Finally in Wonderland, the elves were kind to the Dark Umbrella members… even if they were a little strange, they were still very sweet.
Ms Sonda: "Alright, you can talk to me again now."
Sophie: "Hmm… they really are… nice, these elves."
Ms Sonda: "Strange…"
Fiona: "Mhm… Still… I don't understand why they're so kind to us humans… Many humans did cruel things to fairies and elves."
Sophie: "Mhm."
Lina: "Yeah… Though in Grazburg… there were elves there too."
Fiona: "Right, I heard about that."
Marcus: "Yeah."
Sophie: "Still… we need to move on… we should search for Zantanel already."
Ms Sonda: "Simple… directly to the witch Alice."
Marcus: "Good idea."
Sophie: "Mhm."
Fiona: "Yeah, I agree… better to be quick."
Lina: "Yeah… We don't want to scare them."
Neze: "If you truly want to go to Lady Alice… just follow the black and white road… But… why do you want to meet her?"
Ms Sonda looked at Fiona… Fiona shook her head.
Fiona: "Well… it's urgent… there might actually be someone dangerous here."
Neze: "Impossible, dear… Everyone here gets inspected… truly everyone who enters."
Fiona: "Are you sure?"
Neze: "Hmm… Though… you should be careful and never walk the path inside the Forest of Fear… He is there."
Sophie: "Who?"
Neze: "An evil magician… named Raven… When Lady Alice took over and started taking care of this place… Raven appeared as a sweet little child… Alice cared for him, but one day… he decided to admire the dark magic of Oz… and even wanted to use it. Lady Alice found out… and forced him out. But then… he cursed one side of Wonderland… and since then he controls it."
Fiona: "Hmmm…"
Neze: "Mhm."
Elf: "Exactly… If you wish to leave, then use the black and white road… Also… you must not be outside at night while traveling… So… quickly find a safe place."
Fiona: "A safe place… hmm…"
Neze: "Next you'll reach the fairy city… so please listen to Mirn…"
That was the elf's name.
Sophie: "Okay…"
Neze: "Good… If you're leaving… we'll give you something to eat."
Sophie: "Ohh… not necessary."
Neze: "But you need it…"
Mirn: "Here… vegetables… fish… and fruits…"
Sophie: "Oh… thank you."
Fiona: "That's really kind of you, thank you."
Marcus: "Hmm."
They began their journey.
Neze: "Wait… how about a wagon?"
Sophie: "Huh?"
Neze: "Here."
Sophie: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Ughh…"
Marcus: "That's not a horse…"
Ms Sonda: "Is that… a unicorn?"
Neze: "Exactly… unicorns… aren't they beautiful?"
They slowly approached them.
Sophie: "Wow… it's beautiful."
Fiona: "Purple-colored skin… and the horn… surprisingly soft…"
Neze: "Hehehe… Their horns are made of light bones… inside them is a lot of flesh… that's why they were hunted often in the past… supposedly because their meat lets you live longer… but that's not true. Besides, the meat is very unhealthy… because there's magic inside them… You must not eat magic… The horn is full of mana… and that could cause too much mana to enter the body and then—boom."
Sophie: "I see."
Ms Sonda: "Hmmm."
They climbed in.
Marcus: "Thanks."
Sophie: "You sure this is okay?"
Neze: "Of course… have fun…"
They rode away with the wagon.
Sophie: "Hmm? Why so slow…"
Unicorn: "Brrr…"
Then suddenly it sped up as fast as a car.
Sophie: "Wooow!"
Fiona: "Ughh!"
Marcus: "It's so fast—whoaaa!"
(Woosh)
Neze: "Oops… I should've warned them they're this fast…"
(Woooshhh)
Eventually it slowed down a little.
Sophie: "Hahh… hah… finally I can breathe…"
Fiona: "Hahhh…"
Lina: "Look… is that… a city in the trees?"
Sophie: "Huh?"
Marcus: "Huh?"
Something flew toward them… it was a fairy.
Fairy: "Huh?…"
Sophie: "Ughh."
It had big cheeks and was flying around.
Sophie: "Oh… how cute…"
Fairy: "Huh…"
Fiona: "Hmm."
The fairy flew in front of them… but apparently got tired and almost fell, though Fiona caught it.
Fiona: "Whoa there…"
Fairy: "Ughh…"
Fiona: "Everything alright?"
Fairy: "Je… je… sieo e?"
Fiona: "Excuse me?"
Fairy: "Ohh… sorry, I forgot you can't understand my language… I said 'thank you, thank you, how are you?' 'E' means 'you' in the fairy language."
Fiona: "Hmm."
Sophie: "We're doing well… mmmm… so adorable…"
Fairy: "Huh?… Where are you going?"
Fiona: "To… Alice… the witch."
Fairy: "Ohhh… I see… Hehehe… mmm… I didn't know humans looked this good. You look pretty… the redhead… and you… have beautiful green eyes."
Fiona: "Ugh… thank you very much…"
Sophie: "Ohh… so cute… can I hold you?"
Fairy: "Huh? Sure."
She stretched out her hand and the fairy jumped onto it.
Fairy: "Hepp."
Sophie: "Ohhh…"
Fairy: "Hehehe…"
The fairy was about the size of a glass. It was purple-colored, had wings, and looked like a mix between a tiny bear and a purple hedgehog… without spikes. Its skin was soft, and touching it felt almost like jelly… or pudding…
Fairy: "Hehe."
Fiona: "I thought fairies looked different."
Sophie: "Hmm."
Fairy: "Hehehe… there are many kinds of fairies… We're called Purple Fairies or Sheep Fairies because we have wool on our backs like sheep… But we don't go baaah… hehe."
Sophie: "I understand."
Fairy: "Mmm…"
It flew onward.
Fairy: "I sadly have to go… I wish you lots of fun… By the way, my name is Circia."
They looked at her.
Sophie: "Sophie Valeria."
Fiona: "Fiona Philomela Househould… just call me Fiona."
Ms Sonda: "Therressa Sonda… but Ms Sonda is enough."
Lina: "Lina Adelheid… Lina is fine."
Marcus: "Marcus Schneider… Marcus is enough."
Circia: "Okay… bye!"
It flew away while they waved their hands.
Sophie: "That fairy was really cute…"
Fiona: "Mhm."
Ms Sonda: "Huh?… Look… that's a gigantic city!"
Licia… that was its name… a massive city where most of Wonderland's humans lived…
Sophie: "Woow…"
(Dong)… (Dong)
Sophie: "It's huge…"
Ms Sonda: "Hmmm… should we continue?"
Sophie: "Hmm."
Fiona: "We are in a hurry."
Marcus: "I honestly think we should get there quickly… the sooner the better."
Lina: "Mhm."
They continued riding. The city looked medieval, though some houses resembled the 19th and 20th century… like the clock tower for example…
Sophie: "Woow…"
Marcus: "Hmm."
(Carriage wheels)
Sophie: "There are so many people here too."
Fiona: "Yeah."
Lina: "Wow…"
Marcus: "Look over there…"
The Parkfunny Plaza, a place meant for entertainment.
(Hohoho!)
(Ding… Ding… Ding)
Sophie: "Such a lively world… what…"
Fiona: "Yeah…"
Lina: "Oh… look over there… a giant castle."
Sophie: "Hmm… no… more like a tower…"
A gigantic tower… gray stones, blue rooftops, and many windows…
Sophie: "Slow down… little unicorn…"
Marcus: "Hm…"
The unicorn did not slow down.
Sophie: "Ugh… hey, we're going to crash!"
Fiona: "Hold on!"
Marcus: "Wooow!"
(Crash!)
They smashed through the window.
(Crash!)
(Crash!)
Alice: "Mmm… (drinks)… hmm?"
(Crash!)
They came flying through the window.
Alice: "Ugh…"
(Crash!)
Sophie: "…Ouch."
Fiona: "Ugh… damn it…"
Lina: "Huh?"
Alice: "Ughh."
She dropped the piece of meat she was holding.
(Splach!)
Alice: "Intruders?!"
Sophie: "Ugh… sorry."
Alice: "Intruders!"
Several dolls and robots suddenly moved.
Robot: "…Whoever disturbs our mother's peace… let their blood flow and become a fountain!"
Doll: "Mother, mother calls us!"
Sophie: "Woow woow… sorry for disturbing you, really… um… we're searching for Alice…"
Alice: "Huh?… Ohh… stop!"
The robots and dolls stopped.
Lina: "This reminds me of Dnilpo."
Fiona: "Yeah."
Sophie: "Mhm."
Alice: "Very well… Hmmm… Oh, you're the visitors… sorry… I thought you were intruders… but why through the window? Do humans of this era have no manners?"
Fiona: "Well… I think that's because the unicorn didn't stop."
Alice: "Ahh hahaha… To make it stop, you have to gently touch the horn…"
She held it and started petting it.
Alice: "Easy, little one… easy…"
Sophie: "Wow… she's beautiful."
Lina: "Amazing…"
Ms Sonda: "Hmm… but why is she showing so much of her back and stomach?"
Fiona: "Shhhh…"
Alice: "What… do you perhaps like my body? Want to see more?"
Sophie: "No thanks."
Marcus: "Ugh what—" (blushes)
Fiona: "Marcus… your nose is bleeding again… don't bleed on my suit, idiot!"
Marcus: "Oops… sorry."
Alice: "Hehehe… I think that means yes."
Sophie: "Noooo!"
Fiona: "Please wait… there are children here."
Alice: "Woow… sorry."
Marcus: "…Let me guess, you mean me."
Fiona: "Oops… right… we aren't children anymore… but Lina is only 18…"
Lina: "That's not a child's age though… right?"
Fiona: "Well, in Dehl you're only considered an adult at 20."
Sophie: "In Demari at 16."
Alice: "Ohhh okay… hehehe… Do you want to stand up now or do you enjoy the floor? Ohh… or did you just realize you're beneath me?"
Sophie: "Psst… she's already arrogant."
Fiona: "…Hahh… for being a… mother… she's really weird."
Alice: "(Cough)… You truly have no manners."
They stood up.
Sophie: "Sorry for the disturbance… um… Lady Alice."
Alice: "Honored Alice, if you please… though… I prefer Princess… hehehe."
Sophie: "But… there's no kingdom here."
Alice: "I dislike the queen title, it makes me sound old… and I'm only 300 years old."
Fiona: "(Sweating… only?)"
Marcus: "Old hag… I mean—" (cough) "very young."
Fiona: "Do you actually want to get us killed?"
Alice: "Very well then… little humans… what do you want here in little Wonderland… hmm?"
She slowly walked to her table, grabbed the bottle, and filled her glass.
Sophie: "Well um… we belong to the Dark Umbrella."
Fiona: "Exactly… My name is Fiona Philomela Househould."
Marcus: "Marcus Schneider."
Lina: "Lina Adelheid… um… very pleased to meet you, honored Alice."
Ms Sonda: "Therressa Sonda."
Alice: "Hmmm… Marcus and Fiona… ohh… Marcus, you're Jocelyn's partner, aren't you? And Fiona… you have Herold, Crane, and Finrow, right? I know you two… Jocelyn said she had a cute partner… and Crane said he had a wonderful single woman as a partner."
Fiona: "I'm really going to beat that idiot one day… I'll turn him into crow soup."
Alice: "Hehehe… you really are in a bad mood, just like they said… Anyway… nice to meet you… Hmm… you there… the one who called me honored Alice."
Alice walked toward her.
Lina: "Um… yes."
Alice: "What an innocent way of speaking… hehe… you're cute… you have manners unlike your people here… did you say honored?"
Lina: "Um… thank you very much, honored Alice."
Alice: "Hmmm… So… why are you here, if I may ask? You're detectives, and since some of my spirits and animals traveled with you… I know the Dark Umbrella… alright then, spit it out."
She sat down on the sofa.
Alice: "What brings me this honor… dear guests?"
Sophie: "We… heard that Zantanel… is on her way to you."
Alice: "Zantanel… who is that?"
Fiona: "Hmm… she is… the daughter of Death… born from a human mother."
Alice: "Impossible… that is forbidden… and he knows that."
Sophie: "Well… seems he couldn't control himself."
Marcus: "(Sweating)… Sophie… ahh whatever…"
Alice: "Hahhh… men and their genitals… anyway… what's the problem?"
Sophie: "Mmm."
Ms Sonda: "I'll explain, I'm here for negotiations… Zantanel Kafka… Kafka is her surname because the Kafka family took care of her… Well… she has the same curse as her father… corruption."
Alice: "Ugh."
(Crash!)
She dropped the glass.
Sophie: "Ugh."
Alice: "Hahh… no… no… no… that can't be true… does he realize how dangerous that is… how can that be possible… this is the rarest curse in all of Grimmhoth… only two people had it… the first witch Luma… and him… how is this possible… hahhh… sorry…"
Sophie: "We were just as shocked as everyone else."
Ms Sonda: "The worst part is… unlike the others… it seems to hurt her… everyone she touches dies."
Alice: "What?… wait… it wasn't that severe with Rudeus… something is wrong… mmm… ugh… I understand now… yes, that makes sense… you said she came from the womb of a human woman?"
Sophie: "Yes?"
Ms Sonda: "Does that make a difference?"
Alice: "Of course… Luma… was an elf… Rudeus is a wolf… but she… she's human… well, half dead half human… I mean… half undead half human… that doesn't fit together… That's why the curse is even worse for her… but that also means… the corruption is probably hurting her body."
Sophie: "Huh?"
Alice: "The corruption curse… originally came from the Sentinels… as a kind of arcane force… It was created through a crystal… but that crystal was completely erased by Rudeus… so that he would be the only one carrying that disease… or curse… It kills living beings… though usually not instantly… only through long contact… you could even weaken it a little…"
Sophie: "Well… with Zantanel it's like this… people die immediately… their ashes…"
Alice: "Ashes! Exactly… that's the problem… those ashes, my dear… are the real issue…"
Sophie: "Hmm?"
Ms Sonda: "Hmm?"
Alice: "That means… she has another curse as well."
Sophie: "What?"
Ms Sonda: "That would explain a lot… but does this curse also come from Rudeus?"
Alice: "No."
She stood up.
Alice: "Most likely from the Kafkas… The Kafka family is a well-known cursed family… cursed by a witch named Lydia."
Sophie: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Um…"
Alice: "Hmm? What's wrong? Why so surprised?"
Sophie: "Did you know about that?"
Fiona: "No, how the hell would I?"
Sophie: "Mmmmm… that stupid witch…"
(Meanwhile)
Lydia: "(Sneezes!)… Ohh… someone called me a stupid witch again."
(Meanwhile)
Alice: "Well… corruption and ashes… they fit together terrifyingly well… both are extremely dangerous… though… the Kafkas suffer from two curses."
Fiona: "Right… Wolf, that guy I met in Weimar… turned into a cockroach…"
Sophie: "Gross."
Alice: "Exactly… One is the ash curse… the other is the insect curse… and Zantanel probably has the ash curse… this is very bad, my dear children…"
She sat down again. The doll cleaned up the broken glass while Alice stretched her hand over it… and it repaired itself.
Alice: "Good… and why do you think she's here?"
Sophie: "Mm."
Ms Sonda: "One of our scouts who is now missing… his last picture taken with his owl showed a boat… on it was the House of Cursed Children… an organization led by Zantanel."
Alice: "Hmmm… well, sweetheart, they are not here… nobody enters without me knowing… hehe… though I suppose… maybe they'll arrive later… after all, there are still three days until the gate closes… but if that's true, they actually should've arrived before you… unless… they took a break or got lost… Anyway, the gate is still open."
Ms Sonda: "Can't you close it?"
Alice: "Nope… sadly that's beyond my power… hehe…"
She stood up.
Alice: "But the moment she arrives here… I'll deal with her… Well… actually there are still… exactly…"
She looked at her clock.
Alice: "Hmm."
(Dong)
Alice: "Two more days… You can't leave… this gate is only for entering."
Sophie: "Thank you, we'd rather stay here anyway."
Alice: "Really? Then you'll have to remain here for a whole year."
Ms Sonda: "Unfortunately we have no choice… We need to know whether Zantanel is here or if she's coming here… otherwise it's too dangerous."
Alice: "I can handle her myself."
Ms Sonda: "You must not underestimate her… Tom Fog died by her hand."
Alice: "Tom Fog… I know that name… ohhh… little Tom?… ugh… he's dead?!"
Sophie: "Yes."
Alice: "Mmm… okay… now I'm slowly starting to worry… after all… I knew him well, he once stayed here… and he was almost as strong as me… hmmm… alright… you may stay here… besides, this unicorn has exhausted all its strength… and until then… you won't make it anyway… even if you could… you interrupted my meal… so I want you to stay here… hehe… and help me with something."
Sophie: "And that would be?"
Alice: "Help me kill Raven."
Sophie: "Ugh."
Fiona: "Oh great…"
Marcus: "I hate my life sometimes."
Fiona: "Don't worry, I hate your life Too.
Sophie: " i hate your Life more than the dreams about Meliodas..
Marcus: "…(Sweating)… fuck you."
Fiona: "Oops."
Ms Sonda: "You two, be quiet."
Alice: "And… will you help me?… I won't let you leave earlier because… you see… this gate…"