Interlude

The space was dark—darker than any void Claire could imagine. No sound, no light, except for the faint flicker of energy that pulsed rhythmically, like a heartbeat. It was the same place where Claire’s journey into Grimoria had begun, where her body and soul had been pulled apart and reassembled.

In the center of the void, two figures hovered. One was familiar—the wisp, though now without his cheerful glow. His form was more shadow than light, barely distinguishable against the inky blackness. Opposite him floated a second figure, equally dark, but with an air of authority that made the wisp’s playful demeanor seem almost childish.

“You went too far this time,” the second figure said, its voice low and resonant, echoing in the emptiness. “She was not supposed to be your plaything.”

The wisp shifted, his form flickering uneasily. His light dimmed just slightly, betraying his unease. “I didn’t break any rules. I simply… nudged her in the right direction.”

The other figure’s form pulsed with cold energy, a silent threat. “You were warned. Interference is forbidden. She must find her own path. That is the way of Grimoria.”

The wisp chuckled softly, though the sound was hollow, lacking his usual confidence. “I only gave her a little push. Surely that’s not worth all this fuss?”

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“You’re playing a dangerous game,” the voice rumbled, cold as a winter wind. The void itself seemed to close in tighter, making the wisp’s already faint glow even dimmer. “Grimoria is not your toy. The balance must be maintained.”

“Balance, balance,” the wisp muttered, floating in lazy circles. His light flickered again, a little less playful. “But tell me this—don’t you find it amusing, watching her bumble her way through the world? She’s... different. I can feel it.”

The figure’s presence loomed larger, its shadow stretching across the void, casting an unseen weight on the wisp. “What matters is that she is untainted by your meddling. If she is to survive, she must do so on her own.”

The wisp’s playful circling slowed, his form dimming further. His usual quips faded as the other figure’s authority pressed in. “And if she doesn’t survive? If she fails?”

“Then Grimoria will continue. As it always has.” The figure’s tone was final, absolute. “Do not interfere again. This is your final warning.”

For a long moment, silence hung in the void. The wisp, usually so quick with a retort, floated aimlessly, his glow barely visible now.

The dark figure began to fade, its presence dissolving into the void like mist. But before it disappeared entirely, it spoke one last time. “Remember, your power here is limited. Grimoria does not belong to you.”

As the second figure vanished, the wisp was left alone in the darkness. He hovered there for a moment, his light flickering weakly.

“Limited power,” he muttered to himself, bitterness creeping into his voice. “We’ll see about that.”

He turned his gaze toward the unseen world of Grimoria, where Claire was already stumbling through her next trial.

“You’ll be fine, Claire,” the wisp whispered into the void. “Just don’t get yourself killed too quickly.”

And with a flicker of energy, the wisp vanished, leaving the darkness behind.