[M: It's not impossible, but I suggest you don't]
[M: The longer you stay there, the more difficult it will be for you to stop the virus in the next world. You know how fast the events in fairytales are. In addition to the transfer time, once you arrive there, it will be too late]
Bai Xing inwardly sighed. He thought as much.
[I understand. Sorry for disturbing you]
There was a moment of pause before M replied again.
[M: But as long as you don't kill the virus, you have time to stay there until the day when the story ends. In this case, you have 2 more days]
Bai Xing's eyebrows raised slightly. He didn't think M would tell him that.
[Is it okay for you to tell me this?]
[M: I already retrieve almost half of my power this fast thanks to you. It's only fair to give you a break]
[M: But do me a favor and kill the virus before the time ends. I'll put a timer in your phone for you to keep track]
[M: The transfer process will initiate 15 minutes after you kill the virus or when the time is up]
[M: Then, I'll excuse myself first]
[Thank you, M]
Bai Xing put his phone down. Would there be any risk of leaving it for 2 days? Could this magic lamp hold the 2 dangerous creatures inside that long? What if there was an unexpected event?
"What seems to be the matter, White?" Grey asked as Bai Xing stood up.
"I…" Bai Xing clutched his clothes, "Once I break this magic lamp…I will…be gone soon after."
Grey frowned, "What do you mean by those words?"
"I-It's not death…" Bai Xing hurriedly said, "It's a bit…difficult to explain. But you'll understand once it happens."
Grey immediately grabbed Bai Xing's hand, "I rather be clueless than to let it happen."
"N-No, I'm not going to do it now. I think…"
"Now? Then, you'll do it one day?"
Bai Xing looked at the magic lamp, "It is something that I must do."
"…" Grey's eyebrows tightened. He let go of his staff to touch Bai Xing's face, "…Am I wrong to assume that you come to this palace only for that sole purpose?"
"…" Bai Xing averted his eyes and nodded, "I…have 2 days left. When my time is up, I will disappear whether I break the lamp or not."
He really wanted Grey to remember, but from what Grey said previously, he probably could only get his memory back after the virus died. Moreover, in this current situation, it was best if the magic lamp is destroyed as soon as possible.
It would be a different matter if the vessel was also corrupted, but from the lamp's outer appearance, that didn't seem to be the case.
But if the virus died, he would get transferred to the next world which he didn't want to happen this soon. He only has 2 stories left. What if Grey won't be in one of them? Or both of them? Even if he will, the time he could spend with Grey was shortening.
Somewhere in his heart, he started to not want to go back home. But if he didn't save this fairytale world where Grey lived, Grey would be in danger.
Everything seemed to scream at him to break the lamp while he only has his selfishness as a reason to not do it.
It was suffocating, but he wanted to hold on to it.
"Grey, I…" Bai Xing looked up at Grey, "What should I do…?"
Seeing Bai Xing look so lost, Grey felt uncomfortable. He pulled Bai Xing into his embrace and rubbed his hair.
"Forgive me, I was too agitated. You–"
Crack!
Bai Xing's eyes widened and turned to the source of the noise. As if answering his dilemma, the body of the magic lamp started to crack.
He pulled away from Grey and swiftly took out the hammer. There was no other choice now.
Grey held back Bai Xing's arm, "Please do not be haste, White. There must be another way."
Bai Xing shook his head and pried Grey's hand off, "You'll understand whether that's true or not."
He knelt down and decisively struck the hammer down. As the magic lamp shattered into particles, the ominous smoke that has leaked out vanished along with it.
The hammer in his hand also disappeared.
He stood up and turned around expectantly. Behind him, Grey stood there, looking at him with a helpless smile.
Grey took a step closer and lift Bai Xing's chin for a brief kiss.
"I understand your worry and truthfully, I'm torn between joy and guilt being the cause of it," Grey chuckled, "If we could stay here for a little longer, I was planning to let you experience what it feels like to be a queen. I have even thought of your inner garment's design for our first night. What a pity."
Bai Xing, "…"
My reluctance to go to the next world is fading away.
"Still, what needs to be done must be done," Grey subtly brushed Bai Xing's scar, "Wherever you are, I will surely find you. Didn't I tell you? I will latch on to you with my entire being that you won't be able to get rid of me even if you want to. You don't believe me?"
Bai Xing shook his head. He clutched the phone in his hand and thought of something.
"Grey, can we…" Bai Xing blushed in embarrassment, "C-Can we…take a picture…together?"
"Why not?" Grey smirked and massaged Bai Xing's hips suggestively, "What kind of picture?"
Bai Xing yanked Grey's hand away in a fluster, "N-N-Normal! J-Just normal pictures!"
Grey laughed and took the phone, "As you wish."
After positioning themselves, Grey took a shot. Bai Xing fidgeted, "…O-One more time."
Grey looked at the result and smiled, "I don't mind taking 100 more," he stretched out his hand again, "3…2…"
Once the count reached one, Bai Xing turned his head and kissed Grey on his cheek. Grey's eyes slightly widened in surprise as the camera captured the moment.
"You…"
Bai Xing hid his reddened face away.
Grey's heart boiled. He swiftly hauled Bai Xing up and placed him on the desk. He lowly whispered to Bai Xing's ear, "Now you've done it. It's time for a special photo session, Naughty Rabbit."
"!!!" Bai Xing trembled from Grey's voice.
After taking an album worth of pictures under Grey's mercy, Bai Xing's time was finally up. Grey silently watched as the particles fade away, leaving him alone in the study.
"White…Bai…" he murmured in thought, "That scar…"
A memory flashed by in his head as he recalled Bai Xing's story.
"Bai…Xing…"
–––––
–––
–
Bai Xing hasn't opened his eyes when wind swept by his face, bringing a distinct scent of the sea. Once his eyes opened, he was greeted with the glinting sea extending to the horizon with the moon reflected on its surface. Beneath him was the soft sands of the shore, sinking his sole in.
He was wearing a similar outfit as in his first world, but with a lighter color. Covering him from the cold air was a blue cloak as dark as the night sea. In his hand was an oil lamp to light his path.
He promptly looked at his phone.
[M: What happened? I thought you were going to stay in the previous world for 2 more days?]
[The magic lamp couldn't hold the power source and the virus at the same time. It started cracking soon after you left, so I had to break it, killing the virus as a result]
[M: Oh…I see]
[M: It has lost almost half of its power, so I thought it already weakened quite significantly]
[It's fine. Can you tell me where I am now?]
[M: You are now in Little Mermaid's world. I can't physically alter you, so you can only stay as a human here]
[M: But I'm now powerful enough to slightly alter the story. You didn't feel it, but it took quite a while]
[Alter how?]
[M: I changed the story with the happy ending to its original version. Do you know about it?]
Bai Xing tried hard to remember the Little Mermaid's story. He then recalled searching it once after seeing it being discussed in an online forum. But the story was pretty complicated to read since it used heavy words, so he only has a vague memory about it.
He could only recall the major plot points in it. It should be enough, right?
[You mean the version where the prince married a princess from another country?]
[M: Yes, the virus occupies the protagonist of the story. Without you doing anything, it won't reach a happy end. After the previous world, it has already lost more than half of its power, so hopefully, it won't be able to fight back]
