The Gifted (Txt x Itzy)

四十八

The beautiful gardens were adorned with many vibrant flowers, and the gifted children had no mercy when it came to plucking them. They wove flower crowns after flower crowns, fighting to place them on Yuna's head.

"Thank you," Yuna said graciously, when she was given her fifth flower crown, as a gifted who she assumed was the gardener screeched at the vacant flower beds. The children beamed and giggled with pride at the sight of Yuna.

"Aren't you popular with the kids," Jisu remarked as she strode up to the girl. The children scattered immediately at her presence, earning a slight look of confusion from the older. A light laugh from Yuna, "They think I'm a Disney princess."

"Sure," Jisu agreed sarcastically, then turned and said, "Hey, Kai, do you think Yuna looks like a Disney princess?"

The said boy froze, panic racing across his eyes. The obvious answer was yes. But the endless teasing that would come with that- However, Yuna's eyes were hopeful, mildly pleading, so Kai stuttered out eloquently, "Uh...yeah."

Jisu looked disappointed, but Yuna looked elated. The kids giggled around them and gifted Kai a flower crown as a thank you.

-

The dining hall had a wonderful blazing fire that crackled and glowed twenty-four seven. So Taehyun though, why not stick his hand inside?

He proceeded with caution, poking a finger hesitantly. He had expected the flames to engulf his hand, burning the skin and melting the flesh but they simply acknowledged his presence with a cheerful hiss, then minded their own business, so he continued to push his hand through the warm fire. Taehyun watched with mild intrigue as he slowly shaped the fire into a more concentrated ball, though it tried desperately in vain to escape his hands. He must have looked weird, since Beomgyu and Soobin were looking at him a distance away.

"Twenty bucks that he'll burn himself."

"Ten bucks that he won't."

"Wait, we actually have no use for money anymore."

"You think so?"

"Ah well, a packet of peanut M&Ms that he will burn himself."

"I'm not taking that bet."

"Bah, you're no fun."

"You love me."

"Shut up."

"Can you two be quiet?" Taehyun snapped without looking back, "I'm trying to concentrate."

One blink, two blinks.

"Of course, your majesty, shall we rub your feet as well?"

A fire ball went sailing over their head, narrowly singeing their hair.

-

They were settling well into life at the magic island, the warning of the misfortune about to happen long cast behind their train of thoughts. Being at Arcadia was like having a holiday, a well-deserved break, so could you really blame them? So, why not mess up the cards a little, hm?