Shadow of the Beautiful World

The gentle light lingers in the living room, filling the house that has been noisy in the middle of the night with a kind of tranquility.

In front of the gorgeous, soft, medieval European-style bed, those tassels dotted with precious stones swayed back and forth.

Although there is no wind blowing.

A powerful biological clock kept Carol opening her eyes in the early morning hours, as usual.

But what catches the eye is not the monotonous decoration on the ceiling of his apartment in Manhattan, but instead the dome painted with various mythological stories.

It's like being in a palace with a strange shape and a long history.

This caused Carol, who had just woken up, to feel a little dazed in her eyes, but she quickly remembered the story of last night.

A blush flashed across the mistress's face.

She covered her body with a soft quilt, sat up on the bed, and saw a stack of clothes on the bedside table at hand.

A set of red pajamas, and silk underwear of precise size and texture.

This should be sent by Xuan Lan.

Carol has lived in the mysterious house several times before, and every time he wakes up, he will be treated like this.

But today is different.

She raised her head and looked outside, through the dancing tassels in the living room, she saw Merlin who was sitting by the window, with his back to her, reading a book.

That is the real owner of the mysterious house, and the man who spent a good night with her last night.

The slightly indulgent images that came to mind made the mistress shake her head, as if she wanted to shake those memories out of her mind.

She didn't immediately call Merlin's name, but put on her pajamas and walked into the bathroom.

The sound of water flowed in the room, causing Merlin who was sitting under the window to look back, just in time to see Carol, who was combing her hair, walking out of the bathroom.

A little less heroic, a little more charming.

How did you sleep last night?

Merlin, who was wearing a blue pajamas robe, picked up the mild and just right tea in his hand, he took a sip, and asked a question.

Carol's expression sank, and she swayed and sat opposite Merlin. She looked at the coffee that was still smelling.

she says:

I slept well, but the sleep time was a bit short...

Blame me?

A strange smile appeared on the corner of Merlin's mouth, which made Carol's teeth itch with hatred.

But recalling last night's romantic story, those beating details showed that the culprit who caused her extremely reduced sleep time did not seem to be Merlin...

I have to go to work later.

Carol kept a straight face, not looking into Merlin's eyes.

As soon as she picked up the coffee, the living room door was pushed open after two knocks.

Several ghost servants delivered elaborate breakfasts to the master and mistress, and then quietly retreated.

Then eat something, Xuanlan will send you to Raccoon City.

Merlin closed the book in his hand and put it on the table.

He crossed his legs, put his arms on the armrest, and put his fingers interlaced on his stomach, just watching Carol eat breakfast.

The eyes are full of calm and flowing tenderness.

The mistress doesn't care about this kind of staring, she is a very serious person, and she doesn't like to talk when eating.

The two sat opposite each other.

The mysterious house hovers at the intersection of dimensions. There can be no sunlight here, but with Merlin sitting here, the light simulated by magic is no different from sunlight.

After a few minutes, the small but nutritious breakfast was settled.

Carol picked up the tablecloth and wiped her mouth. She looked up at Merlin, and said teasingly:

Aren't you going to meet Hill with me?

not the right time yet.

Merlin said softly:

I still have a few things to do, and I'll see her when I'm done.

Let me guess, and you'll say it's for her own good?

The mistress leaned back in the high-back chair, and she said:

Or did you say that on purpose because you were afraid that I would mind?

She looked into Merlin's eyes, and she said:

If this is the case, then there is no need, my mind is not so small.

Don't you blame me?

Merlin chuckled lightly, and said:

At first there was only you, then Elsa, Psylocke, Zatanna, Hill...

While I was still alive, I sometimes feared that when you returned from the stars, you would use a fist of anger as your parting letter from me.

Angry.

The mistress said blankly:

If you're still alive when I get back, there's no telling what's going to happen between us, but you're a crafty bastard...

Carol sighed, she stood up, walked behind Merlin, and put her arms around him.

She whispered in Merlin's ear:

When you died in my arms, those anger, hatred, and entanglements have all disappeared.

All I could think about at the time was just to bring you back to life. After I calmed down, I realized that I didn't really care much about these things.

During the time you left, I have been in contact with them. They are all excellent and independent people. They have their own lives and lives. They can live well without relying on a man.

For them, for me...

she says:

Actually, a promise is not that important.

We are not ordinary people, and we don't need to use ordinary people's view of love to explain our relationship, there is no need for that.

Merlin put his hand on Carol's finger, he was silent for a few seconds after listening to the mistress's words.

He said:

That's what I said, but there are still some explanations that should be made.

Carol smiled, she knew what Merlin meant.

She walked up to Merlin, knelt down, held Merlin's hands, and said to Merlin:

Yes, there is still an explanation that should be given, so you have to go to see Hill with me.

Um?

Merlin's eyes blinked, and he didn't understand what Carol was going to do for a while.

Hill is different.

Carol emphasized her tone, and she said to Merlin:

Hill is different from us. Her life is not as long as ours. What you mean to her is completely different from what you mean to us.

I worked with her for 7 months, she is a good person, I don't want to see her regret for life.

Merlin fell silent.

The mistress stood up and brushed her hair quite calmly.

She stretched out her fingers, and lifted Merlin's chin with a hint of flirtatiousness.

She said jokingly:

We can spend more than ten years thinking about it, talking about you and me, and how to get along with them, but Hill can't wait for you for more than ten years... Time is not tolerant to her.

Merlin and Carol looked at each other, and after a few seconds, he chuckled lightly:

So, it's mercy?

You say yes.

Carol did not deny Merlin's statement. She walked back to the living room, opened the closet, and took out her yesterday's clothes.

As she unbuttoned her pajamas, she said:

I have traveled among the stars for more than ten years, and I have seen many landscapes that are different from those on the earth. Those real immortal species, and their unique outlook on life and love have given me a lot of feelings.

Carol says:

The passage of time will always dilute personal emotions. When your memory is extended ten times, or even a hundred times, when you look back, it will always feel different.

She changed into her clothes through a tassel, and said to Merlin who was sitting there:

It's not really about how many women you have around you.

The point is, when you look back after a hundred years or a thousand years, in the memories we shared together, what you see is more happiness? Or regret?

Having said that, Carol paused.

She said emphatically:

Time cannot be turned back, even for you and me.

In the wash of time, happiness will be diluted, and regret will be magnified, and eventually it will become irreparable pain. I should say something that shouldn't be said. There should be no intersection between humans and gods from the very beginning.

Carol was buttoning her shirt and unbuttoning the tassels. Standing in front of Merlin, she said:

I am not arrogant to call myself a god.

What I mean is, since you and Hill are already entangled, you have to take responsibility... Let her live the rest of her life happily, and let yourself not leave irreparable regrets.

As for being sorry for me, this is actually a false proposition, Merlin.

Carol brushed her long hair and put a baseball cap on her head. She said to Merlin:

There is still a long time between us.

If you feel indebted, then spend more time with me from now on...it's as simple as that.

The atmosphere in the living room became silent.

A few seconds later, Merlin looked up at Carol, an indescribable gleam in his blue eyes.

He said:

You really impress me, Carol.

In the past ten years, it's not just you who have grown up, Merlin.

The mistress pointed to the sky, and she said:

In that space of stars, I learned to see things from a higher perspective. When you look far enough, you don't have trouble in front of you.

Then wait a moment.

Merlin stood up, and he said to Carol:

I'm going to change clothes.

That's good.

The mistress laughed, reached out and patted Merlin's cheek, she said:

After the matter between you and Hill is settled, there are more troublesome things waiting for you... Elsa, she may need you more than Hill now.

I already have a plan for that.

Carol's words probably opened up a knot in Merlin's heart for a long time, and Raven was very calm at this moment.

While changing into the suit and windbreaker that Xuanlan prepared for him, he said to Carol:

I need to know what happened between Elsa and Baishuang after I left that day.

I'm running late.

Carol raised her wrist and looked at the time on her watch. She said to Merlin:

Let's talk about this on the road.

———————————

After Elsa gave her body to Hoarfrost...

In the Raccoon City base, on the speeding military vehicle, Merlin rubbed his forehead, and he looked at Carol who was driving.

He said:

The self-proclaimed Skadi clearly said that she wanted to avenge Elsa?

Yes, I can hear you very clearly.

The mistress wearing sunglasses did not look sideways. While turning the steering wheel, she said:

I tried to stop her from leaving but she told me that's what Elsa meant.

I was ready to fight to the death. That consciousness, or that evil spirit, was amazing, but Elsa's consciousness suddenly revived for a few seconds.

Carol still felt a little embarrassed when he recalled what happened that day.

she says:

Elsa told me that's what she wanted to do and I urged her to come home with me and she told me she was already home.

etc!

Merlin suddenly opened his eyes, and he asked:

Are you sure that Elsa can still recover briefly after Skadi ingests her body?

Yes.

Carol herself couldn't be too sure, saying:

But the one who spoke to me at the time was clearly Elsa herself. I didn't have much contact with her, but... But I admit that I am indeed not as pure and decisive as Elsa in terms of feelings for you.

That woman gave you everything she had.

The mistress sighed, she stared at Merlin and said:

You really are a lucky guy.

Um.

Merlin breathed a sigh of relief as if he had heard good news.

He looked out of the car window at the well-ordered base, and the soldiers preparing to step into the distant Raccoon City with the help of omnics, as well as the returnees who returned to the base in military vehicles and were being disinfected.

He said:

So at present, my guess is correct.

Elsa and Skadi reached an agreement. If Skadi wants to completely devour Elsa's will and achieve the goal of completely releasing herself, she must first fulfill Elsa's request.

Capture Asgard, kill Odin...

Having said that, Merlin chuckled lightly, and said:

What a smart girl.

What's the meaning?

Carol frowned and asked:

She is doing something wrong. Your death has nothing to do with Odin. She is just venting her anger.

But Odin is the most powerful person under the stars, and the Asgardian army can also fight well.

Merlin said softly:

If she is going to buy us time to save her from Skadi, then choosing the toughest and most difficult enemy for Skadi to find at the time and the situation is undoubtedly to delay time. best option.

And her self-rescue was successful. It took Skadi seven months to fail to break through Asgard, which means that Elsa's consciousness that should have dissipated that day continued for another seven months, and will continue to last longer.

Maybe Elsa did have the meaning of venting anger, but it is undeniable that she actually did not give up saving herself until the last moment.

If it's according to what you say.

Carol blinked, and she said:

Then after you died, the desperate gesture Elsa made in front of me was actually acting for Skadi? To avoid the death of everything?

It's the truth.

Merlin stroked the bright red cross on his wrist, and said softly:

But who stipulates that the revealing of true feelings cannot be a scam?

Facing an ancient wraith that can only be fought by oneself, but cannot be defeated by oneself, it is the best choice to buy time by making a temporary compromise.

After all, Elsa may have made preparations ahead of time because of the lessons of Jean Gray at the time.

And if Elsa wanted to fight to the death with the out-of-control Baishuang and die together, then you might also...

Merlin shook his head and said:

That sentence was not only for you, but also for me. She probably guessed that I won't just die like that.

click

The military vehicle stopped in front of the landing pad leading to the Aegis command ship.

Carol turned to look at Merlin, she said:

You don't pretend? Just follow me?

Nobody can see me if I want to, baby.

Merlin opened the car door and said:

Let's go and meet Hill.