Through the Looking Glass (TXT x Itzy)

six

The gates to the arena swung open, the plumes of smoke that burst from the opened doors deterred the majority of the competitors, giving Ryujin ample time to dive right in. 

The smoke was more of mist, the cold water droplets from the air sticking to her face, forming a cool layer. Ryujin squinted through the semi-darkness, trying to make out shapes, her hands before her to try and feel for any obstacles. 

Footsteps sounded behind her, so she knew her siblings were riling up the courage to enter. So she had to move.

She took a step forward and felt the squish of mud before she tumbled down, coughing at the acrid scent that drifted from the ground. "Ugh," She muttered, trying to free her legs from the sticky substance. Ryujin bit back vulagrities and exclamations of annoyance, taking in a deep breath before telling herself, "Baby steps, Ryujin."

So she did so, taking it slow, pulling her legs out carefully so as to not sprain her ankles abruptly. When she found sturdy land, she pulled herself up, hands trembling from the adrenaline pumping through her. "Okay," She said softly, "Okay." 

Dallie nipped at her ear encouragingly, and Ryujin felt the cold metal of Yeji's snake on her hand. Someone was waiting for her outside. She had to get out with as many keys as possible.

Taking tentative strides, she made her way forward slowly but surely. Cries and wails echoed from behind her, and the snarls of a furious beast sent shivers down her spine, but she had to continue.

Suddenly, before her, the mist parted, showing a labyrinth. She stepped into the entrance, and the smoke-filled the air once more, sealing her in. So she did the only thing she could. She moved forward.

Ryujin's ears were filled with a honey-sweet song, the melancholy singing of a thousand sirens when she came to a fork in the path. She knew the fantasy creatures of the fae well.

Follow our voice, for what you seek

Walk forward, take a peek

These winding roads will lead you home,

Or trap you here, forced to roam

But the myth of Ariadne will bring you through

Maybe you could try to follow it too

A single thread could save your life

Perhaps guide you to your demise

Ryujin grimaced. Of course, this was a labyrinth, and required thread. She just hoped the minotaur wasn't inside here too. "A thread," She mused, "Where can I get one?" Dallie squeaked, and nudged at a scarf that hung around her neck. "Good point, Dallie," She let out a laugh, "I didn't like it anyway."

As she unravelled the scarf, the yarn was tied to a branch and she continued on her way. Many times she was brought to a dead end, so she simply retraced her steps with the yarn and she found another path. The yarn was running out soon, but Ryujin steeled her nerves and kept taking step after step. Desperately trying to block out the screams of agony that sounded from around, she started to sing softly to herself, and, subconsciously, she started to sing along to the sirens' indistinct lyrics.

Then she saw it.

A group of pedestals, all of varying heights and widths. Each pedestal had a wooden box that was embedded with a glistening jewel or carved from a precious metal, all so enticing and pretty. She knew for a fact that her mother would have tried to pry off any of the jewels and run off. But she first inspected the rhyme carved on the first empty pedestal.

Pick and choose, only one

Maybe you'll find what you want

Would you have a treasure for thee

Or perhaps something greater than immortality?
There's some poison lurking among

Maybe even a bottle of rum

So pick and choose, only one

Curse or fortune? Pick and see

Leaning back, Ryujin exhaled slowly, then smiled, "So a key is hidden in one of these boxes." She recalled what she had first thought when she had seen the pedestals. Her mother would have taken the prettiest, most valuable one. That showed greed. And greed would make you fail, a horrible fate could be lying in one of those innocent-looking boxes. The silver, gold, diamond, ruby and all the other boxes called out to her. She extended her hand, and went for the shortest, most unassuming plain wooden box. She clicked it open, and smiled in triumph as she withdrew a shiny silver key. One down, six more.

-

Once she had safely secured the key in her pocket, she continued forward, the pedestals retracting into the ground. The path led to a dead end, so Ryujin walked back until she reached the entrance once more.

The sky above was dark and blurry, but she reckoned it was still bright outside.

She needed to find more keys. So she threw herself through the mist again.

Following the sound of voices, she was brought to a cave entrance, with a crowd of her siblings gathered before it. Why were they afraid to enter the cave?

Then she saw the dragon.

Huge, black as the night sky, with dazzling yellow eyes, and a heavy, hot breath. A fire breather, she reckoned. A few of the princes and princess were backing off, not interested in either fighting for the potential key, or having to face the dragon. Ryujin did what any sane person would do.

Or rather, what they would not do.

She approached the dragon slowly, a memory of her mother's words in her ears.

To animals, especially dogs, the scent of fear smells like aggression. So, no matter what, you cannot, must not show fear.

"Hello," She whispered to the dragon, "I'm Ryujin."

The dragon let out a roar, and the remaining siblings behind her fled off.

That made Ryujin chuckle lightly, "Are you okay? Do you have a name?"

Those large nostrils of the dragon's enlarged as it huffed, steaming smoke drifting out of them. She spotted a key hanging from one of its horns. In order to get that key, you would have to distract it. Damn, Ryujin thought to herself, I can't do this alone.

"Ryujin!"

She whipped her head back and was so relieved to see Dahyun, unharmed. Dahyun was like a psychic, processing the scene before her, then murmured, "I'll distract it. My voice apparently is so boring it makes boys sleep." For a moment, Ryujin thought she would go into a lecture, but then Dahyun opened her mouth and began to sing.

The dragon looked intrigued, then sleepy, its head moving along to the rhythm of the song and its eyelids fluttering. Ryujin waited with bated breath, and once the dragon relaxed and slumped forward, she snatched the key. Dahyun didn't stop singing until Ryujin was safely behind her, and then the duo slowly retreated so as to not disturb the dragon.

"You did it!" Dahyun clapped, not in envy but in legitimate delight and pride. "No, we did it," Ryujin said, offering the older the key. "You...you're giving it to me? Why?" Dahyun said in disbelief, "You may be throwing away your chance to get to the next level. I heard father may only be allowing seven in."

"And you will be one of the seven," Ryujin promised. Dahyun gave a shaky, tearful smile and the two parted ways.

AN: Lol sorry for the weird rhymes, I couldn't help myself.