Chapter 109: Ch107. Handshake
Miles barely listened to the Hatter-Miles’ words, panting heavily from the – dream? Nightmare? Illusion? – torture inflicted on him.
The thing in front of him was right, even though Miles was glad that none of it happened in the real world. Gods knew what could have happened if there were other players around, or even worse.
’Yeah... Or even worse...’ The words crossed Miles’ mind when he heard fingers snapping in the distance.
"Are you there? Wonderland to Miles, Wonderland to Miles!" The Hatter-Miles laughed. "Oh boy, and here was I, thinking that you actually had it in you... But anyway, are you with me now?"
Miles nodded, without saying a word.
"Good." He cooed. "I was saying that there’s a place in the heart of The Horizon called The Last Verse, and I need you to go there. Well... You need to get there if you want to leave this shithole, to be fair, but I do need you to get there, because there’s someone in the spire that I want you to meet, if we are to get along, do you feel me, my dear?"
Miles was silent, and at first, it looked like he was mulling over the Hatter-Miles’ words. However, it was none of it.
He did, indeed, have heard the Hatter-Miles’ words, but he was not paying much attention to it.
It took him most of himself to push back the thoughts and memories of what just transpired between him and his forceful guest, but after what felt like an eternity of focusing, using every bit of that strength he had found in himself to resist the torment thrown against him, his breathing finally steadied and his thoughts were finally his own once more.
That something inside him, though, that ember that he blew toward just to stay conscious a while before, it felt bigger this time. Stronger, warmer...
Miles did not understand what it was yet, but he welcomed the feeling almost as much as he welcomed the fragrant, kaleidoscopic tea from the [Ether Teapot].