Through the Looking Glass (TXT x Itzy)

ten

AN: Lmao this is where it gets more interesting

Ryujin nearly was late for the test.

Had it not been Yeji who rudely jabbed at her side as she hissed, "Get up", Ryujin would have let the throne slip through her fingers. The possibility of the throne.

Hurriedly getting ready, Yeji was giving her a prep talk, shoving flasks of mystery liquids that supposedly would boost her energy, fretting anxiously as if it were she taking the test.

Hardly able to stomach breakfast, Ryujin still forced down a spoonful of oatmeal and the many beverages Yeji had prepared before she headed to the examination room.

"Think of this as a regular test," Yeji suggested, "You'll be fine."

Everything will be fine.

-
When she emerged out of the examination room after a good three painful hours, Yeji was leaning against the wall, eyes fixed on the clock.

Once she noticed the other, a rare smile spread across her lips, and she straightened, "You good?"

"Yeah," Ryujin yawned, stretching and letting her joints finally get to move and relax.

"You should rest now," Yeji encouraged, "It's been a long test."

"Mhm," Ryujin agreed mildly, "I'll go to the garden. I wanna chill for a bit."

With a stoic nod, Yeji led the way, cracking a smile at Ryujin's remarks on the tough paper.

-

The royal garden was perfect for relaxation, that is unless you had an allergy to flowers. Dozens of various species bloomed brightly, the strong scent of the blossoms filling the air. Due to the seasonal allergies that spread across the royal children like wildfire, many avoided the garden.

But not Ryujin. Which is why she situated herself on the best bench, next to the old well that was planted in the center.

"What's the use of the well?" Ryujin mused to Dallie, who was snaking (haha) around on the bench, basking in the sunlight. Since the snake couldn't reply, Ryujin sneaked a glance at the guard outside the perimeter of the garden, Choi Soobin, who was rather distracted as he chatted animatedly to a nearby servant.

Then Ryujin got one of the more intelligent thoughts on the planet.

"What if I went into the well?" She brilliantly asked. Dallie seemed to judge her, seemingly wondering if the long test had gotten to her.

Peeking over the edge of the well, the darkness that danger possibly lurked beckoned.

"I'm going in," Ryuji smiled a crooked smile, and Dallie seemed to want to smack her if she could, but then the girl vaulted over the stone wall and fell down into the seemingly endless darkness.

There were two things that surprised her when she hit the bottom.

First of all, she could see, despite there being no obvious light source. Secondly, she was pretty sure this wasn't the average well bottom.

Mirrors surrounded her, displaying infinite reflections of herself, looking lost and confused. Spinning, her eyes ran across the images in the glass, trying to find a way out. Dallie sensed her distress, snaking around her am, and nudged her gently.

"What do we do, Dallie?" Ryujin whispered softly, "Do you think we can get out? Well, let's find out." Unsheathing her dagger, she surged forward, her blade point barely scratching the surface before the glass shattered, but instead of falling down, those shards hung there, then they began to shift. The floor melted away, and Ryujin began to fall. Dallie hissed in alarm, coiling even tighter around her arm. Ryujin watched the glass shards slip down alongside her from seemingly never-ending glass walls below her. She clawed the slippery mirrors, but her fingers slid over them smoothly. Huffing in annoyance, Ryujin tried to brush her flailing locks of hair away from her eyes.

"Okay, think, Ryujin," She spoke out loud, "What can I do to stop?" Her dagger was firmly gripped in her hand, and she plunged the blade into the glass mirrors. And to her utmost surprise, she stayed there, dangling from her blade handle. Dallie seemed to give out a small sigh of relief.

Ryujin exhaled shakily. "Great, how now, my little serpent friend?" She asked.

Then the glass broke, slightly and gently, but Ryujin's dagger was firmly sunken in the wall. An opening formed, and Ryujin heaved herself up and through the opening, crawling towards a place she did not know.