Shadow of the Beautiful World

Every time I say goodbye, I think about the next time we meet.

In the icy and snowy tower, Merlin and Elsa snuggle up by the fireplace in the room, with the perennial snow scene floating outside the window.

This tower was probably the only warm place in this lonely world.

As he stroked Elsa's cold, blond hair, which already had a conspicuous white, he said softly:

Every time I say goodbye, I actually don't want to leave.

I think so too. Many times, I feel that it's good for the two of us to live in this world together, just the two of us.

Elsa rested her head on Merlin's shoulder. She closed her eyes and felt the warmth from Merlin. She said:

But you will go eventually, you can't leave your responsibilities, you can't leave your love for that world.

You love it, everything about that world, including its flaws.

Everyone has something they can't let go of.

Merlin leaned back on the high back chair, he sighed, and said:

It's the same way you go to see your parents on the sly and write to them and tell them you're all right... I get caught up in those things, Elsa, I live for it and maybe die for it.

Shhhhh.

Elsa stretched out her finger and put it on Merlin's lips, she said:

Don't say that, you're not going to die, you're going to live a long time...Carol's coming back soon, isn't she?

Um.

Merlin nodded:

Calculate the time. If she is not late, there may be more than a month.

She won't be late.

Elsa whispered:

In that world, there is a man who has been waiting for her for more than ten years. She will not be late, and she will return soon.

We'll fix that.

Merlin kissed Elsa on the forehead and said:

There must be a way, a way that doesn't hurt anyone.

Do the three live together?

Elsa let out a chuckle and said:

As Siria said, the three share each other's world... Wow, Merlin, Merlin, you are such a happy guy.

I never thought of it that way.

Merlin said frankly:

Such a good thing will never happen to me. I just pray that you two don't fight when you meet.

snort.

Elsa made a dissatisfied nasal sound. She stood up, walked to the bed, picked up her clothes, and while she was wearing them, she brushed her long hair that was emitting a chill.

she says:

Do you really think that our two excellent women will fight for a man like you? Does this make you feel honored?

Merlin...will this satisfy your bloated manly mind?

Merlin turned around, quietly admiring Elsa's back view, her perfect body curves, and her skin like crystal gems.

Probably because of the hoarfrost link, in the past few years, Elsa's temperament has become more and more cold and ethereal, just like a real iceberg beauty.

Only when he is alone with Merlin, will he reveal his original character.

Despite the constant struggle against that cold will, there was no doubt that Rime was affecting her.

He stood up and hugged Elsa's slender waist from behind. At the moment when the coldness with a hint of fragrance added to his body, Merlin buried his head in Elsa's long hair, and he said softly:

I just don't want to see you get hurt, I have no other intentions.

Elsa broke free from Merlin's embrace, she turned around and looked at Merlin angrily.

But the next moment, she took a step forward, hugged Merlin's head with her hands, and kissed their lips together.

I was just joking, fool Merlin. Why would I be mad at you...do you still have the potion?

Well... there is still a bottle, but the effect of this frost protection potion is also weakening.

Merlin winked at Elsa and said softly:

When you feel happy, the power of Hoarfrost will expand accordingly, which makes me somewhat unable to resist the 'ravages' of the Frost Queen.

That means there is still time.

Elsa stuck out her tongue and licked Merlin's earlobe, she said:

Maybe I'm going to share you with another woman soon, so, before you go, one more time.

Thirty minutes later, with a cold breath all over his body, Merlin, who seemed to be frozen, walked down the tower while brushing the ice slag from his hair.

In the hall below the tower, Her Royal Highness Princess Siriya was sitting by the fireplace with her legs crossed, drinking wine with gusto.

After seeing Merlin come down, she winked and gave Merlin a thumbs up maliciously.

Yo, that's amazing.

The female swordsman who was occasionally full of lust said in a low voice:

It must be nice to be naked in bed with a piece of ice in your arms, right?

whispering sound.

Merlin curled his lips, and he said to Cilia:

You can't even imagine my happiness...

Speaking of which, shouldn't you go to reunite with your family? Didn't Master Geralt prepare a sumptuous lunch for you and Ms. Yennefer today?

Uh, no.

Xi Liya scratched her long white bangs a little irritably, and she complained:

Mom and Dad quarreled again, and Dad seems to have secretly met another old friend without telling her...

Having said that, Xilia glared at Merlin, her beautiful green cat eyes were full of disgust, she took a sip of wine and said:

You stinky men all look the same, the most obscene!

Hey, don't you throw fire on me.

Merlin took a step back, raised his arms in a gesture of surrender, and said:

This is your family business, I don't get involved.

Open the door, I'm going back.

Wait.

Cilia waved her hand, and she said:

There is someone else who wants to go back with you.

who?

Merlin asked back, and the next moment, Cilia snapped her fingers, and a dimensional rift opened between the two of them.

Under Merlin's gaze, a scorching aura soon shone in the crack, like a raging flame, and the red light shone in the hall of the lighthouse.

A moment later, Jean Gray, wearing a medieval-style long hood and hunting suit, staggered out from the space rift.

She looked terribly frozen, her brows and hair covered with shards of thawed and frozen ice.

But in fact, the power from the phoenix fragments has been protecting her, allowing her to maintain normal physiological activities in the coldest abyss in this world completely occupied by hoarfrost.

Of course, despite the power of flames bursting out from the body, the feeling brought about by the collision of the outer ice and the inner fire is definitely not good.

This can be seen from Qin's bad face.

She seemed to be sick, her face was sallow, her lips were livid, and her eyes flashed a slightly confused light from time to time.

What's going on here?

Merlin hastily stretched out his hand to support Qin and let her sit on the chair next to her. Qin raised her head and showed a difficult smile to Merlin.

Looks really miserable...

Merlin looked at Siria, who picked up a silver coin and threw it to Qin.

The latter used his spiritual power to suspend the coin in his hand, and then under the light and shadow of the flame, the coin was quickly melted into silver juice, but returned to its original shape in an instant.

After repeating this several times, Qin's fingers flicked lightly.

The silver coin, which still had a scorching breath, was flipped back into Xilia's hands.

Well, it's okay.

Xi Liya looked at the silver coin that was still warm in her hand but had recovered to its original state, and she said:

The fusion between you and the phoenix fragments has already begun. This process will be very difficult, but if you want to return to a normal life, you must persevere.

Um.

Qin closed her eyes, and the expression on her face was very painful just by looking at it.

Take her back.

Cilia turned her head and said to Merlin:

Find a quiet place, preferably a remote place rich in magic power, and let her stay there... Although the fragment is only a trace of the power of the phoenix, its energy level is still too high, and it is difficult for external forces to intervene. to the effect.

This process can only be done by herself.

Merlin didn't say anything, but Qin beside him said softly:

Thanks.

nothing.

Cilia waved her hand, and she reached out to open the dimensional rift for Merlin and Qin, with a look of indifference.

But the swordsman in white is actually a good girl inside. Although she is always fierce and likes to play some pranks, she has a kind heart.

Meilin helped the qin across the gap and returned to the mysterious room. Xuanlan brought hot tea in a timely manner and lit the fireplace in the hall. The warm fire was lit the next moment, making the entire dark hall warm.

Qin sat quietly by the sofa, holding a teacup in both hands, she seemed to be very cold, and wanted to be closer to the burning fireplace.

This girl with long chestnut red hair must not have had a good time.

Merlin could see the dark circles around her eyes, and the thinning of her face.

Her eyes are no longer as bright as they used to be, it seems that there are haze shrouded in them, and there are shadows burning like flames.

Especially when there is silence.

Merlin looked at Qin, and he could see a mutilated soul being swallowed by raging flames.

She must be helpless...

Face the ancient, barbaric, and extremely mysterious cosmic power with a mortal body.

Just like a lost child meets a hungry tiger.

It's painful, isn't it?

Merlin asked softly:

Although Siria taught you to fuse with the phoenix... But I think, opening your soul to merge with the monster, and using this to pray to live in an inhuman posture, it must be very painful and desperate, right?

Um.

Qin held the teacup, she took a sip of the tea tremblingly, then looked at the burning flames around her, she said:

Every second, you can feel the flames burning your body, as if you are about to die in it at this moment; but the next moment, the burned body is reshaped in the flames, but it is not because of kindness.

It is forced to connect with me under the power of Baishuang, but it always wants to overwhelm me and occupy this body.

What's even more difficult to accept is that it's not because it needs to, it's just because it wants to...

I can't describe it, Mr. Merlin, I can't describe what I saw, it's beyond my comprehension, it's indescribable. It wants to share that knowledge, that experience with me, but it's just the first step into the taboo , is enough to distort my sanity.

It's like stepping into deep water step by step. There are dark shadows in the quiet water, and any normal person will instinctively stay away.

And what's happening now is that in order to survive, I have to be a part of that darkness...

Qin raised her head, showing a pale and difficult smile, she said to Merlin:

But I'm still grateful to you all. Without your help, I wouldn't even be able to live like this...Although in my opinion, maybe on that day, I should really die.

But you don't want it all.

Merlin looked directly into Qin's eyes, and Qin couldn't help turning his head away from those sharp eyes.

What you want is relief...

I've seen that light in the eyes of many people. Every minute and every second of your existence is torture for you. You want to die to get rid of it all, right?

I...

Qin wanted to say something, but under Merlin's gaze, she finally remained silent.

Xuanlan, who was standing beside Meilin, was holding the teapot. At this moment, this spiritual body who seldom expresses opinions said softly:

The phoenix is ​​a spirit body born in the ancient universe. Although its form of existence is completely opposite to other spirit bodies, it still maintains some basic rules of spirit bodies.

Xuan Lan looked at Jean Gray, she said:

You're on the verge of chaos and madness, lady, and if you don't have something inside of you to keep going, soon...

Soon you will be dragged into that spiritual abyss, and all your reason and spirit will completely collapse, and that will only be the beginning of your suffering life.

You need a pillar.

Merlin stood up, and he held out his hand to Qin:

follow me.

Um?

Qin raised her head and looked at Merlin, her pale face was full of doubts.

I'll take you to find the pillars you need.

Merlin took Jean's fiery hand, and through the door of the mystery house, they came to the edge of the Utopian island, on the top of a low mountain.

Merlin instructed Icarus to dial a number.

Soon, amidst the buzzing of motorcycles, Cyclops, the leader of the X-Men, appeared on the mountain road.

He was galloping, and his girl was waiting for him at the top of the hill.

I know it's corny.

Merlin said to Qin beside him:

I mean, maybe a sincere love can make you persevere in this pain until the end...

Maybe you are helpless, but I believe that when you know that there is still a man waiting for you in the world, then maybe you will have more courage when facing the monster in your heart.

Jean clenched her fingers, and a few minutes later, Cyclops rushed up the hill, panting, looking at Jean, and Jean looking at him.

Go!

Merlin pushed behind the qin, and the hooded qin took a step forward.

With tears in her eyes, she quickened her pace and finally threw herself into the arms of her lover.

She can finally cry happily...

No one can ask a girl to continue to be strong at this time.

In the evening, on this island deep in the Pacific Ocean, under the sunset glow above the sea, Merlin looked at the lovers embracing each other, his eyes were full of tenderness.

Can she hold on, Merlin.

Icarus asked softly:

I don't know much about magic, but from what Xuanlan said, Qin will face a terrifying challenge.

She can.

Merlin pushed his glasses, and he said softly:

Dealing with spirit bodies is the category of mysticism, and I don't understand it very well.

But one thing I know is that if her will is strong enough, then she will be more likely to persevere, and love... This is the most powerful thing, and it can often create miracles.

It sounds a bit self-consoling.

Icarus says:

Do you really believe this?

I believe it, and I must believe it.

Merlin turned his head and looked at the sea behind him, he said:

The end is near...

I, too, need a miracle.