Guts can only see her grasp the cloth as her eyes begin to glow, but with his body being half-step into the astral realm itself those manipulations are going to feel... tangible. It was different from Schierke’s tether. This creature lived in the armor, but it was still a part of him.

It is stirring the same way it does when the strong scent of blood hits his senses. The way it will seem to emerge from the darkness when his heart quickens with an odd excitement at danger. It’s as if the smoldering coals are being brushed with bits of kindling, making the flames leap up at him and threaten to ignite. But no, there was no danger here. He needed to keep himself composed.

The beast’s jaws are a mess of sharp teeth as it stirs, awakening from its dormancy. He can feel it - that familiar seething mass of black hatred. A malicious thing that would grow too large for the chains it was given some day - though for now, it remains fully tethered in place. Whether the astral chains are from the witch’s talismans or Guts’ attempt to control it is unclear - maybe it is a bit of both.