Page 106 of Knot My Wonderland

Alice

Asoft knock interrupted our conversation. Through the crystalline walls, I sensed Varik's chaotic energy signature before he even spoke.

"Are you decent? Or should I come back when you're finished with whatever delightfully inappropriate activities you might be engaged in?" Varik's voice carried his usual manic cheerfulness despite the serious circumstances.

Chi's tail flicked with irritation as Heart called, "Enter, Varik. We're perfectly decent."

The door swung open to reveal the Hatter, his wild green eyes gleaming with excitement as he carried what looked like a modified pocket watch. His hat tilted at a precarious angle as he bounced on his heels, barely containing his enthusiasm.

"I've done it!" he announced, brandishing the device. "A portable blood magic detector! Much more elegant than that clunky array in my workshop. This beauty can identifycorruption through direct contact—no muss, no fuss, just place it against someone's skin and voilà! Instant revelation!"

I straightened, immediately alert. "You can identify who's been compromised?"

"More or less," Varik replied, adjusting his hat as he stepped closer. "It can detect the presence of blood magic corruption, though not necessarily its purpose or duration." He held up the device, which resembled an ornate pocket watch with additional crystalline components sprouting from its casing. "The crystal turns red in the presence of active corruption, purple for residual traces, and remains clear if the subject is unaffected."

Heart stood immediately, his posture shifting from relaxed to alert in an instant. The golden patterns beneath his skin pulsed with strategic focus. "How soon can we begin testing?"

“I would let the magic settle in the item for a good six hours before use. Just to be on the safe side.” Varik grinned, eyes a light with enthusiasm as he almost bounces in place.

"Six hours," Heart repeated, the golden patterns beneath his skin pulsing with impatience. "That puts us well into the night cycle."

Varik nodded, his wild eyes glinting with calculation. "Perfect timing, actually. Most of the Sanctuary will be asleep, reducing the chance that our spy—or spies—will notice what we're doing and attempt to flee."

Chi's form solidified as he rose from the bed, his tail lashing once with determination. "We should plan our approach carefully. If we test the wrong person first and they manage to warn others..."

"We'll start with Martha and your most trusted lieutenants," I suggested, watching as the silver and gold patterns beneath my skin brightened with purpose. "Establish a core group of verified allies before expanding outward."

Heart nodded, ruby eyes narrowing with strategic calculation. "Do the main fighters that are usually with Martha first.”

"Smart thinking," Varik agreed, tucking the device into his waistcoat with exaggerated care. "Though I should warn you—the detection process isn't entirely pleasant for the subject. The crystalline components need to make direct contact with skin, and they tend to... tingle rather intensely when scanning for magical corruption."

Chi's ears flattened slightly. "Define 'tingle.'"

"Oh, somewhere between a mild electric shock and having ants crawl under your skin," Varik replied cheerfully. "Nothing permanent, of course, but definitely noticeable. We'll need willing subjects, not unwilling ones."

I felt my stomach clench at the implications. "And if someone refuses to be tested?"

"Then we have our answer, don't we?" Heart said grimly, the golden patterns beneath his skin flaring with cold determination. "Anyone with legitimate reasons to be in the Sanctuary would submit to testing to ensure everyone's safety."

Varik nodded enthusiastically, adjusting his hat as it threatened to slide off entirely. "Precisely! Though we should be prepared for some resistance from people who simply don't like the idea of magical probing. Privacy concerns and all that."

Chi's tail curled thoughtfully around his ankle. "We'll need a cover story. Something that explains the testing without revealing we're specifically hunting for blood magic corruption."

"Security screening," Heart suggested immediately, his strategic mind already working through the details. "After the recent attacks, it's reasonable to implement enhanced magical verification for anyone with access to sensitive areas."

I watched the interplay between them, feeling the silver and gold patterns beneath my skin pulse with growing unease."What about the King of Spades? Will he be involved in the testing?"

Varik's wild eyes gleamed with mischief. "Oh most certainly. His shadows can detect things my little device might miss," Varik continued, patting his waistcoat where he'd tucked the detector. "Blood magic and shadow magic create fascinating interference patterns when they interact. Quite useful for identifying sophisticated disguises."

Heart's jaw tightened, the golden patterns beneath his skin flaring with territorial heat. "I don't like the idea of him examining my people."

"Your people who might be feeding information to your mother," Chi pointed out, his tail flicking with pragmatic assessment. "Personal preferences aside, we need every advantage we can get."

Through both bonds, I felt Heart's reluctant acknowledgment of Chi's logic warring with his deep-seated distrust of Seth. The silver and gold patterns beneath my skin pulsed with my own conflicted feelings—relief that we'd have Seth's expertise, mixed with concern about how his presence would affect the delicate dynamics between my anchors.

"Six hours gives us time to prepare," I said, focusing on the practical aspects. "We should create a roster of everyone in the Sanctuary, prioritizing those with access to sensitive information or strategic planning."

Heart nodded, the golden patterns settling into determined pulses. "I'll work with Martha to compile the list. She knows every fighter in the resistance by name."

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