Alice trailed behind the Knave of Hearts, her mood somber thinking of the White Rabbit's predicament. As they walked, a thought crystallized in Alice's mind, compelling her to voice her suspicion.
"Hold on," she said abruptly, breaking the silence, "you didn't actually lead us to the Duchess' house just to rest, did you? You were looking for the White Knight all along."
The Knave's pace faltered momentarily, and he shot her a sidelong glance, a wry smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I wouldn't deny that. But we did have a few moments of rest," he replied, his tone light but with an undertone of seriousness.
Alice's frown deepened, but she nodded slowly. "I should have known there was more to it. So, where exactly is this Looking-Glass Mountains? You said it wasn't that far."
The Knave adjusted his grip on his sword and cleared his throat. "Those mountains are indeed not far from here, but the terrain can be treacherous. They lie to the east of Wonderland, beyond the Verdant Glades. Once we reach the outskirts, it'll be a matter of navigating the rocky paths and finding our way to Mirror Lake."
Alice's eyes narrowed in thought as she considered the journey ahead. "And you're sure the Duchess' information is accurate?"
The Knave gave a soft chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "The Duchess isn't exactly the most trustworthy soul, I'll grant you that," he admitted, casting a glance back at Alice. "But when it comes to information? She's never wrong. Moreover, she knows how to honor a deal, even if her methods are… unconventional."
Alice raised an eyebrow skeptically. "So, we can rely on her then? That's a bit of a gamble."
"Perhaps," the Knave conceded. "It might be true that she knows more than she lets on. But if she says the White Knight is near the Looking-Glass Mountains, then that's where he'll be. She wouldn't risk her reputation for something as trivial as a lie."
Alice sighed, her doubts still lingering but her trust in the Knave's judgment steadying her resolve. "I suppose we don't have much choice, then."
"No," the Knave replied, his expression serious now. "We don't. But trust me, Alice—this is our best chance. The White Knight may be eccentric, but he's the only one capable of helping us get through the Maze of Echoes."
Alice sighed, her doubts still lingering but her trust in the Knave's judgment steadying her resolve. "I suppose we don't have much choice, then."
"No," the Knave replied, his expression serious now. "We don't. But trust me, Alice—this is our best chance. The White Knight may be eccentric, but he's the only one capable of helping us get through the Maze of Echoes."
"But you said you already know all about the Maze of Echoes," Alice pouted.
"I did. And I know that the White Knight can help us through the maze's tricks."
"You didn't tell us that part,"
"True, but still, I didn't lie to you. Did I?"
Alice sighed again, a bit more deeply this time, her shoulders slumping in frustration. "You didn't lie," she admitted reluctantly, glancing sidelong at the Knave. "But you didn't exactly tell the whole truth either."
The Knave's expression softened, though his eyes remained sharp and focused ahead. "Alice, there are some things in Wonderland better left unsaid until the right moment," he explained, his tone carrying a note of caution. "If I told you everything from the start, would you have agreed to let me come with you?"
Alice frowned, thinking back to everything they'd already been through. "I suppose not," she muttered, crossing her arms as they walked. "But it still feels like I'm always being kept in the dark."
The Knave turned to her, his eyes softening. "I was able to lead you all this far at least."
Alice's frown lingered for a moment longer, but as she thought about everything that had happened, she couldn't help but acknowledge the truth in the Knave's words. He had led them this far. Through treacherous lands, odd encounters, and dangerous foes, they were still standing—still moving forward.
With a reluctant nod, she uncrossed her arms and fell into step beside him. "Alright, you've got a point," she admitted, though her voice still held a trace of stubbornness.
The Knave offered her a small, knowing smile, his usual sharpness tempered by a rare moment of understanding. "Good. Now come on, we must hurry."
The group moved through the winding forest trails, the Verdant Glades gradually giving way to rockier terrain. The ground underfoot became uneven, forcing them to tread carefully, though the path remained clear. Tall trees that had once shielded them with their lush canopies slowly thinned out, replaced by jagged rock formations that jutted out from the earth like broken teeth. The wind picked up, swirling around them with a strange, haunting whistle that seemed to echo in the distance.
As they traveled, Alice's mind wandered back to Wonderland's many oddities, her thoughts interrupted only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the sound of their footsteps on the rocky path. The landscape shifted again as they neared their destination—the air growing cooler, more still. The Mirror Lake was close. She could feel it in the way the atmosphere seemed to shimmer with an eerie, reflective light.
Finally, after what felt like hours, they arrived at the edge of the lake. It stretched out before them, still as glass, a perfect mirror that seemed to blur the line between sky and water. The surface gleamed in the pale light, but something felt off—too perfect, too silent.
Alice moved closer, drawn to the lake's pristine surface. But as she stared into the water, she suddenly froze.
It wasn't her reflection in the lake.
Instead, the face staring back at her was that of her little sister, the familiar features twisted into an expression of gentle amusement. The younger girl's eyes sparkled with the same bright curiosity Alice had always envied, and her smile—the same sweet, innocent smile—seemed to mock Alice from the depths of the lake.
Her heart clenched in her chest, an old, bitter feeling rising to the surface. Jealousy.
Alice took a step back, her breath catching in her throat. Memories of home flooded her mind—memories of always feeling second-best, of standing in her sister's shadow no matter how hard she tried to step out of it. It wasn't fair. It had never been fair.
"Something wrong?" The Knave's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, pulling her back to the present.
Alice blinked, her vision clearing as she looked away from the lake. The reflection had vanished. It was just water again, cold and still.
"No... it's nothing," she murmured, shaking her head. But deep down, she knew it wasn't nothing.
As they left the eerie stillness of the Mirror Lake behind, the path grew even more rugged, rocks jutting from the ground like bones beneath the earth's surface. The air felt heavier, more oppressive, as if the landscape itself was trying to weigh them down. Alice trudged along, her gaze focused on the ground beneath her feet, still shaken from what she had seen in the lake. The memory of her sister's face lingered in her mind, pulling her mood into a somber quietness.
The others, sensing her change in demeanor, remained silent as they walked, choosing not to pry. Even the Mad Hatter, who was usually full of nonsensical chatter, kept his hat firmly in place, his gaze wandering elsewhere. The Knave, though his focus was ahead, occasionally glanced at Alice, but he, too, respected her space. There was an unspoken understanding among the group—this was not the time to dig into whatever haunted Alice's thoughts.
The landscape began to shift again, the towering trees and jagged rocks giving way to the looming presence of the Looking-Glass Mountains. The peaks rose sharply into the sky, jagged and reflective like shards of broken glass, casting an unsettling shimmer as they caught the light. The trail became steeper, and though they were growing tired, they pressed on, the urgency of their mission pushing them forward.
It wasn't long before they saw him—the White Knight.
He stood at the edge of a clearing, near the base of the mountains, his armor gleaming in the pale light. Unlike the other knights Alice had encountered, the White Knight seemed less polished in his movements, as though his armor was more of a hindrance than an aid. His helm was slightly askew, and various mechanical gadgets and tools hung from his belt, clinking together with each step he took. His eyes lit up with recognition as the group approached, and his face broke into a teasing grin.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Knave of Hearts," the White Knight said, his voice filled with playful sarcasm. "Are you here to continue our duel? I've been improving my defenses, you know. Added some new tricks since our last encounter. You'll never get past me this time!"
The Knave's expression immediately darkened, a flash of irritation crossing his face. His jaw tightened, and for a moment, it seemed like he might snap back with something sharp. But instead, he took a deep breath and forced a more composed, albeit strained, expression.
"We're not here for that," the Knave said, his tone clipped but polite. "We need your help."
The White Knight raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by the Knave's attempt at restraint. "Ah, so it's help you're after, is it? Well, I suppose I could be persuaded… depending on the nature of the request." He tilted his head, eyeing the group with curiosity, his grin never fading.
The Knave's jaw clenched slightly as he stared at the White Knight, clearly uncomfortable at his presence. His voice was measured, but there was a clear edge to it—both from the irritation of the Knight's teasing and the weight of the task ahead.
"The Maze of Echoes," the Knave began, his gaze not faltering, "you once bested me in reaching its end. I've navigated its twists and turns before, but this time… the riddles and tricks have shifted. It's grown more deceptive, more dangerous." His voice lowered slightly, frustration creeping in as he recalled the labyrinth's maddening challenges. "You're the only one I know who has consistently outwitted the Maze, who understands how to see through its illusions. We don't have the time for mistakes." He paused, then added with a touch of humility, "We need your help, White Knight. Besides, it's for Wonderland's sake."
The White Knight's teasing grin faded slightly, his gaze narrowing as he realized the gravity of the situation. He shifted his weight, the mechanical trinkets on his belt rattling softly. He scratched his chin, seemingly contemplating the Knave's words.
"Well," the White Knight said after a beat, his tone still carrying a hint of amusement but now tinged with seriousness, "I did beat you into solving the Maze last time, didn't I? Quite the race that was." His eyes flickered with memory, a small spark of pride glinting in them. But then his expression softened, becoming more thoughtful.
"I suppose if it's for Wonderland, I can't just stand by and tinker with my machines." He straightened his helm, giving the Knave a considering look. "I'll help you. But I hope you're ready to be beaten by this knight once more."
The Knave's expression stiffened at the White Knight's final remark, his jaw tightening just enough to reveal that the memory still stung. He forced a smile, but the tension in his eyes betrayed him. "I'm not here for another contest," the Knave said coolly, keeping his tone even. "We're here to get through the Maze, and I don't care who crosses the finish line first—just that we all make it out."
The White Knight's grin widened, clearly enjoying the Knave's discomfort. "Of course, of course," he said, waving a hand as if dismissing the tension. "No need to keep score, I suppose. But I wouldn't mind reminding you how I earned my title."
Alice, sensing the undercurrent of rivalry between the two, stepped in. "Let's just focus on the Maze, shall we?" she said, her voice firm but not unkind. "We've wasted enough time already. Wonderland's depending on us."
"And who pray might you be?," the White Knight asked.
The Knave cut in swiftly before Alice could speak. "This is Alice," he said, with a subtle note of respect that hadn't been there before. "The one who's about to defeat the Jabberwocky."
Alice blinked in mild surprise, not expecting the Knave to speak on her behalf—especially not with such sincerity.
The White Knight raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the Knave's introduction. "The one who's about to defeat the Jabberwocky, you say?" He leaned forward, his armored gauntlets clinking as he crossed his arms. "That's no small feat. Are you really up to the challenge, Alice?"
Alice felt a rush of pressure as both the White Knight and the Knave looked at her. She swallowed hard, but then straightened her posture, meeting the White Knight's gaze with quiet determination. "I didn't come all this way for nothing," she replied, her voice steady despite the doubt lingering in her heart. "If Wonderland needs me to face the Jabberwocky, then I will."
The White Knight studied her for a moment, then gave a slow, approving nod. "Spoken like a true warrior," he said, a touch of admiration in his voice. "Well then, Alice, if the Maze of Echoes is part of your path, I'll make sure you find your way through."
Just as the weight of the moment settled between them, a voice broke the tension with a cheery, almost singsong tone.
"Tea, anyone?" The Mad Hatter piped up, stepping forward with a wide grin and a tip of his battered hat. His eyes gleamed with excitement, as though they were discussing something far more important than mazes or Jabberwockies.
Alice turned to him, her resolve still firm but softened by a bit of exasperation. "Tea? Now?"
The Hatter nodded enthusiastically, already rummaging through his various pockets and pulling out a mismatched teacup and saucer. "But of course! Before venturing through dangerous mazes, facing riddles and such… One must always pause for tea. It's simply the only sensible thing to do, don't you think?"
The White Knight let out a chuckle, clearly amused by the sudden shift in tone. "Tea before perilous journeys? Now that's an idea I can get behind," he said, his eyes twinkling.
The Knave, however, sighed deeply, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if trying to suppress a headache. "Hatter, we don't have time for—"
The Mad Hatter interrupted him with a dramatic wave of his hand. "Oh, nonsense! There's always time for tea! Besides, what good is an adventure on an empty stomach? You wouldn't want us fainting halfway through the Maze of Echoes, would you?" He set the teacup down on a nearby rock as though it were a grand dining table and began arranging an invisible spread of treats.
Alice, despite herself, couldn't help but smile. The absurdity of it all was somehow comforting, a moment of calm in the midst of the chaos. "Perhaps just one cup?" she offered, her tone caught somewhere between indulgence and impatience.
The Hatter beamed, twirling his hat in delight. "Oh, absolutely! Just one cup—though we can never be sure how long that might last!"
