𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧

53 - a flower that is not of this world

"Is this really the right way back?" Y/n squinted skeptically at the portal in front of them, following the trail of glaze lilies they had just traversed.

"Seriously? He's technically your brother, and you're the one giving trust issues a whole new meaning," Alice chided, a playful glint in her eyes.

"Well, I trust the Xenon I know. Phoenix though? Xenon himself told me that dude's as shady as they come—cunning, manipulative, you name it." Y/n threw a glance through the portal, her eyes narrowing. "Hold on a sec... that actually looks like Rhine's lab."

"I can't take another minute of this quanta craziness. I'm going in!" Without a second thought, Lumine darted through the portal, only to pop her head back through moments later.

"We did it! We're back out on the other side!" she announced, relief and excitement mingling in her voice.

Eagerly, Alice and Y/n made a beeline for the portal. The familiar hum and shimmering light enveloped them, and within moments, they found themselves standing in the all-too-familiar surroundings of Rhine's lab. The sounds of machinery and the soft glow of otherworldly equipment were a stark contrast to the ethereal void they had just left.

The portal's luminosity faded, slowly sealing itself shut, while the path of glaze lilies that had guided them on their journey wilted away into nothingness. All that remained was a solitary, radiant red cube, its presence a silent testament to the adventure they'd just embarked upon.

But before they could even draw a full breath of relief, a chilling presence made itself felt. Standing before them, with a malevolent grin stretching across her face, was Rhinedottir.

"Alice," she purred, her voice dripping with a venomous sweetness that sent shivers down their spines.

From behind Rhinedottir, Rubedo and Albedo exchanged exasperated glances, their voices a synchronized murmur of resignation, "Ah shit, here we go again."

Alice, caught in the act, let out a nervous chuckle, her eyes darting towards Y/n and Lumine as if searching for an escape route. Y/n, doing her best to stifle a laugh, merely shrugged, offering no help whatsoever. Lumine, on the other hand, was openly smirking, clearly enjoying the show.

"U-uh! Hey, Rhine! Fancy meeting you here! Isn't the weather just... delightful today?" Alice ventured, her voice an octave too high.

Rubedo couldn't help but roll his eyes, "Alice, we're in Khaenri'ah. The concept of weather is about as relevant here as your sense of responsibility."

"And you've been gone for like, six weeks. 'Fancy meeting you here' doesn't really cut it," Albedo added, trying to hide his smirk.

Oh, brilliant, Y/n mused internally, Six weeks? Really? To her, merely 48 hours have passed. Is this what they call a 'Childe-takes-a-dip-in-the-abyss-and-loses-track-of-time' special? Fantastic.

Rhinedottir, maintaining her stern demeanor, addressed Alice, "And Alice, do you remember what I said would happen if I caught you messing with my tech again?"

Alice gulped, her mind racing. "You'd make me... catalog all the unknown artifacts without labels and clean the entire house using a toothbrush?" she ventured, her voice laced with dread.

Rhinedottir's grin widened. "That's right, Alice. And guess what? Your toothbrush is about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. No magic, no technology. Just you, the toothbrush, and the sweet, sweet taste of responsibility."

Alice tried to deflect, "Uh, Rhine, it was Lumine's idea to hop through the portal, not—"

Rhinedottir's hand shot up, revealing a slipper with an almost ominous aura. "Don't make me use this."