Klaus sighed heavily, his hand moving to rub his face. "When I came to ask you about what had happened, I didn't think it would be this absurd."

Celestia giggled. "I heard this is his second expedition, but he's already dealt with two Sinners and the destruction of a city. Is this the luck of an SSS Class Beast Spirit?"

Reinhard and Klaus's lips twitched simultaneously. The same expression of long-suffering annoyance.

"It's just him having crap luck." Rosaria's statement came flat.

Klaus chuckled despite himself. "But now that we know the details of what happened, we have a couple of things we need to go over."

Reinhard straightened slightly, attention focusing.

"Your points for completing both expeditions will be over 400, just to let you know." Klaus's smile widened into something genuinely pleased. "Congratulations, you made it to the top 10 in the rankings."

Reinhard's eyes widened before his fist clenched automatically, knuckles going white with the force of his grip.

A smile filled with joy and excitement broke across his face as the feeling rushed through his body and made his heart race.

He was closer to reaching first place, to gaining the Elixir of Life, and to saving Klein.

Celestia smiles faintly. "Another mission like this and he'll practically gain first place easier."

Rosaria glares toward Celestia. "No. He doesn't need another one like that."

Reinhard's lips twitched, but he could see where Rosaria was coming from. He'd frankly almost died and gone through levels of absurdity that shouldn't be possible.

Klaus clapped his hands together once. "Well, there's just one last thing. Or well, last person."

Reinhard blinked before his brow raised in question as he caught the shift in atmosphere.

Celestia's amused smile widened into something almost mischievous, Rosaria's brow twitched, and Klaus's grin grew broader.

What now?

…

Reinhard found himself standing before a plain wood door that was unmarked, set in a corridor lined with mahogany. Klaus stood to his right, Rosaria to his left, and Celestia slightly behind.

Klaus's faint smile held something complex. "Well, she's waiting behind the door for you. She only had a single request in exchange for not making things difficult and turning herself in."

Reinhard spoke with an uncertain tone. "And that was to speak with me?"

Rosaria nodded as her crimson eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm not sure what she wants. But be careful. I doubt she'll try to kill or harm you, but well..."

She trailed off, the implication hanging unspoken.

Celestia laughed with her amber-crimson mixed eyes, which gleamed with amusement. "Let's have faith in Reinhard, Rose. He was able to convince her to leave her fantasy world and helped them all out. He'll be the last person she'll hurt, I believe."

Rosaria sighed as he shoulder fell, and then she reluctantly nodded.

Klaus laughed, clapping Reinhard on the shoulder. "Good luck!"

Reinhard's hand found the door handle before turning it and then pushing it open. He then stepped into the small room with a table sitting in the center with two chairs positioned across from each other.

Lamps on the walls provided soft illumination that created shadows in the corners.

And sitting in one of those chairs was Martha.

She wore a long dark blue-black dress, the fabric fell in elegant lines from her shoulders to the floor. Around her neck, the Star Jewel hung on its black chain, and the orb no longer shone with overwhelming light.

Her violet-blue hair fell past her shoulders in waves that shifted between purple and azure with each slight movement. Light blue eyes lifted as Reinhard entered, staring at him with warmth and delight.

Reinhard's smile. "Martha." His voice emerged soft, carrying greeting and relief in equal measure.

"I'm glad you're awake." Martha's lips curved upward. "I hope you enjoyed your long rest and sleep though."

Reinhard chuckled, closing the door behind him and moving to take the chair across from her. "Well, I did have a nice dream. It was a bit liberating, although weird."

Martha nodded, her smile widening slightly. "Well, our dreams tend to be like that sometimes. But those are the best kind."

"I was surprised to hear you stayed and turned yourself in." Reinhard said as he sat in the chair.

"Well, I can't be a criminal if I plan to move forward in the future." Martha's voice carried simple pragmatism.

Reinhard nodded slowly before his hands folded on the table between them, and fingers interlaced. "Before anything..." He paused, drawing breath. "I want to say I'm sorry, Martha."

Martha blinked before confusion flickered across her face. "Sorry for what? If you mean me being here, then-"

"For hurting you with the truth." Reinhard's words came rushing now, needing to be said. "I shouldn't have done that."

Silence descended for a couple of seconds.

Martha's light blue eyes held his gaze before she laughed. "Well, I admit I don't like recalling that moment. But if you hadn't, I would have done a terrible thing and still stayed in my delusion until the truth finally showed itself."

Reinhard frowned as he gently tapped the table.

Martha's eyes softened as the laughter faded into something gentler. "Besides, if you hadn't done it, then I wouldn't have been able to experience that one year I spent with my friends, parents, and sister Hel..." Her voice went distant, nostalgic. "It was magical."

Reinhard blinked before smiling softly. "You asked before if Hel was real or not, and I gave you an answer… I want to change it."

Martha blinked rapidly. "Change it to... What?"

"Whether your sister is fake or not is dependent on her." Reinhard leaned forward slightly. "I think the truth should be based on the memories we made and how we feel... If those are true, then why should it be seen as fake?"

His hand extended across the table before gently grabbing Martha's own hands and holding them.

Reinhard's eyes never left hers. "The way I see it, Hel existed precisely because she gave you something to hold onto when everything else was slipping away. Someone who guides you toward tomorrow, that's as real as flesh and blood to me." His fingers tightened slightly around Martha's hands. "And above all else, that means Hel really did exist. It doesn't matter that only you could see her. The Mehko researchers, the rest of us. And look at who you've become because she reached out her hand when you needed it most."

Martha's entire body trembled, with even her long hair swaying as she squeezed Reinhard's hand.

Then Martha smiled with a bit of tears falling down her cheeks. "How… How can you accept what I did so easily, Reinhard? I hurt you guys. I planned to sacrifice Anasha and the entire Phane City... I'm a Sinner as well, and the things I've done in the past-"

"Because I understand and have been there."

The words made Martha's eyes widen in surprise while Reinhard's expression shifted into a smile. One that appeared tired, understanding, regretful, painful, and faint all at once.

Martha's eyes widened further before squeezing Reinhard's hand tighter. He blinked before sighing and removing his hand from Martha's own before leaning back.

"Do you wish to hear a story, Martha?" Reinhard's question came softly, almost intimate in the small room's quiet. "A story of a boy who created a world of blood and flames all for his two lights that gave him strength?"

Martha trembled before she nodded slowly.

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