Dominion of The Beast Masters

Chapter 240: Last Closing of the Doors



Rex stood near the doorway, his hands clasped tightly together, fidgeting like a child caught doing something wrong. His eyes darted between Leonidas and Kallistra, his nervous energy almost tangible.

Kallistra turned slowly from the window, her steps deliberate as she walked toward him. Her arms stretched wide, an exaggerated gesture of welcome that seemed almost theatrical. A sly smile played on her lips as she spoke, her voice dripping with honeyed sarcasm.

"Ah, the brightest light of this entire building has arrived," she said, her tone a mixture of mockery and admiration.

Rex's fingers twitched nervously, rubbing against each other as he muttered.

"A pathetic worm like me? A light?"

Kallistra's pace quickened as she closed the distance between them, her gaze locked onto him with unnerving intensity. She stopped just inches away, reaching out to cup his cheek with a hand that felt both tender and commanding.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice soft and almost reverent. "And the purest."

Rex's cheeks flushed a deep red, his embarrassment evident as he looked away, unable to meet her gaze. Leonidas, who had been watching the exchange with a growing frown, finally broke the silence.

"Why is he here?" Leonidas asked, his voice sharp and impatient.

Kallistra straightened, her hand falling from Rex's face. She turned her head slightly toward Leonidas but kept her eyes on Rex, a playful glint dancing in them.

"Why should someone as strong as him need a reason to come here?" she replied smoothly. "Strength like his is rare, Leonidas. It's a treasure, a rare mix of good nature, an untarnished heart, and unparalleled behavior."

She gestured toward Rex, her tone turning almost lyrical.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Plus, he's your only chance to face the Pharaoh in any competition."

Leonidas's frown deepened, his irritation bubbling to the surface.

"And what does that have to do with this so-called Plan B?" he demanded. "How does the Pharaoh even factor into this?"

Kallistra's laughter echoed through the room, a sound that seemed to grow louder and more unsettling as it filled the space. She turned fully to face Leonidas, her smile widening.

"Oh, Leonidas, you're so charmingly direct. You're starting to get it, half of it actually," she said, her voice light but with a dangerous undertone. "You see, Rex... is... a key."

The room grew still. Even the noise of distant activity beyond the door seemed to fade into silence. Rex blinked, his brow furrowing in confusion, while Leonidas's eyes narrowed. "A key to what?" Leonidas asked, his voice low.

Kallistra turned back to Rex, her smile softening, almost melancholic.

"I once told you I had a feud with Tamara, didn't I?" she began, her voice taking on an introspective quality. "And things didn't go as I expected. Not because I failed to defeat her, I wasn't aiming for that, but because I couldn't force an event."

As she spoke, a faint ripple of energy began to gather in the room. It was subtle at first, like the static charge before a storm, but it quickly grew in intensity.

The light increased slightly, and an unnatural chill seeped into the air. Threads of energy, shimmering began converging toward Kallistra's outstretched hand. She raised it in front of her face, her fingers curling as the energy coalesced into a glowing white sphere.

The light from the white orb cast eerie shadows across her face, making her expression unreadable.

She raised her gaze to Rex, her eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light.

"I failed," she said quietly, her voice almost mournful. "Because I couldn't fit the second half of all the conditions."

Days later, Eratz wandered through the streets of Grushia, his footsteps soft against the cobblestone. This was his last day in the town, a place filled with both fond memories and painful turning points.

Soon, Golden Cosmos would leave for Lugina, returning to their busy schedule, but for now, Eratz allowed himself this moment of reflection.

The forest where he used to play as a child stretched endlessly before him. The canopy of leaves cast dappled shadows on the ground, their swaying branches murmuring stories of his youth.

He could almost hear the laughter of a younger version of himself, running around with some children, among them Lisa. The air smelled of pine and earth, grounding him in the present while pulling him into the past.

His steps led him to the park where he used to sit after school. The benches were weathered but familiar, and the playground, though empty now, held echoes of childhood joy.

The swing creaked as the wind pushed it gently, and Eratz smiled faintly, remembering how he'd once pushed other kids there, back when things were simpler. He couldn't help but wonder what they had become since then, could they even recognize him now?

Next, the river came into view. Its gentle flow glistened under the afternoon sun, whispering secrets as it had for years. This was where he'd come to clear his head, to think about life and what lay ahead.

He crouched by the bank, letting the cool water run over his fingertips, the sensation grounding him as the memories rose unbidden. He had been here on so many occasions, he was only having fun, he didn't know he was making memories.

His walk finally brought him to the place where everything had changed: the towering gates of Genova Academy. The building loomed ahead, its facade now marred by time and scandal.

Eratz stood silently, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. This was the place where his life had broken apart, only to be rebuilt stronger.

He stared at his hand, turning it palm up as if to grasp the intangible threads of his memories. In his mind's eye, he saw his past self nearly two years ago, filled with anger and betrayal but also a fiery determination.

Back then, there was a fire leading him to the path to follow. Now, looking at the sky, he saw a vast expanse of calm blues and soft clouds. Everything was different, yet some part of him felt

oddly at peace.

With a small smile, he spoke.

"It's nothing special. I just have a good memory. Sometimes, it makes me nostalgic."

He looked aside, smiling at Rowan standing there, his hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze distant yet warm. The older man's eyes carried a reflective sheen as they lingered on the

academy's gates.

"This place is too dark for someone like you," Rowan said, his voice low but steady.

Eratz nodded, his gaze drifting back to the building.

"You're right. But I think it helps me appreciate what I have now." He looked at Rowan, his expression thoughtful. "Do we have to go there, or...?"

Rowan's lips curved into a bittersweet smile.

"I would have appreciated it if you did. Maybe one day you will." His eyes shifted to the side, his voice softening. "But I respect that it's not my decision to make."

Following Rowan's gaze, Eratz turned and smiled. In the distance, Kian and Lila stood at the end of the street, both flustered and breathing hard as if they had been running. Their wide eyes fixed on Eratz, their emotion building like a volcano.