A Journey Unwanted

Chapter 463 - 452: Not as it seems

[Location: Realm of Iofiel]

For the first time since he had arrived in that strange, star-lit expanse, Iofiel’s expression shifted in a manner that could not be mistaken.

Her serenity did not vanish, but it changed somewhat.

There was a firmness to her features now. It did not diminish her beauty in the slightest; if anything, it sharpened it. The softness remained, but it was no longer the whole of her. It told Grimm, without her needing to say it, that what followed was not idle conversation.

She was being serious.

"You mean little Alice, correct?" Grimm asked, his tone unchanged, though his helmet inclined just slightly as if aligning with the thought more than the person before him. There was no hesitation in the tone of his voice. He had already drawn the conclusion.

Iofiel gave a small, confirming nod.

"Yes," she answered, her voice a bit quieter. "That is precisely who I mean."

Grimm remained still for a brief moment.

"What of her?" he asked, the question simple. There was a small trace of curiosity beneath it, however lacking urgency or concern, there was just interest.

Iofiel exhaled softly, as though steadying the importance of what she was about to explain.

"The reason I drew your subconscious into this space," she began, her gaze fixed on him, "was because she was already attempting to reach you. Not in passing or by coincidence either. Seems it was already planned. She was in the process of pulling you into her own domain."

A slight pause followed.

"I intercepted that attempt."

The words sat between them.

"You should consider yourself fortunate, Untainted," she continued, her tone firm again, though not harsh. "Very few would willingly involve themselves in the affairs of an avatar of a Keeper. Fewer still would intervene directly. That alone is enough to invite consequences."

Her hand lifted slightly as she gestured toward herself, the movement smooth.

"However," she added, and there it was again—that small shift, that pride threading through her composure, "I do not operate under such limitations. A Goddess such as myself does not concern herself with fear. I do not hesitate simply because something may be dangerous."

Her lips curved slightly.

"If you feel so inclined," she said lightly, "you are more than welcome to express your gratitude."

There was a faint smugness there as well, carefully disguised in grace.

Grimm did not respond, his helmet tilted, just slightly, as though considering her words.

("For someone who claims not to indulge, she certainly invites recognition rather often.") The thought passed without much care. ("Still she did interfere. That much is true.")

He allowed himself a quiet moment before answering.

"With the number of individuals who seem intent on speaking with me lately," he said, his voice almost contemplative, "one would assume I have begun accumulating some degree of reputation." A small pause followed. "Though I find myself questioning the value of that."

Then, more directly:

"But is that all?" he asked, his tone flattening again. "Because I fail to see why I should be particularly grateful. That Alice you speak of..." A slight shift of his head, as his tone came out more thoughtful. "She struck me as interesting. I would have preferred to hear what she had to say rather than having that interaction cut short."

Iofiel’s expression shifted just slightly as she let out a quiet breath.

"May I remind you," she said, her voice still composed but carrying a clearer firm tone, "that the avatar of The Abhorrent is not some trivial curiosity to satisfy your passing interest. She is not something you simply observe and walk away from unaffected."

Her gaze held his.

"She is troublesome," she added, the word chosen carefully. "Particularly when she is not in control of herself. And more importantly—her influence is not something you can simply brush aside."

Her tone lowered just slightly.

"That ’taint’ she carries, it marks you and draws attention. Not the kind you want. Other entities—beings far less patient than I—will take notice. And when they do, they will not approach you out of curiosity. They will approach you as a target."

Her words lingered there for a moment before she continued.

"I am aware that you pursue what interests you," she said softly though still firm. "That much is clear. But even so, there are lines that should not be crossed lightly. Not everything that is interesting is worth the cost." There was an emphasis there. "These are not idle warnings," she added. "They come from a being who understands the consequences far better than you do."

Grimm’s response came without delay.

"I will consider your warnings," he said plainly, "the moment they become interesting enough to warrant consideration."

There was no mockery in his tone but that somehow made it worse.

Iofiel’s composure cracked—just for a second.

"Why you litt—" she started, her teeth pressing together before she forcibly stopped herself. The irritation was there, clear, but she was controlling it. When she spoke again, her voice had smoothed out, though the effort behind it was noticeable.

"Untainted," she said, offering a tight and practiced smile, "every word I speak carries importance. Whether you choose to acknowledge that or not is your own failing, not mine."

Grimm made a small, indistinct sound in response—something between acknowledgment and dismissal. It was impossible to tell which.

He moved on regardless.

"This ’Alice’..." he began, tone shifting slightly. "Is she truly that dangerous? Despite what you say, she did not present herself as anything particularly threatening. If anything she seemed like a child."

Iofiel’s gaze softened in contemplation.

"Well," she said slowly, lifting her hand to rest lightly against her chin, fingers brushing along her cheek as she thought, "ordinarily, I would advise you against making such assumptions. Appearances, especially in cases like hers, are unreliable."

She paused, considering her next words carefully.

"But in this case..."

Another pause followed.

"Little Alice," she continued, her voice a tad reflective, "is not the whole of what she is. She is a fragment. Or more accurately a version. The part that remained when everything else was cast aside."

Her eyes lowered slightly, as though recalling something in the past.

"She represents what Alice wished to discard. The innocence that was never fulfilled. The part of her that longed for something and never received it. The part that held onto what mattered most and then lost it."

Her tone seemed heavier.

"She is dangerous," Iofiel said, more firmly, "but not in the way you might expect. She is not a monster in the traditional sense. She does not act out of cruelty for its own sake." A brief pause once more. "But that does not make her harmless."

Grimm absorbed that quietly.

"If that is how you see her," he said after a moment, "then why prevent her from reaching me? If she is not a monster, then what is the issue?"

Iofiel’s brow lifted slightly.

"Setting aside the fact that you would undoubtedly be a terrible influence on her?" she replied, the dryness in her tone slipping through before she could fully mask it.

For just a moment, her composure dipped, there was something more natural surfacing beneath the divine.

Then she straightened again.

"As I have already stated," she continued, regaining her balance, "her connection to you would not remain isolated. The ’taint’ she carries would extend to you. And that would complicate matters significantly." Her gaze sharpened. "Your current pursuits would become far more difficult. Not because of her directly—but because of what follows her. Making your mission harder to accomplish."

Grimm’s response was immediate.

"There is no ’mission,’" he corrected. "I am not acting under anyone’s directive. I am simply pursuing what I find worth pursuing." A slight tilt of his head followed. "At present, that happens to involve dragons. Nothing more."

A pause.

"So do not misunderstand. I have no intention of acting under your guidance or fulfilling any role you may have in mind. I do not revere you, nor do I intend to."

There it was, his opinion clear and unfiltered.

Iofiel’s smile remained.

("What an insufferable man...") The thought cut sharper than her expression allowed, still, she held it. ("If I continue down this path, I’ll only end up indulging his attitude further.")

A quiet breath followed.

"I will overlook that," she said smoothly, as though the moment had never occurred. "After all, I am nothing if not generous." A slight shift in tone followed. "So, let us move on to something more productive," she continued. "I have been observing your movements thus far. Your choices and your interactions..."

Her gaze settled on him again.

"It would seem you have recently made contact with a member of the Quaesitorum."

Grimm’s helmet tilted just slightly.

"You are familiar with their organization?" he asked.

Iofiel smiled—this time, more genuinely composed.

"Of course," she said calmly. "An all-powerful Goddess such as myself is well-informed." There was no hesitation in her voice.

Again that obvious boasting did not allow for a shift in tone, even while prideful she seemed genuine.