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Curse the Mainframe! - Chapter 289

Published at 3rd of May 2020 04:20:49 AM


Chapter 289

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The thing was – time in Alec's mindscape went by a lot slower than it was outside, so Alec and Ye Sha were still figuring things out until the last moment.

It had been a rather long time since Alec felt Dominique's phantom touch, but that didn't deter the two Systems.

While Alec slogged away at the data, Ye Sha felt himself growing increasingly anxious and restless, almost uncharacteristically so.

It was almost as if the solution was there on the tip of his tongue – or that he should be able to change this situation in some way, but he couldn't.

They weren't getting anywhere, and it wasn't from the lack of trying either.

Then, a brief thought flashed in his mind as he felt the helplessness of their situation.

While data was good, if they weren't able to affect it internally, then it wasn't going to help any.

With both Alec and Ye Sha stuck inside Alec's mindscape, they had their hands figuratively tied.

He wished that they weren't stuck together so that he could help his friend out externally rather than just internally.

The thought only surfaced for the briefest moment before Ye Sha shoved it down almost subconsciously. Ye Sha's personality was the type that didn't like to dwell on things beyond his control. It was part of the reason why he was so successful as a System.

But then, it almost felt like something clicked into place as he felt his consciousness go hazy. Ye Sha's eyes flew to the screen that was still hanging before him right now, and it felt like a light bulb moment, as you might call it.

'Of course!' Ye Sha could have groaned. He should have known. Then, thinking that the problem as well as the situation had been all because of him, he groaned out loud.

There was a need for both external and internal connection before something happened. He should have known.

Alec's head snapped around, and his eyes widened minutely when he looked at Ye Sha's semi-translucent form.

The System immediately abandoned the screen in front of him in favour of checking on his friend.

"What's happening?" Alec demanded, his eyes flying over Ye Sha's fading form.

Ye Sha actually felt disgustingly emotional at the undercurrent of worry that he heard from Alec's voice.

It wasn't that he doubted the friendship that they had now, but the System always felt like his attachment to their friendship was heavier on his end.

Ye Sha smiled, and it contained a faintly watery quality to it that didn't do anything for Alec's worry.

It made him feel like the other was saying his last goodbyes.

"Relax," Ye Sha snorted, regaining control over himself.

His tone was a lot lighter, Alec was relieved to note, and he sounded like the System that loved to have fun again, reminiscent of the past.

Ye Sha's consciousness blurred further, startling both Systems at the sudden advance of the translucency in Ye Sha's body.


"Calm down. I think your emotions are affecting whatever this is. It seems to be speeding up even more now."

Ye Sha snorted. 'Way to state the obvious,' he thought fondly.

Which was just a total mistake, because it obviously sped it up even more.

Alec glowered at him, as if asking why he was being so foolish, and it startled a laugh out of Ye Sha yet again.

Alec glared harder at him. "I said calm down, not get more riled up!"

Ye Sha choked out his words between laughter, "I knoooow, but it's just so funny. Anyway, it's not going to be harmful, so relax and don't worry about it."

Alec's brows furrowed, and he looked like he was this close to cursing the other System out, but Ye Sha had already disappeared with one last jaunty wave.

Ye Sha's form blurred and pixilated, then shattered with an audible sound that reminded him sharply of when the Mainframe decided to delete a System.

It was a sound like crisp glass breaking. It was beautiful and haunting, and Alec had always associated the sound with the deletion of a System ever since he woke up under the Mainframe.

It was disconcerting, and mildly horrifying at the same time.

Alec sucked in a breath.

The furrow in Alec's brows deepened, and he couldn't help but have the feeling that this had something to do with the fucking Mainframe!

But before he could dwell further on his thoughts and the unwelcome emotions that seeing Ye Sha disappear did to him, he felt his consciousness grow hazy as well.

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Alec snapped awake, instantly sitting up.

There was a brief flare of pain as his forehead harshly collided with the person that had stuck their face into his personal space while he had been sleeping.

"Oww," he heard, and Alec faintly thought to himself that that was Elysia's voice. "Alec, you're alright now!" she said with good cheer.

Blinking, he looked over, and it was indeed Elysia who was pouting at him, holding her forehead rather cutely.

She had faint smudges of black under her eyes, and Alec felt his heart squeeze for one brief moment.

Alec's hand traitorously twitched, and for a brief moment, Alec waited for Ye Sha's interjection as he mocked him for still pretending that he didn't have feelings, but there was only silence.

Dominique's face cut off his view of Elysia. Alec didn't know whether or not to be thankful, not knowing what he was currently feeling.

"Boss!" There was a note of worry in Dominique's voice.

Before Alec could do anything other than smile, Dominique pressed his hand on Alec's forehead, much to his consternation.

"Mini," Alec greeted back, his voice a little strained, and Dominique dropped his hand like he'd been scalded, looking like he expected to be berated.

Meanwhile, Sekai, who had been completely ignored at the side, raised his eyebrows as he looked at the three idiots that surrounded him.

Sometimes, it felt like he was the only one with his priorities straight. Seriously.

Sekai let out an explosive sigh, and Dominique sent him a look so scathing that Sekai could have combusted spontaneously with how hot it was. It was a far cry from the icy look that Dominique had given him previously when the two of them were fighting.

Sekai didn't know which one he preferred more. If he was being honest with himself, both of them were pretty intimidating, but he wasn't, so he was happy to live in denial.

The transmigrator held up a cup to Alec's lips. "Drink," he commanded.

Alec paused; his hand raised to take the cup. He was too thirsty to give a scathing reply.

Dominique glowered at the man, snatching the cup from Sekai's hand.

He checked it over with precision and efficiency three times, almost bordering on paranoia, before finally presenting it to Alec with a faint smile. "Boss."

In response, Sekai shot back an affronted look. As if he would try and kill Alec when he still needed him! After, however, was fair game.

Alec accepted the cup with barely a strain in his smile, by now all too used to Dominique's antics.

"Wait!" Elysia said, yet again snatching the cup from Alec's hand.

Alec felt the start of a headache creep up on him.

Could they just let him drink…?

Elysia warmed up the water and mixed in a bit of honey to soothe his throat, as well as lemon, before she finally deemed it acceptable, handing it back to Alec.

Alec's lips twitched into a more genuine smile at Elysia, who beamed back at him.

Alec took the cup and immediately drank from it, daring any of them to take the cup from him now.

There was a faint hitch in Alec's breath when he finally drank, the water soothing his throat, and he was so engrossed in drinking that he didn't notice Elysia's cheeks flush faintly before regaining their natural shade.

He was in the middle of drinking when two shadows launched themselves at him.

Alec absently caught his two familiars before gently stroking their fur. The two familiars all but purred under his stroking, their magic responding in kind to Alec's magic.




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