Page 26 of Knot My Wonderland

"Necessity sharpens focus," the Hatter replied modestly, though I caught a hint of pride in his voice. "Now, we should continue your training while the moonglow still enhances your perception."

Chi stretched languidly, his form rippling at the edges. "I've prepared the garden clearing. The rain has stopped, and the flowers are particularly... responsive this morning."

I glanced toward the window, noticing that indeed, the rain had ceased, leaving everything outside glistening and vibrant. With my enhanced vision, the garden looked alive in ways I couldn't have imagined before—plants breathing, colors singing, magic flowing through everything like liquid light.

“Okay.” I didn’t know how this training would go…but it was better and safer for me to learn to protect myself than be ignorant and let bad things happen. “Lead the way.” I let them lead me to where my new life was starting. I just hoped I was strong enough.

Chapter Eleven

Alice

The garden seemed transformed under my moonglow-enhanced vision. What had appeared merely beautiful yesterday now revealed itself as breathtakingly alive. Every plant pulsed with its own rhythm, colors shifting subtly as they breathed. The paths between them weren't just dirt and stone but living currents of energy that responded to our footsteps, rippling like water disturbed by stones.

"Focus," Chi reminded me as I stared, transfixed, at a flower whose petals unfurled in a hypnotic spiral. "The moonglow makes everything more fascinating, but don't let yourself get lost in it."

I dragged my attention away from the mesmerizing bloom. "Sorry. It's just... overwhelming."

"Wonderland often is," the Hatter—Varik—said, his voice gentler than usual. "Even for those of us who've lived here all our lives."

We reached the clearing from yesterday, now transformed by my enhanced perception. The bare circle of earth was revealed as a perfect ring of concentrated magic, currents flowing beneath the surface like underground rivers.

"This is a power nexus," Chi explained, noticing my fascination. "A place where Wonderland's currents converge naturally. The Hatter didn't choose this garden location by accident."

Varik nodded, adjusting his gloves with precise movements. "Places of power make training easier. The magic is more accessible, more responsive."

I stepped into the circle, feeling the energy rise to meet my feet like water lapping at shores. The silver bracelet on my wrist hummed softly, resonating with the surrounding magic.

"Today," Chi said, circling me with that predatory grace, "we'll focus on defense. Yesterday you learned to sense the currents. Now you'll learn to manipulate them.

"Manipulate them how?" I asked, watching the currents shimmer and flow beneath my feet, silver-blue streams of energy that seemed almost liquid in their movement.

"Think of the magic as water," Varik explained, stepping into the circle across from me. "It can flow around obstacles, be redirected, or even temporarily dammed. Your instinct will be to resist an Alpha's command directly—to push back against it. That requires tremendous strength."

Chi materialized at the edge of the circle, his form rippling like heat distortion. "Instead, you need to learn to channel their power away from you—to let it flow past without catching you in its current."

I flexed my fingers, watching the silver light pulse beneath my skin. "Like aikido. Using their force against them."

"Precisely," Varik nodded, looking pleased. "Now, I'm going to send a very gentle Alpha command your way. Nothing strong—just a suggestion. I want you to visualize the energy of it and try to redirect it rather than resist it."

I nodded, bracing myself. The bracelet around my wrist seemed to tighten slightly in anticipation, the tiny crystals brightening.

"Close your eyes," Varik said, his voice deepening slightly, taking on that resonant quality I recognized from Chi's commands yesterday.

I felt it immediately—a gentle pressure against my mind, like a warm current trying to pull me under. My first instinct was to fight against it, to build a wall between the command and my consciousness. But instead, I tried to visualize what Chi had described—letting the energy flow around me rather than trying to stop it.

The silver bracelet warmed against my skin, and I felt the currents beneath my feet respond to my intention, creating a path of least resistance around me. The command's energy followed that path, swirling around me like water around a stone in a stream.

"Good," Varik said, his voice returning to normal. "Your instincts are excellent."

I opened my eyes, slightly dizzy but exhilarated. "I felt it flow around me."

"And the bracelet helped, yes?" Chi asked, materializing closer now, those teal eyes bright with interest.

I nodded, glancing down at the silver lattice which glowed softly against my skin. "It seemed to... suggest the path. Like it was showing me how to redirect the energy."

"Exactly what it was designed to do," Varik said with evident satisfaction. "Now let's try something stronger."

For the next hour, they took turns sending commands of increasing strength my way. Some were simple—stand, sit, speak—while others were more complex and emotionallycharged—feel afraid, feel calm, feel anger. With each attempt, I grew more adept at recognizing the energy signature of the command and shifting it away from me.

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