Reinhard's hands trembled as he lifted the spoon. The soup's warmth spread through the metal, into his palm, up his arm. He brought it to his lips slowly and drank it before feeling the taste explode across his tongue.

It was rich, savory, and an absolute delight that made him shiver. The spoon went into the soul once more before he lifted up and placed it back into his mouth.

He continued this cycle in a frantic manner, pushed by both hunger and how good the soap tasted.

The bread came next, which was soft and warm. He tore pieces and stuffed them in his mouth between spoonfuls of soup, shivering in delight at the taste.

He even tried mixing the bread with the soap, and his eyes lit up from how good it tasted together, not even caring about the crumbs falling on the blanket.

Klaus watched with that faint smile, his light-gold eyes watching with something that might have been amusement or concern. Rosaria's crimson eyes remained impassive, but she'd shifted slightly closer, ready to make him slow down if needed.

Celestia stood by on the other side, observing with amusement, her amber-crimson mixed eyes observing with amusement.

She gently tapped his shoulder, making Reinhard blink, and then he saw Celestia smiling faintly at him.

"Slow down now, your body has been used to getting other supplements. We don't want you throwing up the food now."

Reinhard nodded as he forced himself to slow down even as his stomach was already protesting the sudden influx after months of nothing.

He set the spoon down, reached for the water instead, and felt the liquid settle the roiling in his gut.

"Better?" Klaus's question came gently.

Reinhard nodded before his blue eyes found the beef. He picked up the fork, cut a piece, and brought it to his mouth, enjoying the texture, which was perfect, the seasoning just right. He chewed slowly this time, savoring rather than devouring.

Reinhard's spoon scraped the bottom of the bowl.

Ten minutes was all it took to devour everything on the tray. He set the spoon down with a soft clink against porcelain. His hand moved to wipe his mouth with the back of his wrist, and a sigh escaped his lips.

Klaus's faint smile widened slightly.

Reinhard's eyes lifted, meeting their gazes. "After I touched the golden light covering Martha, I was taken to her fantasy world. After a bit, I was able to convince her to leave."

Klaus's eyebrows rose slightly as he leaned back in his chair. "I'm impressed. Based on my daughter's and the others' words..." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Martha seemed to have given up and was unwilling to leave at all."

Rosaria's head tilted forward slightly, her silvery-lavender hair sliding across her shoulders. "How did you convince her?"

Reinhard sighed before his gaze drifted past them to some middle distance. "I helped her see that she still had things to work toward. Like changing the medical world, continuing her practice, helping more people."

Klaus blinked before he chuckled and said. "I'm surprised you aren't angry about what she did."

Silence fell for a couple of seconds as Reinhard's expression didn't change, but his gaze lifted to the ceiling.

"I guess when I see Martha, I can relate to her wish. You two already know my wish to save my little brother from the Dark Tide curse. And I'll admit, I would probably do anything to save him..." His jaw clenched briefly before relaxing. "Even if it means throwing away my morals and myself for it."

Klaus hummed, but he still kept his smile up as he observed Reinhard.

Rosaria closed her eyes before saying. "But you understand that is wrong. That your brother wouldn't like it."

Reinhard nodded once. "Martha had no one. Not even her little sister to tell her what she was doing was wrong." His gaze returned to them. "And so while she is wrong, I won't hate her for doing something I would do. Nor will I hate her for being twisted by the people who raised her and made her into a monster."

Klaus's frown as his hand moved to his beard, stroking it thoughtfully. "The Mehko Research Group. I didn't think they were so despicable as to treat little kids like that and throw them away."

Reinhard's expression shifted slightly as a faint frown appeared and disappeared so quickly it might have been imagined. Inwardly, no surprise registered as big businesses were all like that, weren't they?

Maybe not the abuse of children specifically, but the abuse of anyone they accepted. The willingness to throw people away like broken tools the moment they became inconvenient.

"Is there anything being done to them?" Reinhard's question came flat, carefully neutral.

Rosaria nodded, her eyes opening to fix on him. "The Mori Empire launched a major investigation the same month as the incident. After reviewing the evidence you gathered, they've already declared a trial." Her fingers interlaced in front of her. "Right now, the Empire Abyss Squad is raiding every Mehko building and capturing the personnel. Their leader Earl Von, has already been captured and is awaiting trial in the capital city of Castorice. Most likely awaiting execution."

Relief flooded through Reinhard's chest as his shoulders sagged slightly. "Hopefully, this will help those kids be at peace."

Klaus's smile as his head nodded once. "I hope so too."

Rosaria's crimson eyes softened slightly. "I'm sure they felt happy about what you did... And that you helped Martha, who they sacrificed themselves for."

Reinhard's blue eyes widened. "Thank you..." The words emerged softly. "Professor Rosaria."

Klaus laughed. "I guess you weren't expecting that? Our Rosaria is very kind and-"

"Now continue on with the story, Reinhard." Rosaria's interjection came swiftly, cutting Klaus off mid-sentence.

Klaus sighed, though his smile remained, and a chuckle escaped despite himself.

Reinhard's lips twitched upward briefly, and he nodded. "After leaving the fantasy, I saw Fenrir was still around. I thought it had failed." His hand moved to his chest unconsciously, touching where the hole had been. "But Mimir told me it worked, we just needed to force Fenrir back because it was still using the souls to sustain its existence."

Klaus nodded, his expression shifting into something more analytical. "Similar to a True Beast Master's ability to use their life to sustain the full summoning of their Beast Spirit."

"True, but different." Rosaria's correction came gently before her head turned toward Reinhard. "Keep going. They said you became something..."

Reinhard launched into an explanation as he started from Mimir's plan, Martha helping send the souls of Phane City over to him, Fenrir blowing a hole through his chest, and his hand pressed harder against the spot as he spoke.

Then Odin descends through him, becoming Odin, and pushing Fenrir out of the planet entirely.

Klaus nodded along. "Yeah, Marie mentioned Martha said that was you..." He paused, his light-gold eyes gleaming. "And I guess that was Odin's form. Amazing."

Rosaria sighed heavily as her hand rose to rub her temple. "More like this raised a lot of questions."

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