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    Why I’m just a friendly kitty-cat.” A deep, silky bass voice answered telepathically. “Oh, I mean… meow?”


    “You ask fun questions.” The telepathic voice bounced through his thoughts. “Why don’t you go ahead and ask my name, as well? Err I mean… meow.”


    Clever man.” The voice chuckled. “You’re not really my type, but I’ve been told to play with you for awhile. Rather… meow.” Kutris narrowed his eyes as the kitten stopped just a meter in front of him, no larger than a house cat.


    Then I shall commence with the testing. And meow, of course.” The feline stood and stretched luxuriously, its shadow extending impossibly far from its tiny frame. “Have you finished your preparations?”


    There’s not an entity in existence that isn’t a toy.” As the monster spoke, Kutris’ newly erected wards prickled against his skin as they began to bow and bulge inwards under some immense metaphysical weight. Physical time seemed to slow, but the voice in his thoughts carried on at the same pace. “It’s only and always a matter of who is doing the toying. It’s a paradoxical experience to look up for the first time, and see the strings tugging you here and there. On one hand it is crushing to see one’s free will for the illusion it has always been. On the other, there’s true agency in knowing where the walls of your prison truly are, rather than the painted green fields that once blinded you. All of that to say… .”


    Come now, great mage,” the voice rumbled, too rich, deep, and resonant for the stifled atmosphere. The words scraped against his mind, each syllable prying at the edges of his sanity. “I can’t have you giving up so soon.”


    Ah, there’s a hint of the fight I was promised.” the voice purred in his mind. His next statement was made out loud, and the voice was small and cute. “He broke free in six seconds, my lovely lich queen. He may be able to handle the next phase after all.” The cat closed its little fanged mouth and reverted to telepathy. “Perhaps I’ll let you entertain me a little longer. Meow.”