Spiritual energy was nothing new to her, it was a constant across all realms even if given different names or used in different forms, as she had put a lot of her past life's research into it. A convenient thing about not being a god was having an infinite amount of "selves". Simple multiverse theory stuff.
One may ask "what does that have to do with spiritual energy or two strange laughs".
It was a fair question as - from an outsider's perspective to the cat's situation - both may be interesting tidbits yet have no relation to the more immediate questions.
For most, that information was indeed unrelated. However the cat was unique in that she acted on the knowledge she gained while taking advantage of her unique situation. Utilising some gimmick to connect with her other selves as they worked together with the goal of granting immortality.
This led to some interesting results that most split onto two modes of thought; gaining strength through experimentation and gaining strength through self improvement. As a result - a division was made between her… Selves? Some mutilate themselves while taking the goddess of fate's eyes.
Becoming literal abominations called "Munzumira" who were akin to eldritchian chimaera who took the form of beautiful doll like girls with hair & eyes the colour of galaxies.
On the other hand you had the Cheshire's, keeping her original name, gaining such reserves of energy through hard work that beating them head to head was impossible. Sadly she wasn't able to become either due to a third "version". The entity she was meant to become but couldn't.
A tragic tale of a being who was meant for such great things but stifled before even hitting the cradle on account of her would be peers. Forever sealed while tearing apart her now mortal vessel. Essentially the cat was never actually right in the head as there were an annoying amount of voices to keep up with.
There wasn't simply one "Cheshire" or "Munzumira" but there was only one of her. Something that a lot of her companions - all but the bastard best friend in fact - never bothered to keep up with. To them she simply became Munzumira the weird abyssal creature that ruled over the spirit world.
Long story short, nobody except her truly understood herself and no one could comprehend spiritual energy on such a deep level as her.
So she felt them.
Their forms were different but she felt both "Cheshire" and that thing had taken up residence in her soul once again. Even if she only noticed when their interest was peaked by the children. Although their source was the same, their reactions were as vast as the ocean of knowledge which they had gathered.
At the same time it felt as if something was missing from the equation.
Either way, neither of her "companions" cared to fill her in on matters as they remained silent after laughing away. Something she expected from her yet curious when related to the other. Cheshire wasn't someone who'd keep her in the dark since she was a researcher at heart.
The little cat paced back & forth as she pondered her next steps in this life of hers; a realisation beginning to tingle in the back of her mind yet refusing to come to the forefront. An annoying experience however one she couldn't do anything about. Nevertheless, she was nothing if not productive.
Deciding she may as well go for a walk to figure out exactly where (and maybe when) she was. Humans were the most common of the sentient mortal races, like an annoying mould, completely littering the tapestry of existence. They also were about as boring as a race could be.
Not even caring enough to hide her presence.
She just wandered down the dirty pathway in the direction she saw the children running from - after all there ought to be adults if there were children. If there are adults there should be a settlement. Basic stuff for exploring new territory which you have no information on.
Within the mud she made note of heavy "lines" that sometimes cut towards the rice fields; obviously denoting they were at least advanced enough to have developed carts. Carts meant wheels. Unless they were actually using sleds…
Shivering at the mere thought of chewing on something like an animal.
That settlement shouldn't have been too far (since those children sure didn't seem particularly winded upon running to the bamboo grove) but she also wasn't in a rush. Plus she only had little paws due to being a very literal kitten. Not that she didn't have some techniques to make up for her tiny body.
All the while the sun settled overhead; a clear sky that brought warmth upon all those who were blessed to be under its grace. Although it was bright, few complained, all were excited for the start of a new day. At least most didn't seem to mind the bright sun - some certainly weren't thrilled that they had another day.
The little black kitten finds herself scampering up a wall into a gated settlement. However, one could hardly say the gate was particularly good at it's job, the ones whose job it was to watch were instead watching the inside of their eyelids. Its doors were only half hanging on the latches.
Actually entering the city showed that it only got worse from there.
Below the wall were countless muddy streets that had clearly seen no form of maintenance since they came into existence.
All around there were people, whether walking or lying in their own vomit, yet none of them seemed exactly exhilarated at the prospect of being there. Most of all… She absolutely couldn't stand the filthy stench that was always associated with one infamous local; slums.
One glance around let her understand the wealth inequality but a second was needed to truly understand how bad it was. This hardly surprised the kitten, though. Noticing this seemed to be a feudal era which translated to the top one percent not even trying to hide the fact they took advantage of the less fortunate.
Thinking they were blessed by some "divine entity" which was only the case 10% of the time. Though that was a factor that depended more on their location than chance - certain worlds just don't have an active divine presence after all. She didn't care either way.
Clicking her tongue as hopped from the outer wall to land on a hastily patched up roof; lifting her little nose to the air where the tiny pink button wiggled about.
<'Bout time that I check up on those two brats.>
Pouncing between roof tops with nothing but her nose to guide her - fortunately her sense of smell was one of the few things that she could consistently rely on. Even a battered body like her old one had at least a few redeeming qualities. Hers being her sense of smell that was more acute than her peers.
Gazing down from her advantageous point of view revealed what looked like some thugs beating on a starved man with nothing left but the rags on his body. Their words demand money. Something that man clearly didn't possess any more of yet the kitten wasn't going to get involved.
It would be hypocritical when she had a very similar hustle back in the day.
|Does indeed make one wonder what colour their blood would take when splattered in the mud~?|
|No.|
That voice caused her to stumble away from the side in shock. The tone contained a curiosity that surpassed that of mere child-like wonder; instead filled with a kind of joy that could only come from not caring about any outcomes. Purely invested in its own amusement despite the horrific costs.
Thankfully the second voice silenced the first as the kitten finally understood the internal battle that was happening inside her… It just so happened she also didn't really care. Merely shrugging her shoulders as she began leaping from roof to roof without a care in the world.
"Nyahahaha~."
A smile on her feline face as she followed her nose.
It was more fun to take care of some little girls; all the evil brewing within this city had completely nothing to do with her. Plus they were only mere humans. Though she did pause when she heard those thugs cursing out in frustration.
Turning to see that the body of the bankrupt man was no longer moving which matched up with the curses from the thugs as they searched his body for cash. Floating to the side, however, was a mirror image of the would-be dead man. Connecting him to his body was a chain that crumbled at the end.
Separating him from the mortal body that previously held his spirit.
That man didn't even seem to notice as he panicked upon seeing the thugs - running away without so much as looking back.