the air. Every

member of Crescent Moon exchanged wide-eyed looks, unable to process what had just happened.

Kaida's smirk faded into a look of astonishment, Ryder slumped back in his chair, speechless

for once, Mercury's eyes were wide open, and Catarina's fork slipped from her fingers, clattering onto her plate.

Even Cassie and Roger exchanged a rare, knowing smile, realizing the magnitude of this unexpected alliance.

Raya, the runner-up of the finals, a beast master of incredible skill, had chosen to join them.

It wasn't just an addition to their roster, it was a seismic shift, a game-changing event that could alter the entire landscape of their agency's future.