Soon, Theo let out a long yawn, blinking the tears at the corners of his eyes away in surprise at how lethargic he soon felt afterwards. He groaned when he noted that while he spent four days absent in Arcadia, he didn't have any wink of sleep at all since he and the others were attacked by the giant Phantom teddy bear.

"As much as I want to chat more, I am dead tired." Theo said while feeling a bit bad for cutting their conversation short just like that.

They were in a pretty deep topic, but the call of sleep was growing stronger and stronger by the second and Theo knew he was going to blabber more nonsense out of his mouth or do a repeat of that embarrassing moment with the two thieves, Phantom Nightmare, all over again. It was a memory he still had no wish to bring to light. His dignity can't handle it.

Melita just smiled, looking a bit grateful as he stood from the floor and made his way to his bed. Maybe their conversation was a bit too tensed. He would have to apologize for that and make it up for her the next time. For now, resting was the first priority.

He placed Alazne's book on the desk beside him and flopped on the bed. As soon as his head hit the velvety pillow, Theo felt his heavy eyelids droop and he allowed his conscious to whisk away in the land of dreams.

***

"Shadows and Phantoms?" Alazne repeated in a sceptical voice. "Why do I need to learn about them?"

"Simple, dear." The Lady in white said, the leather book in her hands closing shut. She leaned against her rocking chair, looking serene as the sun's rays kissed her pale white skin through the window. It was a mesmerising sight to behold and Alazne knew she would never get used to such remarkability.

"Because knowledge is power." The Lady hummed. "And with knowledge comes wisdom and help in unexpected places. It is an important ability that Alices must have to hone. Otherwise, the Wonderland they create will be bland, and Alices are not known to be dull. It would be a shame to the name of Alice id one doesn't have the knowledge to do something that may be unimportant to the mortal's eyes but miraculous in its true nature."

Alazne gave the Lady a blank look, struggling to keep up with the poetic speech before giving up altogether. She got most of it down anyway. Knowledge is power. Knowledge is important. Enough said.

"How much do you know about Phantoms?" The Lady asked all of a sudden and Alazne felt herself stiffen up in panic when she couldn't remember anything from their lessons together. However, the moment was short lived when she recalled enough information that she deemed was a bright answer.

"Mortals who succumb to the dark." She began. "Those who lost hope, those who despair, those who let their inner demons and darkness to consume them till there is no humanity left. If they are left long enough, they turn into Shadows, an embodiment of regrets."

To Alazne's astonishment, the Lady in white tutted and shook her head.

"You are correct, but you are also incorrect." She said, making Alazne frown. "While it is true that Phantoms are mortals who lost faith, it is wrong to think of them as creatures with no humanity left. In fact dear, Alazne, Phantom still can be reformed back to it's mortal state."

Alazne let out a gasp. "W-What? H-How...?"

The Lady smiled, as if taking in great pleasure in making Alazne dumbfounded before pointing towards the window. Alazne tried to follow the Lady's line of sight and watched the children frolicking about outside, letting out little screams of delight as they played a game of tag. Even Glen, her faithful aide, who ran away from the kingdom to meet her again, was letting out a hearty laugh as Delic and Kai, the boy with the red cloak, tackled him to the ground.

"That boy and that girl, they can reverse the effect of a Phantom." The Lady began. "They have that ability because Phantoms, while not mortal in form, still have their souls pure and strong resonating within their disfigured body. Those two can seek the soul out and purify them."

Alazne squinted her eyes as she tried to locate the said boy and girl the Lady had pointed out, but soon decided against it as she looked up with wonder.

"So Phantoms, they can still be saved?"

"Very much so." The Lady replied, nodding. "Only by a Necronite and perhaps, by an Alice too. Though it's never been practiced."

"Necronite?" Alazne repeated, starting to lose herself in the Lady's explanation for the umpteenth time. "I don't understand."

"Patience dear." The Lady replied, fondling with Alazne's hair before leaning back in her rocking chair. "Now, you are aware there are two types of Phantoms, yes?"

Alazne paused, before nodding.

"The Benign and the Malevolent." She answered. "Benign are harmless while the Malevolent are."

"Like Phantoms, there are different types of Shadows as well." The Lady continued, nodding at Alazne's answer in acknowledgements before she raised three fingers.

"First, are those who were originally Phantoms." The Lady began. "They are under the Malevolent. While it is possible to save them in their Phantom form, I am afraid it is not so when they transform into Phantoms. However, their soul can be saved, while their physical form cannot."

"So they become spirits." Alazne interrupted without thinking. She knew full well the Lady will fuss against that behaviour but before she could stop it, the words where already out of her lips.

"They are like spirits, only those who didn't die."

She expected the Lady to look cross with her, but to her amazement, she just sighed.

"Very good Alazne."

Although, Alazne felt anything but good soon afterwards. Then, the Lady raised two fingers and Alazne was all too willing to continue the lesson without a hitch.

"Second, are the ones that Asta told you about." She said. "A mass of distortion, a creature that swallows up the darkness from mortals. It continues to feed until it becomes unstable and it is obsessed with Alice, attracted to the madness they hold to the point it goes berserk. Its Benign when it feeds and Malevolent when unstable. However to Alices, it's always Malevolent."

To this, Alazne let out a shudder of disgust and fear. She had never seen that kind of Shadow before, thanks to the castle's and the Lady's barricades, but she had heard of them moaning and groaning at the outskirts of the forests. Suffice to say, it terrified her and she wasn't going to put it to her list of birthday guests any time soon.

The Lady then raised three fingers.

"The third, are the Necronites." She said. Alazne didn't miss how the Lady fidgeted in her seat. "They are mortals who accept Shadows. Mortals who doesn't transform to a Phantom nor has the image of a distorted mass of Shadows. You could very well say they are mortals who have Shadows running through their veins."

"... So they are Benign?" Alazne asked, trying not to focus on the negatives. She must have said something funny because the Lady let out a small laugh and fondled with her hair again.

"It's complicated dear." She said as she brushed a lock of blonde hair around Alazne's ear. "They are mortals who collect Shadow by Shadow, saving mortals from their Phantoms and Shadows. You could very well say they are also either a Phantom or a Shadow, but those who keep their physical forms. Perhaps, its better to regard them as a separate being rather than categorizing them under Shadows as they can turn to Phantoms and Shadows if they accepted too many darknesses."

Alazne frowned. While that was pretty good information and all, the Lady didn't answer her question. However, she knew better than to press. If there is something the Lady wants to hide, she will keep her lips pressed together and not utter a word no matter how much either of the children push her.

Even so, Alazne thought about the boy and girl the Lady had pointed out. She called them as Necronites. She would believe them as Benign, but if the Lady is not admitting that and if Necronites could turn to Phantoms and Shadows, then there was something she had to worry about.

However, one look at the scenery outside, where the children stopped playing tag and were climbing up the crimson leaved tree like scrawny monkeys they were, Alazne was certain that whoever the Necronites are, (she will have to find out on her own, asking the Lady would be embarrassing) they wouldn't turn into a monster. She would protect all of them before that happens.

"Last not but least..." The Lady spoke, making Alazne to look up in surprise. She had thought there were three kind of Shadows. Were there more?

"Do you know the term, Shadow Kissed?"

Alazne blinked, before shaking her head. That's a fancy term she never heard before.

"It's the ability of a Shadow, taking away mortal's shadow." The Lady said and before Alazne could hear anymore, she spoke.

"Huh?"

The Lady all but laughed.

"The simple letter S dear." The Lady said, tapping on Alazne's nose. "The one that is attached to our body, that follows us around. Not the creature that feeds on darkness. That's a capital letter S."

"Uh..." Alazne said intelligently before sitting up when she got it. She pouted.

"It's confusing!"

The Lady laughed again.

"Do not worry dear, you will soon get used to it." The Lady assured. "Now where was I? Oh yes, so the creatures can take away our shadow. It does it with a kiss, like the term. Once the shadow is taken, we turn into Phantoms, or Shadows, the capital letter S, or in the worst case, nothing."

To this, Alazne perked up.

"So that's another way that mortals turn to Phantoms and Shadows?" She asked and was rewarded with a nod, making her flabbergasted.

"I thought there was only one way!"

"Nothing is ever simple in real life dear." The Lady replied without missing a beat. Alazne wanted to speak more, but ended up with a huff and a pout.

"Fortunately for us, or fortunately for you..." The Lady said, smiling. "Alices can never be Shadow Kissed. In fact, if Alices ever get kissed by a Shadow, the creature, they turn the creature to nothingness or send them somewhere where the Shadows recuperate. In fact, Alice can never turn to a Phantom or a Shadow, its just not in their nature, fate and destiny."

Alazne took a while to let that settle in her mind. It was interesting to say the least, but the expression that the Lady made as she said it, the sadness that painted across her delicate features, Alazne couldn't help feel a bit on edge.

"Lady in White?" She asked, her voice unlike her own, weak and meek. "Is there something else I need to know?"

The Lady blinked once, then twice before sighing.

"I suppose I can't avoid it much longer." She heard her mutter under her breath and that was enough to make Alazne to be alert and on guard.

"Lady in White?"

"Alazne, dear, are you aware of weaknesses?" The Lady said, ignoring her question. Alazne stared at her for a while before nodding.

"Everyone has them, even the most powerful magician and sorcerers."

"So you are aware that Alices has such weaknesses too?" The Lady continued and by then, Alazne felt like she was suffocating. The suspense, that tone of voice, it was too much, so she was surprised at herself when she replied back.

"Y-Yes?"

"It's not a weakness that's going to affect when in battle or in entertainment." The Lady assured, one that did not quite reach her eyes.

"What do I have to worry about then?" Alazne asked, her voice growing smaller and smaller.

"Dear Alazne..." The Lady said, her voice so forlorn, Alazne wanted her to just stop and say it for another day. However, she was too drawn in with curiosity, in too deep to back away.

"Recall that I said Alices cannot be Shadow Kissed, yes?" When Alazne nodded, the Lady continued and with the words that spilled from her lips, Alazne felt her heart plunge deep into an abyss.

"Unfortunately, Alices it's the same with mortals." The Lady said. "Alices cannot love another mortal, because that would mean they would be dragging them to the madness that lives under their skin. As you know well, no one but Alices can handle the madness of Wonderland. If an Alice as so much as kiss another mortal, that mortal will lose their sanity and is doomed to be mad for eternity."

"...So Alices are doomed to be alone?" Alazne asked, feeling herself break at the idea of never being able to marry with the one she fell in love with.

"They can't love another?"

"Unless they love another Alice, I am afraid yes." The Lady answered, sadness still lingering in her voice. "Alices can love another, but they can't be together."

Before Alazne was spared a moment to respond, the whole scenery shifted, swirled around and blended together like paint cans being mixed together. Alazne let out a gasp as she stumbled to the ground, pain shooting up from everywhere. She looked up, watching as the Lady faded away and become someone else right before her.

As Alazne writhed on the floor, helpless and vulnerable, she felt something soft and cool trickling over her, and it didn't take her long to realize it was rain. How could that be? She was just inside.

She let out a whimper when the person standing before, looking smug about it grinned. She took in his appearance. Blonde hair, blue eyes, knives spurting out of its back in the form of wings. Most of all, he held a monocle before placing the eyepiece over his left eye.

It was Theo.

***

Theo woke up with a jump, bumping his head at the underside of the upper-bed before groaning and dropping back to his pillow, head in hand. While he moaned in agony against the sharp throb on his forehead, his mind was going haywire. That dream, that memory, it would be an understatement if he said it scared him.

No, it freaking terrified him, especially with the last part. What even was that? How was that possible? Alazne seeing him when they were in two different timelines? Why did he have knives as wings attached to his back?

What about the Phantom that Alazne had to face before she died, unable to do the deed? He was certain that Phantom was one of the children, one of someone dear to Alazne, not him, definitely not him.

Also that weakness, Theo didn't know what to feel about that. Able to love another but unable to be together? Was that how his life was going to be? Always alone, never marrying, never being able to fall in love? While he was a guy who didn't think much about romance, the thought of never, ever settling together made him feel depressed.

Perhaps his dream was really just that, a dream. That last part, with him being the Phantom instead of one of the children, it must be a dream, nothing real and the talk about Shadows, Phantoms, Necronites, Shadow Kiss and Weaknesses, it must be his brain doing its very best to torture him in his sleeps.

However, Theo knew better than to doubt the dream, at least up to the part where the Lady told Alazne of Alice's weakness. The part about him being the Phantom, it made him question himself. Was Alazne the Phantom instead? The one who wrecked havoc and turned to a creature? No, The Lady said Alices can't be turned. Yet, what was that about? It made him wonder, if it was possible...

No, it can't be, it must have been a dream later towards the end.

But that weakness... Alice's weakness... A white box... Necronites... Phantoms...

Wait... a white box?

Theo gaped at the figure who was crouching beside the bed, his white box glowing in the dark.

"O-Oracle?" Theo choked out, his voice hoarse and his tongue like sandpaper as if he hadn't used it for years.

"Shhh..." The man said, placing an index finger against the front surface of his head. Theo assumed its where his supposed lips were, but his mind that went haywire before, went flat dead. Theo's mouth opened and shut, no words forming and for once, Theo was missing his blabber.

"Follow." Was all Oracle said before he stood up and tip toed away. Still dumbfounded, Theo checked the time and almost yelled out to find that it was way too early in the morning, 4 A.M to be exact. Nevertheless, he rolled out of bed and did what the man was told. It wasn't easy to miss him when his head gave off a soft light in the dark.

Then everything went wrong.

Theo always viewed Oracle as an unreliable adult, and he had his reasons. He didn't act like an adult and was often found doing tricks with Flint roaring behind like an angry bull. Heck, the Oracle was a frequent victim of Xellos's pranking, always having a frog up somewhere or something of that sort. He was full of openings, vulnerable, easy to hit and the fact that his so called barrier didn't stop a Phantom attack, it didn't make Theo feel easy.

So Theo wasn't all that surprised when the Oracle let out a yelp and fell forward. He watched as the man collided to a nearby table, letting it flip over and send things flying. Well, Theo didn't see it, but he heard it and boy, he was sure it was going to be the loudest crash in history.

No later, he heard a girl gasping and a certain elf muttering profanities which made him freeze for a moment. Funny how Hugo could sleep through torrents of rain or if someone was tap dancing around his head, but now was awakened by Oracle's fail attempt to sneak away.

What he didn't expect though, was when the culprit did something about it. He hushed, his tone low and soothing and pretty soon, Theo was astonished to hear the elf muttering something and the sound of blankets ruffling. There was a light snore in the air, no other sound indicating that anyone was awake and about.

Before Theo could feel a tad bit impressed by that magic trick, the Oracle grabbed him the wrist and darting through the door. Theo stumbled and tripped, helpless as the senile man dragged him this way and that while he wondered what on Arcadia was a box headed man thinking of taking him out of his cabin.

His question was soon answered when they reached Arcadia High and stopped at the hallway. Both of them wheezed and panted, trying to gulp in oxygen just as the Oracle started laughing in glee. Now Theo was certain that the man was either drunk, or had one tea too many. Either seemed plausible and he would have none of it. It was too damn early to be running around after all.

"Oh man!" The Oracle said, slapping his thigh and he leaned back and laughed, mighty and proud. "Not the best attempt as a ninja but that was the most awesome retreat ever!"

"Uh..." Theo couldn't help but say. "What did you need me for?"

The box headed man stopped laughing and went silent, as if realizing he had some matters with Theo in the first place because otherwise Theo was going so going to go back to his cabin and wake Hugo to rip Oracle limb to limb.

He felt bad soon after. The bitter thoughts, the bitter feelings, it was clear evidence that he wasn't taking the news of Alice's weakness well, but could anyone blame him?

"Ah yes, it's about the matter of the Reality you were for four days." The Oracle said, straightening himself up. "I heard from your Scabbard that you met two peculiar Lillin. Is that true?"

Two peculiar Lillins? Could it be that couple called Salt and Pepper? Well, they were peculiar all right.

"Yea, what about them?"

"Hmm..." The Oracle said before perking up. "Before we discuss about them, follow me as I offer you a small section of my wisdom and train you for battle."

Theo paused, before snorting in laughter.

"You?"

"Now, now." The Oracle tutted, crossing his arms over his chest. "Unless you do not wish to hear about just how much danger you are in young man, you are more than welcome to go back to sleep. However, the training is compulsory."

Theo was about to rebuke that either choices doesn't end up with him going back when he froze as the words processed in his mind.

Author's note: Here's part 2! I forgot to mention that if you see any mistakes, please notify me in the first part, but oh well. Anyway, my beta reader and my real time friend couldn't beta test this because internet is a problem and we both have stressful lives at school. So I am not really all that confident with these parts and I feel like I cheated or betrayed her by publishing this (I am so sorry! I really am!) Regardless, I would like to dedicate this chapter to bluecrayonlady for her lovely review of this book. It made me grin day in and day out so thanks a bunch!

Oh and don't forget to vote!