They watched.

The Elixir began moving, not flowing down like normal liquid would, but instead it was sinking.

It was seeping into Klein's skin through his pores like water absorbed by parched earth. The gel-like substance covering his body slowly faded, growing thinner and more transparent with each passing second.

The black markings pulsed frantically, glowing brighter as the curse recognized its imminent destruction.

They writhed across Klein's skin like living things trying to escape. But there was nowhere for them to go.

Klein trembled again, but this one was a different kind.

Brunhilde, as a First Class Beast Master, could see and feel Klein's emotions and soul. And right now, she didn't see him shaking in pain but in relief and joy.

Then she saw his body was changing on a fundamental level, purging corruption that had been part of him for most of his life.

Then black steam began seeping from his skin.

It rose from every pore, creating thin tendrils of darkness that curled upward like smoke from extinguished candles. The steam carried a foul smell, which was rot and decay and something fundamentally wrong that made both women's noses wrinkle.

Soul Pressure.

An azura light shone from Brunhilde before it swept over the steam and erased it from the room.

With the curse being pushed out of Klein's body, she can now use her Soul Pressure to simply erase it fully.

Even in its gas form, First Class Beast Masters Soul Pressure can destroy matter down to the Sub-atomic level.

The curse continued, leaving, but both women remained vigilant, watching the black markings carefully. When they saw areas where the curse seemed to pulse brighter, they tried to spike up in one last attempt at a surge.

They immediately applied more Elixir to those spots, drowning the resistance before it could take hold.

Then more minutes passed.

The black steam continued rising, growing thicker in some places as more corruption was expelled before being destroyed by Brunhilde's aura. Then gradually Klein's trembling decreased, and the frantic glowing of black markings slowed.

Then the markings began fading.

Starting from his extremities and working inward, the black patterns grew lighter. From deep black to gray, from gray to pale shadows, from shadows to nothing at all.

His hands cleared first, pale tan skin returning to normal, healthy tan color.

Then his feet cleared next as the corruption retreated up his limbs. Concentrating on his chest, and then finally toward that anchor point over his heart where the curse had first taken root.

More black steam poured from his torso, thick and heavy now.

The smell intensified briefly before beginning to fade.

The black markings over Klein's heart pulsed one final time in desperation, a defiant surge of malevolent energy.

Celestia immediately moved forward, pressing both her transformed hands against Klein's chest.

The starry-sky veins in her blackened hands glowed brilliantly. "Not today." She whispered.

The markings froze before then, like ice cracking under pressure; they shattered.

Black steam exploded upward in a final surge, so thick it briefly obscured Klein's entire torso. But then it dissipated, fading away into nothing as if it had never existed under Celestia's own soul pressure she unleashed.

Then, once the aura faded, both women could see that Klein's skin was clear.

There were no black markings, no pulsing corruption, and no evidence that the Dark Tide curse had ever touched him.

Celestia and Brunhilde both released breaths they hadn't realized they'd been holding.

"It's done," Celestia said softly, her hands returning to normal. "He's free."

…

Outside the room, Reinhard stood with his back against the wall, arms crossed tightly over his chest. Marie sat in a chair nearby, hands clasped in her lap so tightly her knuckles were white.

Joseph leaned against the opposite wall, trying to appear calm but betrayed by the tension in his shoulders.

Anasha and Anna sat together on the ground, holding hands and staring at the closed door with anxious eyes.

Time passed with agonizing slowness, with every minute feeling like an hour.

No one spoke, as conversation seemed impossible when the only thing any of them could think about was what was happening behind that closed door.

Then they heard it.

The lock clicks, and then the door handle turns.

Everyone's heads snapped toward the sound simultaneously.

The door opened, revealing Celestia first. She stepped out, and Brunhilde followed immediately behind her.

Both women were smiling.

"He's fine now," Celestia said, her voice warm with genuine joy. "The Dark Tide curse is gone-"

Anna didn't wait to hear more.

She instantly ran forward, moving past Celestia before the doctor could even finish her sentence. She disappeared into the room, the door swinging wide behind her.

Celestia giggled softly at Anna's desperation to see her brother. "He will no longer suffer from the Dark Tide curse anymore. It's been completely purged from his system."

Reinhard trembled with his entire body shaking with emotion so intense he could barely process it. He tried to speak, but his voice came out as barely a whisper. "Really?"

Celestia nodded softly, her expression radiating gentle certainty.

Reinhard's legs nearly gave out as he stumbled slightly, catching himself against the wall.

His vision blurred as tears he'd been holding back for years finally broke through. They streamed down his face unchecked, and he made no effort to wipe them away.

"Thank you." Reinhard managed to choke out the words thick with emotion. "Celestia, I can't... Thank you enough… Thank you so much."

Marie stood and moved to his side, her own eyes wet. She said nothing, just placed her hand on his back while wiping away some of his tears as he trembled.

Joseph pushed off from the wall, approaching with a broad smile despite the moisture in his own eyes. "It's over, Rein. It's actually over."

Anasha bounced excitedly on the bench, unable to contain her joy. "Klein's okay! Klein's really okay!"

Then the door opened wider.

Anna walked out first, and her expression said everything. She was smiling so wide it looked almost painful, tears streaming freely down her face even as she laughed.

Reinhard could feel the pure and unfiltered joy radiating from every aspect of her being.

And behind her, moving slowly but steadily on his own feet, came Klein.

He looked no different, same short brown hair, same blue eyes, same small frame. But something was fundamentally different.

The shadow of pain that had always lingered in his expression was gone, and his eyes were clear with joy on full display.

Klein saw Reinhard and broke into a run.

Reinhard dropped to his knees, arms opening wide.

Klein crashed into him, and Reinhard wrapped his arms around his little brother so tightly it must have been uncomfortable, but Klein didn't complain.

He just hugged back with equal desperation.

"Thank you." Klein sobbed into Reinhard's shoulder, his voice muffled but clear. "Thank you, Rein. I always knew you would cure me! I always knew you wouldn't give up!"

Reinhard trembled violently, holding Klein against him like he might disappear if the grip loosened even slightly.

"I'm sorry." He whispered brokenly. "I'm so sorry it took so long. I should have… I should have done it faster-"

Klein pulled back just enough to look at Reinhard's face with tears streaming down. "You did it perfectly. It doesn't matter how long it took, only that you saved me likeI knew you would."

Anna suddenly wrapped her arms around both of them, joining the embrace with her own tears and laughter mixing together.

"Group hug!" Marie announced cheerfully, pushing forward. "Everyone get in here!"

Anasha rushed over immediately, throwing herself into the growing pile of people. Joseph chuckled and joined in, his long arms able to encompass most of the group.

Brunhilde approached more hesitantly, but Marie grabbed her hand and pulled her in.

Even Celestia found herself included, drawn into the circle of embrace and celebration.

They stood there in the hallway, all tangled together. They were crying and laughing and holding each other as the invisible pressure of the curse was finally lifted from their lives.

"You're free." Reinhard whispered to Klein. "You're actually free."

Klein nodded against his shoulder, unable to speak through his tears and overwhelming relief.

Around them, congratulations flew freely.

Marie was alternating between crying and giggling uncontrollably. Joseph kept repeating "He's okay" like he needed to hear it multiple times to believe it.

Anasha was talking rapidly about all the things Klein could do now in the night, while Anna just held on tight, refusing to let go of her brothers.

Regardless, everyone was happy that Klein was cured. And nothing would ever be the same again.

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