Reinhard passed the carved stone archways that marked transitions between different sections of the academy, brass plaques indicating various dormitory wings.

The marble gave way to different flooring in the residential areas, and the chandeliers were replaced by simpler gas lamps.

He pushed through a set of heavy wooden doors marked "First Year Boys - East Wing".

The hallway beyond was narrower, with numbered doors on both sides, each bearing a small brass plate at the center.

Reinhard reached his room and turned the key in the lock before opening the door and entering the room. He closed the door and moved to the desk, then sat in the wooden chair.

The surface held everything he needed, which was a sheet of paper, a bottle of ink, and several pens. He pulled a fresh sheet toward him and began writing.

Dear Anna, Klein, and Anasha,

He wrote about how the second semester had been fine, about the classes and training. He mentioned making more friends, such as Irene, Alger, and the other Dream club members, something Anasha and Anna had always wanted him to do. He guessed they wanted him to enjoy his school life more and not focus solely on getting more points.

He then wrote about events that Jessie, Lloyd, Kyle, Bruno, and Suzy had described during dinner. He wrote about their missions while imagining Anna's expression shifting into disgust from the mention of rats, while Anasha's eyes shone at the Shadow Hounds.

Klein would be interested in hearing more about the beast hunting. Then he started writing about the academy life, such as the classes and clubs that were here. Then he moved on to the whole school water fight that had lasted an entire week, with balloons flying through corridors and ambushes set up around every corner.

The Great Story Time, where students had gathered in the fields at night around a bonfire so massive you could feel its heat all over the field. They'd roasted marshmallows until they caught fire, danced to music, shared tales.

He further wrote more about the simple and fun things, the kind of academy life they'd want to hear about.

I'll be going on another expedition mission and won't be able to send letters for probably a month. But once I'm back, we'll spend a lot more time together. I promise.

Keep going to school and don't forget your lunches in the morning. I know it's new, but you're doing great. Study hard and listen to your teachers while also taking care of each other.

He signed it, blew gently on the ink to help it dry, then folded the paper carefully. Three copies, one for each of them, even though they lived together now in Nuevo.

Each deserved their own letter with their own special thoughts about them.

Thanks to Marie's efforts, working through Rosaria and Klaus, all three of his siblings were now enrolled in a proper school in Nuevo. They were able to enjoy a real education while also having a helper from the school check on them every day.

The thought made something warm settle in his chest.

Reinhard leaned back in the chair, while his hand came up to rub his face. The glove felt strange, but it was something he just needed to get used to wearing.

Then he called Mimir, leading to a streak of black to rush out from his right hand. The streaks rushed up, swirling around his head, and landed on his right shoulder with practiced ease.

The black crow with golden horns tilted its head, and its golden eyes stayed on Reinhard.

"I'm close to Tier D now." Reinhard said, straightening in the chair. "Let's reach it, send out about fifty souls."

Mimir nodded, his beak opening, and then a light shined in his mouth. Four round orbs of light emerged, floating through the air before settling onto the bed.

Reinhard stood and moved to the bed.

The souls hovered just above the blanket, and he could identify them immediately. Two Bear-Terror souls, one Werefang, one Wyvern, all from Phane City.

Reinhard's palm met the first Bear-Terror soul, the orb radiating heat against his skin. Eyes closed, he initiated the absorption, drawing the essence inward.

A wave of unbridled rage crashed through him, making his body tremble. The creature's fury pressed against his mind. Images followed of the Bear-Terror demolishing Phane City, buildings crumbling beneath its onslaught.

Fragments of stone and wood exploded while it fell onto the streets. Citizens fleeing in terror while massive claws shred through infrastructure. Thunderous roars split the air while they rushed into other Phantasm Beasts.

A gasp escaped him as the soul merged with his being. With trembling fingers, he reached for the second Bear-Terror orb. Again came the rush of wrath, insanity, obliteration. Scenes of the beast barreling through the city, leaving only chaos in its wake.

After that, he moved to the Werefang soul next. This fury carried precision and a hunter-like quality. Through its perspective, he stalked Phane City, before striking Beast masters and people. Each kill was executed with brutality.

The Wyvern soul completed the sequence. As his hand connected with the orb, he felt rage, wrath, hatred, and the desire to destroy. Then he saw images of the Wyvern soaring, scales cutting through wind currents.

Then a Bone Wyvern descended, its massive frame shattering a rooftop. Rubble showered the street below. Its eyes catch the sight of people before rushing towards them and turning them into mist.

Reinhard recoiled as the final devouring, and then he began integrating them. His breathing came ragged, while he continued to fully fuse it into his soul. And then after a bit, he clenched his fist, sensing the newfound power settling throughout his form.

"579 souls." Reinhard said with a faint smile.

Mimir nodded with his golden eyes gleaming with approval. "You're now Tier D. That's pretty impressive, considering how long you've been a Beast Master and that you only had three weeks to go from the 100s to the 500s."

Reinhard sighed, slowly sitting on the edge of the bed. "Yeah, but it was dangerous and difficult. I can see why breaks are necessary."

"But you need to rise." Mimir said. "Your luck is too terrible."

Reinhard's lips twitched, he wanted to argue, to defend himself, but he couldn't.

Rosaria's words echoed in his mind, about how Marie and Joseph hadn't encountered anything absurd without him.

"Do you think I can reach the 700s before it's time to go?" Reinhard asked instead.

Mimir considered this, head tilting. "You should be able to. Since your devouring capacity doubled again, you should be able to devour 50 souls safely at once." A pause. "And if you push yourself, you could reach 100. But I wouldn't recommend it."

"I know." Reinhard rubbed his temples, feeling the beginning of a headache forming.

"Did you also test out Fenrir?" Mimir asked.

"Not really, I was too busy with everything else that was put on the side."

"Let's see it now."

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