Die. Respawn. Repeat.

There's a bit of a problem. Not a huge one. Probably.

My core isn't recovering anywhere near quick enough to survive a trip into the Intermediary. Meditating helps, but the damage runs fairly deep—I can't just walk it off like I'd been hoping. All the improvements I've made so far is the only reason that dive into the past didn't just tear me apart, apparently.

"There is physical damage on top of spiritual damage," the Knight growls at me, annoyed. The Inspiration is awake again now—prodding at my core in an attempt to use a skill reawakened it, it seems, and it doesn't seem pleased by the state of things within my core.

But then it sighs and speaks with a begrudging sort of acceptance that borders on admiration. "I would call it foolish, but... I do not think I would have done any different."

"Glad I have your approval," I say dryly, unable to help myself. The Knight makes a sound that's somewhere between a snarl and a scoff; it takes me a moment to realize that it's laughing.

"As you should be," it says once it's finished, mirth still in its voice. "But there is little time for you to recover. What will you do now?"

I frown slightly. There's something it wants from me—I can sense that the question is something of a test.

"Depends," I say carefully. "What are my options?"

The Knight grins. I can feel it, even if I can't see it. "For most, it would require years of meditation and supplements," it tells me. "The strain you have placed on your core is significant. It is not merely from this event—it is the culmination of all your actions until now. Shifting two layers at once, pushing your limits again and again, creating and using Submerged skills... You are teetering on an edge from which there may be no recovery."