After leaving the Queen, Tarrant and Alice walked side by side toward the Sackrey house. Tarrant's steps were lighter than usual, betraying a hint of excitement, while Alice's mood was complex as she pondered the task ahead. The sunlight spilled over their shoulders, the wind gently caressed the grass, and the air was filled with the fragrance of flowers.
As they reached the Sackrey home, the sounds of lively chatter emanated from a long tea table. Sackrey was bustling about, hurriedly arranging the teacups, while Mary was eagerly preparing an array of delicate pastries. Tarrant exaggeratedly bowed and announced, "The wonderful tea party time has begun!"
"Tarrant, we've finally arrived!" Sackrey exclaimed, waving a teapot in delight. Mary poked her head out from the kitchen, smiling at Alice, "Oh, dear Alice, your timing is impeccable! We've just started brewing tea."
The four of them took their seats, and Sackrey hurriedly filled their cups, the air rich with the aroma of tea and the sweetness of pastries. Tarrant's eyes sparkled with a Cheshire cat-like grin, clearly still basking in the joy of their reunion, though his thoughts soon shifted back to more serious matters.
Alice smiled at the lovely tea party scene, took a sip of her tea, and then set her cup down, turning her gaze to Tarrant. "Tarrant, I must talk to you about the map of Wonderland," she said, her tone growing serious as her eyes locked onto his.
Tarrant raised an eyebrow, "Ah, you just mentioned that at the palace." His curiosity was evident, but he maintained his usual relaxed demeanor.
"Exactly," Alice continued. "Mr. Time told me that the reason there are gaps in the map of Wonderland is because time cracks appear in the maze garden. And these cracks can only be repaired if you and I go together to the missing area on the maze garden map and express our wishes to each other."
Tarrant's green eyes sharpened with focus; his hand unconsciously hovered over his teacup as he considered Alice's words. "So, only our wishes can repair the garden?" he repeated softly, as if confirming he hadn't misheard.
Alice nodded, explaining, "Yes, that part of the maze garden can only be restored to its original state through our common wish. Only then can the entire fairy garden be restored to its former glory. Otherwise, the cracks will widen, and they may even spread to other areas."
Tarrant leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Sackrey and Mary suddenly leaned in, their faces alight with curiosity. "Wait, wait, wait, wait!" Sackrey lifted his teacup and squinted with a smile. "What is the meaning of the wish you mentioned? What wish do you make to go to the maze garden? This sounds like a very interesting story!"
Mary jumped onto the tea table, dashing over to Alice, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "That's right! What do you two want to wish for? Is it a secret?"
Alice, seeing their enthusiasm, smiled gracefully. "Well, the specific content of the wish will have to wait until we arrive at the Maze Garden to be revealed. Only when we get there will the timing be right for the wish to gain true power."
Mary clearly wasn't satisfied with such a vague answer; she pouted, hands on her hips, and mumbled, "Oh, that's really boring."
Sackrey burst into laughter, as if he wanted to press for more details, but Tarrant suddenly stood up, interrupting his curiosity. "Okay, okay, we have to wait until the right time to discuss the matter of wishes. But now, I think the tea break is ready!"
With that, he playfully tipped his hat and set it firmly atop his head. Alice shook her head helplessly, yet she couldn't help but be drawn into the lighthearted atmosphere, momentarily setting aside her complex thoughts.
Before long, Sackrey and Mary had forgotten their curiosity about the wishes. The four of them gathered together, enjoying the cheerful and warm tea party. Tarrant occasionally shared absurd stories, laughing uproariously at Sackrey's antics, while Mary, in her curious way, peppered Alice with questions about the real world, all the while praising the pastries' deliciousness.
Alice felt a wave of long-lost tranquility wash over her. On this sun-drenched afternoon, surrounded by her friends, she experienced a sense of comfort that had eluded her for some time.