The next months passed in a blur of activity.

Reinhard found himself practically living in the library, surrounded by textbooks, notes, and study guides. Irene proved to be an invaluable study partner as she had a gift for breaking down complex Beast Master theory into digestible explanations.

Her cyan eyes lit up whenever she successfully clarified a concept Reinhard had been struggling with.

Her twin tails would sway as she leaned over shared notes, pen tapping against paper while she worked through problems alongside him.

Alger approached studying with the same amusing energy he brought to everything else. But beneath the jokes and playful teasing was genuine expertise. His fuchsia eyes would gleam when he spotted errors in Reinhard's work, and he'd point them out with commentary that somehow managed to be both helpful and amusing.

"You're thinking about this completely wrong." He'd say with a grin, then proceed to explain the correct approach in ways that actually made sense.

Resa brought organizational skills that bordered on obsessiveness. She created study schedules, color-coded notes by subject, and somehow always knew exactly which topics needed more attention.

Her green eyes would scan Reinhard's progress with the precision of someone conducting quality control, and her long red hair would slide across her shoulders as she nodded approval or shook her head in gentle disapproval.

Kite and Jake worked as a tag team, one covering magical theory while the other focused on combat applications.

They'd quiz Reinhard relentlessly, firing questions rapid-fire until answers became automatic rather than requiring conscious thought.

Their energy was infectious, turning what could have been tedious memorization into something approaching competitive sport.

Together, the six of them carved through months of missed material. Reinhard attended make-up exams for the first semester, sitting in quiet examination rooms while professors watched him fill out test papers.

Their expressions are carefully neutral, but their eyes are curious about this student who'd somehow missed six months of work.

Fortunately, even with the cramming, the exams came back with passing grades.

Not perfect scores, as there were gaps in his knowledge that even intensive studying couldn't completely fill, but sufficient to continue advancing.

Relief flooded through Reinhard when he saw the final marks, knowing he wouldn't be held back or forced to repeat coursework.

…

During this time, the Dream Interpretation Club continued meeting regularly.

Reinhard found himself looking forward to these gatherings, moments where the pressure of catching up faded. And he could simply explore the fascinating intersection of Beast Spirits and artistic expression.

One afternoon, the club gathered in their usual room, the space with tall windows letting in afternoon light. Tables covered in art supplies and half-finished projects alongside the familiar scent of paint and pencil shavings filled the air.

Irene called the meeting to order with characteristic enthusiasm. "Today we're reviewing previous work and sharing new pieces inspired by recent dreams!" Her voice carried excitement that made everyone sit up straighter, attention focused.

They began by going over paintings and sketches created for other students, people who'd approached the club asking for visual interpretations of their Beast Spirit dreams.

Reinhard examined these works carefully, noting how each artist in the club had developed distinct styles.

Some favored a precise and almost realistic style. Others embraced more abstract approaches, using color and shape to convey emotion rather than literal imagery.

Then came the moment Reinhard had been anticipating, club members sharing their own Beast Spirit dream artwork.

Irene went first, spreading several pieces across the central table with obvious pride. "These are from my dreams of Achilles." She announced, stepping back so everyone could see clearly.

The first painting showed a figure cutting through a siege. Enemy soldiers surrounded him on all sides, but he moved through them like wind through grass.

Blood sprayed in arcs around him, which Irene had captured beautifully, making it seem like the painting itself was in motion. The figure's face showed grim determination rather than joy, suggesting this was duty rather than pleasure.

The second piece made Reinhard lean closer.

It depicted someone falling through what Irene had labeled a "green sea." The water, if it could be called water, looked wrong somehow. Sickly green, almost luminescent, with a texture that suggested thickness rather than fluidity.

Bodies floated throughout this sea, twisted in agony. But the central figure falling through it remained untouched, protected by something invisible while everything around him suffered.

The third painting showed a battlefield covered in skeletons. He saw bones rising from the ground, wielding broken weapons, advancing in endless waves. And cutting through them all was that same blond-haired figure, wearing a grin that made Reinhard's skin prickle.

It wasn't just joy on that face but bloodthirsty anticipation, the expression of someone who'd found their true purpose in violence.

"These are incredible." Resa breathed, her green eyes wide as she studied each piece. "The emotion you captured, especially in that third one… It's almost frightening."

Irene beamed at the compliment, clearly pleased that her work had evoked such a strong reaction.

Alger went next, spreading his own collection across a different section of the table. His gray hair caught the light as he gestured toward his pieces. "Van Helsing doesn't mess around in my dreams." He said with that characteristic grin.

His first sketch showed a figure standing before a massive organization. Rows of people stretched behind him, hunters all, carrying weapons designed for killing Phantasm Beasts.

The central figure radiated authority, one hand raised in a gesture of command. Alger had captured remarkable detail in the weapons. It was crossbows with intricate mechanisms, swords with serrated edges, and stakes sharpened to needle points.

The second piece was more visceral.

The same figure stood alone, completely drenched in blood. It covered him from head to toe in a terrible and gory way. In one hand, he held a sword, blade notched and damaged from heavy use.

On the other hand, a wooden stake, its tip darkened with dried blood. His expression showed no triumph, just grim acceptance of necessary work.

"That's haunting." Jake said quietly, and several others nodded in agreement.

Resa's contribution featured her Beast Spirit Thoth, and the style was dramatically different from the violence of Achilles and Van Helsing. Her paintings embraced mystery and knowledge rather than combat.

The first showed a figure completely surrounded by scrolls. Thousands upon thousands of them all stacked, rolled, hanging from invisible supports, and floating around. The figure sat at the center reading, seemingly unbothered by the overwhelming quantity of knowledge pressing in from all sides.

The second painting made Reinhard's eyes hurt slightly when he looked at it directly. It depicted someone walking through a landscape that shouldn't exist, where the ground, sky, and air are all covered in words and symbols.

Resa had rendered them with painstaking detail, but Reinhard couldn't decipher a single character. They seemed to shift when he looked away and back, never quite the same twice.

The third piece showed Thoth surrounded by blurry figures giving off golden light. Resa had deliberately left them indistinct, suggestions of forms rather than clear shapes.

The golden light they emitted was almost overwhelming, painted in layers that created actual luminescence on the canvas.

"The symbolism here is fascinating." Irene commented, leaning close to study the word-covered landscape. "Knowledge as environment rather than object. Beautiful concept."

Kite practically bounced with excitement as he unveiled his Vermillion Bird paintings. "Okay, so these are intense." He warned, blue-tipped blond hair swaying as he gestured in joy.

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