Moonlit Wonderland

🌙Prologue~ Return of Alice

"In this wonderland, I was never the Alice."
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"Mistress, you hadn't eaten anything since morning. I recommend you to join us for supper. I'll ask the cook to-"

"Chloris, how many times must you ask me to eat? I've eaten already so you may leave."

A sphere glowing in silver illuminates on her palms. From the light a clear reflection of Cradle gleam before her grasp.

The light spraying from her hand lit her surroundings which is a desk filled with flowers stems, minus the petals.

"Mistress, eating flowers aren't going to be enough-"

"Are we seriously going to fight over this for like... the thousandth time this week?" She said as she basically tore her gaze from the map and shot a glare at him.

His face went pale, he must have a lot of nerves to upset her mistress.

"I'm sorry that i seem to push my luck, but your Glory, you rarely come back to the base... We were thrilled to know that you came back and which we would love to spend this occasion with you but you've been dwelling in your room these days after your arrival."

She sigh. "... I understand. I'm sorry... But i need to focus on this."

"May i know what it is? This seems significant."

"I can't quite decipher." She said as she lightly sway her hand to expand the hologram for him to see. "The full moon is still mystical as always, my magic as at their best at these moments. But my senses are taking in something unusual."

"This doesn't really seem that odd for me but. It's probably, wait no, it is for you. It is sure that if there's something usual for me coming here anonymously is an anomaly for i am also one."

"What are you trying to say...?"

"This might sound stupid but i think-"

"MISTRESS! COMMANDER!"

The door flung open, revealing a raggedly breathing soldier. The two immediately fix their focus on him.

"Sorry for the intrusion, but i have news from the monitor team that the magic radar had been acting up oddly." He explain as he tries to catch his breath. "Nothing too serious but this is the first time it ever happened."

"Are you sure this is the first time?" She asked calmly. "If recall correctly, the same event had once occured way back."

"But mistress." Chloris question. "If you mean way back is few centuries ago, then yes. But that happened when 'she' came. It is impossible for her to come back, it's already been so long."

"Not exactly but not literally i'd say."

The two men stare at her, bewildered.

"She's still be able to comeback though not the as the same previous individual." She answered the question from their eyes.

Reaching out for her desk, she swiped the stems away and settling a tray on its place. Taking out two coins and gripping them in both hand.

"It's the same as dropping two coins with the same currency." Dropping the one on her left hand, she continues. "Imagine this as Alice the First. She's known to bring catastrophe to Cradle by canceling magic left and right. Such an intriguing event if i may add an opinion, however-"

She took out the first coin from the tray and open her right hand to reveal the second, a clang sound echoes from the impact.

"Alice came back but not as the same person. Just like these coins, both have the same title but the way of falling and the sound of their click is unalike. Same but different. Do you get what i mean?"

"... I understand, but another Alice? That's impossible-"

"Not exactly..." She trails off, drawing her finger on the map like sphere, to the middle.

"Here." She point, "The strange magic infusion is coming from the Garden's direction."

She paces and put her pointer finger to her chin. "The moon is full, magic is acting up and the fount is 'surprisingly' coming from the Garden, which is the location of the hole that connects Cradle and the Land of Reason." Her smile stayed refined but hints of giddy adds to it's mix. "Don't these indications seem oddly perfect for a mere coincidence?"

Chloris widen his eyes, there's no doubting her now. "If that's so, then-"

"That's right."

She stride up to the window, the moonlight showers her figure. Her hands open widen as well as her gaze while she gazes to the distance.

"Welcome to the wonderland, Alice the Second. I'm intrigued to see what destiny had to offer for you in our land of wonders. I hope to meet you very soon..."

✨To be continued

✨Thank you for reading!

Bonus part!

"Mistress, i think we have a problem..."

"What is it now?"

"It's about Alice's entry mode."

Her eyebrow quirk up. "She'll emerge from the hole like Alice the First did. I see nothing wrong."

"Mistress..." The subordinate beside Chloris finally raise his voice, though almost above a murmur. "You might want to take a look on the map."

She glanced at the map as told. High above the Garden skies, a blue dot falling on a rapid speed.

Her eyes widened . "Oh shi-"