Page 25 of Knot My Wonderland

Chi moved closer, studying the silver patterns with evident fascination. "For a returning Dreamer? There is no normal. Each is unique." His eyes met mine, serious despite his perpetual grin. "But you, Alice, are exceptional even by those standards."

A gentle knock at the door interrupted us.

"Come in," I called, quickly lowering my hands as the door swung open.

The Hatter appeared, his tall frame filling the doorway. His wild hair looked more disheveled than usual, and dark smudges beneath his eyes suggested he hadn't slept. In his gloved hands, he carried a small wooden box inlaid with mother-of-pearl that shifted colors as it caught the light.

"Ah, you're awake," he said, his gaze flicking between Chi and me with subtle assessment.

"I see the moonglow is working," he said, with a frown on his face, "Perhaps a bit more potent than necessary for a first dose."

Chi shrugged, unrepentant. "She handled it beautifully. Look at her—already seeing the currents."

The Hatter approached cautiously, setting the box on a nearby table. To my enhanced vision, he too was different than he appeared—the magic moved through him in disciplined channels, controlled but powerful, concentrated in his hands and around the edges of his mind like a corona.

"How do you feel?" the Hatter asked, his green eyes studying me with a mixture of concern and fascination.

"Like I'm seeing everything for the first time," I admitted, watching the silver light pulse beneath my skin. "It's... overwhelming."

The Hatter nodded, removing his gloves and setting them aside. Without them, I could see his hands were covered in finescars—silvery lines that criss crossed his palms and fingers like a map of unknown territories.

"The moonglow effect will fade in a few hours," he explained, moving to the windows to draw back the heavy curtains. "But the awareness it brings—that will remain, though less intense."

Rain streaked the glass, each droplet leaving trails of magic in its wake. Outside, the garden shimmered with life, plants breathing and stretching in the gentle downpour.

"What's in the box?" I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.

The Hatter's mouth curved into a small smile. He reached for the wooden container, his fingers tracing the inlaid pattern before opening the lid. Inside, nestled on dark velvet, lay a delicate silver bracelet. No—not quite a bracelet. As he lifted it, I saw it was more complex, a lattice of fine silver threads woven together like living vines, with tiny crystals embedded throughout that caught the light in impossible ways.

"This," the Hatter said, holding it up so the crystals scattered rainbow light across the walls, "is a shield."

I stepped closer, drawn by the intricate beauty of the piece. "A shield? It looks like jewelry."

"In Wonderland, appearances are rarely truthful," the Hatter replied, his fingers tracing the delicate metalwork. "This is attuned to your specific magical signature. It will help you control the currents around you—both those you create and those others might use against you."

Chi moved closer, his teal eyes studying the bracelet with evident appreciation. "Impressive work, Varik. You've outdone yourself."

The Hatter—Varik?—shot Chi a sharp look at the use of what I assumed was his given name. "It took all night," he said, turning back to me. "The silver had to be folded nine times under moonlight, and the crystals are from the deepest part of the Tulgey Wood where reality bends most sharply."

He held it out to me, the delicate metalwork catching the light. "May I?"

I hesitated only a moment before extending my arm. The Hatter's touch was surprisingly gentle as he fastened the intricate silver lattice around my wrist. The moment it touched my skin, I felt a resonance—like a tuning fork being struck. The silver threads seemed to warm and adjust themselves, tightening slightly until the bracelet fit perfectly.

"It responds to your energy," the Hatter explained, watching as the tiny crystals began to glow with a soft inner light. "The more you wear it, the more attuned it becomes."

I turned my wrist, watching how the bracelet caught the light. Despite its delicate appearance, it felt substantial—not heavy exactly, but present in a way that was reassuring.

"How exactly does it shield me?" I asked, fascinated by the way the crystals pulsed in time with my heartbeat.

"It creates a barrier," the Hatter explained, "not physical, but magical. When someone attempts to influence you—through an Alpha command or other magical means—the bracelet will absorb and diffuse the energy."

Chi circled around me, studying the bracelet with narrowed eyes. "It won't stop a determined Alpha entirely," he cautioned, "but it will give you precious seconds to gather your defenses."

I ran my finger along the intricate silver work. "Thank you," I said softly to the Hatter. "This must have taken incredible skill."

A flicker of pleased surprise crossed his face before he composed himself again. "It's been some time since I've crafted something so delicate. My hands aren't as steady as they once were."

"Your hands seem perfectly steady to me," I said, studying the intricate workmanship. The bracelet caught the light, sending prismatic reflections dancing across the walls.

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