Ch33. Exactly what you see

Diego leaned against the edge of the map table, arms crossed and a faint smirk tugging at his lips. The dim light of the fading sunset cast long shadows across the room, giving his teasing expression an almost mischievous edge.

"So let me get this straight," Diego began, his tone dripping with skepticism. "You went ended up in Wonderland? The Wonderland? Like talking rabbits, tea parties, and some creepy grinning cat? Like, the book's Wonderland?"

Miles sat on the couch, one leg crossed over the other, leaning back with an amused grin. "That's exactly what I'm telling you, Dee."

"Right. And I suppose you had tea with the Mad Hatter too? Maybe you fought off an army of playing cards while wearing a fancy top hat?" Diego raised an eyebrow, trying to suppress a laugh.

"Well, not technically…" Miles scratched the back of his head, a sheepish smile creeping onto his face. "Actually, the Mad Hatter is dead, and so is Alice. And the Card Soldiers aren't actual playing cards…"

Miles paused for a moment, and then added.

"… And there was no tea party."

Diego barked out a laugh, shaking his head.

"Come on, big bro. You expect me to believe that? Hidden quests are rare enough, and I can count the members of the two guilds who have gotten them and achieved an exclusive Class in one hand." Diego raised one of his hands. "But a quest that dumps you into some twisted fairy tale? That's next-level crazy, big bro…"

Miles tilted his head, his grin unwavering.

"I didn't expect you to believe me right away. And I do feel a little bit offended by your words, but that's okay." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Because I've got proof."

"Oh, I gotta see it." Diego rolled his eyes, his mocking smirk deepening.

Miles opened his inventory window with a casual, almost mocking flick of his wrist, and a storm of blue sparks swirled around his hand as he summoned a knife with runes etched on its blade, its surface shimmering like liquid moonlight. Diego straightened up, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Okay, cool knife. I saw you wielding it, back in the sewers. But I've seen enchanted gear before. What's so special about this one?"

"This? Oh, nothing, really. It's just Cheshire." Miles chuckled, turning the blade over in his hand.

"Cheshire… Like, the Cheshire?" Diego barked one more laugh. "Isn't he meant to be a… I don't know… A cat?"

"Okay, not you're going a little bit too far." Miles pursed his lips, holding his dagger up. "Alright, Cheshire. Time to show him the real you."

"You're the boss, my boy!" An ethereal, languid voice echoed through the living room, the darkening of the dusky sky giving it an eerie vibe, making Diego's skin Crawl.

"What was that?" Diego's eyes widened. "Who's there?"

The air in the room seemed to shift, a faint chill creeping into the corners as the blade began to change. Its sleek form rippled like water, elongating and twisting as though it were alive.

Diego stepped back instinctively, immediately summoning his knives.

The dagger melted away, replaced by a shape that seemed to defy logic. A large, ethereal cat materialized in the center of the room, its fur shimmering with an otherworldly glow that shifted between deep indigo and silver. Its enormous, luminous grin was the first thing Diego noticed, sharp teeth gleaming against the shadows as its wide, glowing yellow eyes fixed on him.

"Well, well…" Cheshire purred, its voice smooth, languid and resonant, echoing slightly as if it came from everywhere at once. "What do we have here? Is he your acquaintance, my boy? Can I eat him, hmm? You know I've been starving as of late…"

Diego froze, his mind scrambling to process what he was seeing. The cat stretched lazily, its body coiling and twisting in midair as if gravity were nothing more than a suggestion. Suddenly, though, its yellowy glowing eyes shot a snarky murderous glare at him, and Diego flinched, raising his blades.

"W-what the hell is that?!" He stammered, climbing over the table.

Miles leaned back on the couch, arms spread over the backrest, clearly enjoying Diego's reaction.

"That, my dear Dee, is Cheshire Cat, my… Partner from Wonderland. Say hi, Cheshire. Also, stop playing with him. Diego's just a kid, you know?" After a moment of silence, though, Miles added with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "You don't really mean to eat him… Do you?"

"Hello, little one." Cheshire's grin widened impossibly, and it tilted its head, regarding Diego like a cat would a particularly interesting bug. "No, I did not mean to really eat him. Humans are… Not quite my taste." The grin widened, and Cheshire's body shook with a chuckle. "Also, you're quite… Small, for a nice bite."

"Small?! I'm not- Wait, no! What are you even?!" Diego's face twisted in a mix of terror and indignation.

"I'm exactly what you see." Cheshire floated closer, its grin never wavering. "A humble guide, an observer, shall we say? But most importantly, I'm the proof Miles promised."

Diego's hands trembled as he kept his knives ready, though he lowered them, ever so slightly.

"So you're telling me this… This thing, is real? And it came from Wonderland?" Diego stammered, his eyes wide as snooker balls. "Wait… You heard our talk?"

"Careful, Diego…" Miles said with a teasing edge. "Cheshire doesn't like being called a 'thing.'"

"He's a sharp one, isn't he? A little skeptical, but that's not a bad trait in these parts." Cheshire let out a low chuckle, circling the table with slow, deliberate movements. "Yes, halfling. I can see and hear everything that happens, both in and out of Miles' soul, or… What do you call it? Oh, right. Inventory."

"This is insane… Wonderland is real? You're serious, then?" Diego's eyes followed the cat's every move, his breaths coming in shallow gasps. "What… Who are you calling a halfling?"

"As real as you and me," Miles said, leaning forward and ignoring the banter between his younger friend and the cat. "And Cheshire here can back up everything I've told you. Go ahead, buddy. Tell him the story."

"Wait!" Diego raised his hand before either Miles or the… Cat could say anything else, his expression losing the semblance of fear, becoming more serious. "Did you say you can see everything from Miles' inventory? Both from outside and inside?"

Cheshire's grin somehow grew even wider as it floated up to perch on the back of the couch, looking almost proud of Diego's rebuke.

"Oh, but yes. And when I say everything, I mean everything." Cheshire chuckled.

Miles' cheeks went red as he took a small cushion and hit the ethereal cat with it. Cheshire, however, simply dissipated into a bluish, silvery fog, and reappeared on Mile's opposite side.

"Does it mean that you know what happened with him, then?" Diego frowned. "I mean-"

"I know what you mean, kid." Cheshire's tone became grim. "And yes, I do know what happened and the cause of it. However… I don't think you will like the answer…"

"It has to do with Mad Hatter's item's, right?" Miles and Diego asked in unison.

Cheshire nodded, its grin dimming little by little.

"Every time you use all of them, I see it draining your life force." The cat continued. "Assimilating it, little by little. And I think you know why, right, my boy?"

Miles was about to answer, but stopped suddenly, his eyes widening as a familiar voice echoed in his head.

"Yeah, you do know why, don't you, boy?"