Mad Hatter's Guide to Clearing The Game
Chapter 63: Ch61. Cheshire

Chapter 63: Ch61. Cheshire

Sarissa’s fingers remained tight around the hilt of her sword, her knuckles white, even as the cat-like figure before her stretched lazily, absolutely unbothered by how close he had come to losing his head.

But what Cheshire just said... Just the fact that he knew not to trust Shinji, it was enough to shake her foundations. However, she did not waver.

"You still haven’t answered me," she said, her voice steady despite the strange coil of unease twisting in her gut. "Why are you here?"

"Ah, straight to business. I do appreciate people who don’t waste time." Cheshire’s ears twitched, his grin unwavering, his tail flicking idly behind him. "As I said, first of all, I come in peace, so you can dismiss your sword. If you want to, that is... I just had to come meet you."

"Meet me?" Sarissa scoffed. "You make yourself look human, waltz into my War Room under false pretenses, and tell me you had to come meet me... You sure don’t talk like a stalker. Not at all."

"Perception is everything, my dear Sarissa. I assumed my usual form might cause... Unnecessary reactions." Cheshire tilted his head vaguely at her still-drawn blade. "And yet, here we are."

Sarissa exhaled sharply, weighing her options. If he was here to kill her, he would have made a move already. If he was the real Cheshire, that is.

The cat was old – ancient even, judging by the way he carried himself – and he did not seem to be the type to act without reason. That alone made him even more dangerous.

However, Sarissa still had her fire, and it was enough to do some damage if push ever came to shove.

"Fine." She lowered her sword but didn’t dismiss it. "Talk. But if you waste my time, I’ll test how many lives a cat really has."

"How delightful. You remind me of someone." Cheshire chuckled, eyes glinting with something unreadable.

"And who would that be?" Sarissa’s grip tightened again.

"The one whom my call come from." Cheshire tilted his head, the grin stretching wider before he finally said, his voice assuming a solemn tone. "Alice."

A pulse shot through Sarissa’s veins. The name alone made her bristle as her mind flashed back to that moment in the outskirts, to the cold certainty in Miles’ voice when he spoke of Wonderland.

"Oh? Now that is interesting. You do know her." Cheshire caught her reaction instantly. His gaze sharpened, the playfulness in his tone dipping into something more knowing.

"I did hear about her..." Sarissa steadied her breathing, keeping her expression unreadable.

"Ah, but that reaction tells me you know more than you let on," Cheshire mused, his tail curling thoughtfully. "Which means my timing was impeccable."

"What do you mean?" Sarissa frowned.

"Simply put, I had been looking for you for a long time before now, but certain... complications arose." Cheshire leaned forward slightly, balancing effortlessly on the edge of the table. "And now, here we are. The pieces are falling into place faster than I anticipated."

"What complications?" Sarissa narrowed her eyes. "And why were you looking for me?"

"Let’s just say Wonderland’s affairs are rarely straightforward." Cheshire sighed, almost dramatically. "And our dear Miles has a habit of making things more... entertaining than they should be. However..." Cheshire paused for a moment, and then added. "I think you do know why I’ve been looking for you, don’t you?"

"[Wonderland’s Treasure]..." Sarissa whispered without even noticing, her voice wondering.

"See? You do know!" Cheshire’s grin widened even more and his eyes gleamed with sudden happiness, as if it was even possible. "What do you know about being the treasure of such a place?"

Sarissa, though, kept quiet, unsure of what to answer.

Unsure of what that even meant.

"Enough riddles. Tell me what you know about it, now."

"Ah... And here I was, thinking that you’d be at least a little bit more fun." Cheshire stretched, purring languidly as Sarissa watched with wide eyes, the cat’s body stretching beyond what was... Catly... Possible.

"Just... Tell me what you know..." She let out a defeated sigh. "I’m not in the mood for games, I really need answers, and I feel like I’m running out of time."

"Before we talk about it, I think you should know that it’s related to Miles..." Cheshire’s grin curled downward, his brows perking up and frowning. The cat almost looked sad. But if you’re not friends with him, why are you so interested?"

"Because I have reasons to be." She said simply.

"Your eyes show hell in a way I’ve seen in very, very few people..." Cheshire barely whispered. "Although Miles didn’t spend much time in Wonderland, he has the same eyes as you, you know?"

Sarissa didn’t like the sound of that, but she gestured for him to continue regardless.

"Miles is a traveler," Cheshire began. "Not just in the way players are, but in a far deeper sense. He’s walked paths most wouldn’t dare tread, seen things most minds would break upon witnessing." His glowing eyes bore into her. "And he carries more than just the weight of his own life on his shoulders."

"That’s vague." Sarissa absorbed the words carefully.

"Intentionally so," Cheshire replied. "Because telling you too much would kill my upper hand." His grin returned in all its glory.

"You enjoy being insufferable, don’t you?" Sarissa inhaled deeply through her nose, reigning in the impulse to strike him just to wipe that grin off his face.

"I do, actually," Cheshire admitted. "But I am telling you the truth."

She scrutinized him carefully, her mind piecing together fragments of knowledge she had from her regression. Miles had always been an enigma, but now... She felt as though she was beginning to glimpse the shape of something bigger.

But if Cheshire was here, it meant Wonderland wasn’t done with her yet, even though she had not even stepped in there.

"One more question," Sarissa said. "Why now?"

"Because, my dear, I have a feeling you’re about to become very important to whatever happens next. And wouldn’t it be a shame if you went into it blind to all its mysteries and dangers?" Cheshire’s expression shifted, his grin softening in a way she hadn’t thought possible.

Sarissa didn’t like that answer one bit.

"You expect me to trust you?"

"I expect you to listen," Cheshire said, hopping off the table. "What you do after that is entirely up to you."

Sarissa’s gaze remained locked onto his, the weight of unspoken possibilities pressing down on her. She could cut him down now, end whatever schemes he had before they even started.

But something told her it wouldn’t be that simple.

Her Attribute rang inside her, telling her that even if she did, it would not be the end of anything.

After a long pause, she finally dismissed her sword.

"Start talking."