[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.
