The swirling darkness gave way to a sprawling landscape bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. The place looked more like a vast underground cave, its jagged stone walls towering above like the maw of a forgotten beast. The air is cool and damp, with a faint, musty smell that clings to the skin. Dim light flickers from crystals embedded in the walls, casting eerie reflections off the surface of a large, still pool that dominates the center of the cave.
"This… this is the Abyss?" Alice whispered, gazing around in awe.
The White Knight stepped forward, his eyes scanning around. "More like the representation of it," he said, his voice low. "I don't think we'd still be alive if we actually ended down there."
"Don't worry, we're still inside the Maze of Echoes. It's just that this place changes every time," The Knave remarked, following after the White Knight.
The Mad Hatter trailed after them, closely followed by the March Hare, still carrying the sleeping Dormouse on his arm.
The White Knight quickly approached the edge of the vast pool of shimmering water, watching its surface rippling gently as though it were alive. Scattered across the pool were stepping stones, each one glowing faintly, leading to the far side where a mysterious archway awaited. But beneath the water's surface, a large menacing shadow loomed, slowly circling like a predator waiting for its prey. The sheer size and presence of the creature sent a chill through the air, making even the bravest of hearts hesitate.
"What do we do?," the March Hare asked nervously, clutching the sleeping Dormouse tighter in his arms as his eyes darted from the water to Alice.
"We have to cross," Alice said after a moment, her voice steady, though her heart was pounding.
The Knave of Hearts stepped closer to the edge of the pool, his eyes narrowing as he followed the shadow's movements. "That thing in there," he muttered. "It looks like it's watching us."
The White Knight, undeterred by the ominous presence below, gripped his sword and took a deep breath. "If we must face whatever that is, so be it," he said, his voice filled with resolve. "But perhaps it's not strength we need here—just cleverness."
The Mad Hatter tapped his chin thoughtfully, his wide eyes flickering with excitement. "Ah, a riddle hidden within a challenge! I do love these moments. Perhaps there's a way across without disturbing the beast beneath?"
The White Knight knelt beside the water, peering into its depths. The stones looked stable, and the path seemed straightforward enough—but something about the way the shadow moved told him that any wrong step could get the attention of whatever lay beneath.
The White Knight stood, turning to the group. "We have to step on the correct stones to reach the other side."
The March Hare gulped nervously. "And if we choose the wrong one?"
"The shadow beneath will know," the Knave answered grimly, his hand hovering near his blade.
Alice took a deep breath, summoning her courage. "Then we'll just have to make sure we choose the right ones. But which ones are the right ones?"
"That, we'll find out," the White Knight declared. "Step back all of you!," he commanded while getting out another pouch from his armor's pocket. This time, he pulled out a shining stone from it.
The White Knight threw the shining stone on a stepping stone to the far right of the path, creating a soft clink as it made contact. For a moment, nothing happened—then, suddenly, the water beneath that stone rippled violently. The shadow surged toward the stone, causing the entire stepping stone to tremble, before disappearing back into the depths, leaving a deep, ominous hum in the air.
"That's not the right one," the White Knight muttered grimly.
He threw another stone onto a stepping stone in the center of the pool. This time, the shadow hesitated, circling beneath the stone before moving away slowly, almost as if it had dismissed it. The stone remained stable, untouched by the shadow's aggression.
The group exhaled in relief.
"Looks like that's a safe one," Alice observed, her eyes glued to the water as the shadow continued its movements.
The White Knight tossed a third shining stone onto a stepping stone on the left side of the path. This time, the shadow reacted instantly. With a monstrous roar, it shot upward, causing the water to surge as if a geyser had erupted. The stepping stone shattered under the force, sending shards of stone flying into the air.
The March Hare jumped back in fear. "Not that one!" he yelped.
The White Knight nodded, eyes sharp. "Well, I guess our theory is correct."
Alice glanced at the remaining stones. "So, the stones it ignores…those are the ones we need to follow."
"Correct again, my dear," the White Knight nodded. "But I must point out that I don't have enough stones to test every stepping stone in the pool. We need to figure out any pattern or strategy before I run out of things to throw."
Alice frowned thoughtfully. "Is there any way we can identify a pattern on the stepping stones?"
The White Knight pondered for a moment. "There must be a clue around here somewhere. Perhaps another riddle."
The March Hare's ears perked up as he looked around nervously. "A riddle? Like what? I don't see any writings around."
"Not every riddle is written in words," the Knave remarked, glancing at the shimmering pool and the stepping stones.
"Sometimes, they're drawn in symbols," the White Knight finished, his eyes narrowing at the stepping stones. "Look closely."
The group gathered around the knight as he pointed out subtle symbols etched into the surface of each stone. Some stones had stars, others had moons, and a few had what looked like serpents or waves.
And then, the White Knight's eyes lit up in realization. "Of course! The stars—the lost power of the stars, like the puzzle before. We need to follow the stones marked with stars to cross safely."
"But what about the other symbols?" the March Hare asked, glancing at the stones nervously.
Alice thought for a moment. "The moons and waves could be distractions or traps. The stars, however, must be our guide."
The White Knight threw another stone, this time at one of the star-marked stepping stones. The shadow beneath stirred but didn't lunge. The stone remained untouched, confirming their theory.
"Stars it is, then," the Knave said, gripping his sword as he prepared to take the first step.
Alice took a deep breath as the Knave prepared to step onto the first star-marked stone. "We have to be careful. One wrong step, and that shadow will be on us."
The Knave hesitated for a moment, then stepped cautiously onto the stone. The shadow stirred beneath them, but there was no violent reaction. He exhaled in relief and turned to the others. "It's safe. Follow the stars."
Alice, the White Knight, and the March Hare, who still clutched the sleeping Dormouse, began to follow, stepping only on the stones marked with stars. The eerie glow of the pool reflected off their faces as they moved carefully across, their eyes constantly scanning for the next safe step.
Together, they continued their cautious journey, following a winding path across the pool. The shadow beneath them swirled ominously, but as long as they stepped on the stones marked with a star symbol, it did not attack.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the last star-marked stone. The other side of the pool was just a few steps away. The Knave looked back at the group with a triumphant grin. "We made it."
Alice stepped onto solid ground, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "That was too close," she muttered, glancing back at the pool and the dark shadow lurking beneath.
As the group gathered themselves on the other side of the pool, they found themselves standing before a towering, mysterious archway. The structure was ancient, carved from stone that shimmered faintly with an otherworldly glow. Vines crept along its edges, and strange runes were etched deep into the stonework, pulsing softly like the rhythm of a heartbeat. The air was thick with an electric charge, as if the archway itself was alive, watching their every move.
Alice stared at the archway with wide eyes, feeling a mixture of awe and trepidation. "What now?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The White Knight stepped forward without hesitation. "We move forward, of course!" he declared with a tone of certainty, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
The Knave eyed the archway suspiciously, his instincts telling him that the journey ahead would not be as straightforward as the White Knight believed. "Forward, yes," he muttered, "but into what exactly?"
The March Hare, still nervously holding onto the sleeping Dormouse, shifted from foot to foot, his ears twitching. "I don't like the look of this. Archways usually mean danger. Or tea. Sometimes both."
Alice couldn't help but smile at the March Hare's comment, though her gaze remained fixed on the swirling runes in the stone. There was something inviting yet ominous about the archway, as if it held both the promise of answers and the threat of new perils.
"We've come this far," Alice said quietly, her fingers brushing against the crystalline key they had just retrieved. "We can't turn back now."
The White Knight gave her an encouraging nod. "Exactly. Besides, it's all for the sake of Wonderland!" He strode forward confidently, stopping just before the arch. He raised his hand to the stone and lightly traced one of the glowing runes.
The moment his fingers touched the rune, the archway pulsed with a brilliant light. The runes flared brighter, and the shimmering glow expanded, spreading across the entire surface of the arch. The air grew thick with anticipation, and the ground trembled slightly beneath their feet.
Alice felt her heart race as the archway began to shift. The stones groaned and creaked, slowly sliding apart to reveal a swirling vortex of light and shadow within. It was as if the archway had opened into another dimension
The White Knight glanced back at the group, a determined smile on his face. "Ready?" he asked, his voice steady and reassuring.
Alice swallowed her fear and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Without another word, the White Knight stepped through the glowing portal, disappearing into the swirling light. The others exchanged glances, a mix of fear and resolve passing between them.
"Forward," Alice muttered again, this time with more determination. She followed the White Knight through the archway, her hand never leaving the grip of her spear.
"Here we go," the Mad Hatter whispered, stepping forward with the March Hare close behind, clutching the Dormouse tightly, then lastly, the Knave of Hearts.
