Beginning of the Fairytales - Light

【Beginning】
In a barren desert lay an enormous tomb that was surrounded by nothing but sand. Felix wore a cape and a mask to protect himself from the harsh environment. When he saw the tomb, he hurriedly took out a map, written in ancient scripture, from his pocket.
He closely observed the view before him and the map’s instructions when his expression suddenly burst out in excitement. Originally exhausted, Felix seemed to have regained his strength. He dashed toward the tomb, as if the hot air and the yellow sand could hinder him no more.
Felix forcefully pushed on the tomb’s door; the door that had been neglected for years opened with a squeak. The tomb was dark and there were only two mirrors standing beside the door.
With a confident smile, Felix rotated the mirror beside him until it reflected sunlight onto the other mirror, which then reflected light into the tomb and onto the other mirrors inside, lighting up the entire tomb. He then placed pieces of rock at the door to prevent it from closing before he carefully entered the tomb.
Felix read the ancient script on his map and followed its description toward a specific location. He walked as lightly as possible to avoid triggering any hidden traps. After a while, he arrived at a dead-end; there was a wall at where the road should have been.

Felix: Humph! I’m not gonna let a simple mechanism block me from my destination.

Felix observed the wall before he started lightly knocking on each brick. As he knocked, his eyes suddenly shone when he found a different brick. He leaned his face against the wall and listened as he knocked on it again. He could hear an echo bouncing back to his ear, revealing a hollow space behind the brick, so he pressed onto it — the tomb shook as the wall slowly sank into the floor. What lay behind the wall was a chamber with only a coffin and an old lamp...

Felix: Hm. This should be the place I’ve been searching for...

Felix hastily strode toward the lamp and inadvertently tripped on the translucent threads around it. Darts began to shoot at him from the walls...

【Before Battles】

Felix: Alas. How careless was I! But that was too easy to dodge.

【After Battles】

Felix: Luckily, it didn’t damage my handsome face...Or all the beauties in the world would be distraught.

【End】
Although the darts flew from all directions, his keen eyesight allowed him to follow the trajectory of all the attacks. He stepped onto the coffin and sprung from it, evading the first wave of darts. He then kicked onto a wall, using his momentum to rotate himself and dodged the second wave. Felix easily got out of the situation unharmed. With that said, he crouched on the floor until he ensured there was no more dart coming his way.

Felix: I never thought the traps would be this simple! All my preparations for something harder are now in vain.

Felix approached the lamp again and saw a line of ancient script on the bottom of it — only one who reads my name and dusts me shall be my master.

Felix: “Genie”...?

Felix rubbed the lamp’s side while saying the name carved on the bottom of the lamp. A wisp of white smoke drifted out of it before a golden genie appeared from the smoke and said to Felix:

Genie the Wish Granter: I am Genie the Wish Granter of this lamp. I can fulfill three wishes for you. What do you wish for?

Felix: Haha! The rumor was true! Hm, let me see...

Felix: First, I want power that allows me to travel through space and time! Then I can get all the treasures in the world!

Genie channeled its power into the scimitar on his waist, which then shone with blinding radiance.

Felix: That’s it?

Genie the Wish Granter: It will take you through time and space, but mind you, it has to be recharged before you can use it again.

Felix: No problem. Here’s my second wish. I want a team of mercenaries who work for me and can coordinate with me!

Upon hearing that, Genie conjured a number of light spheres. One of which flew into Felix’s body, while the others shot out of the tomb. Genie then told Felix:

Genie the Wish Granter: The spheres will fly into the mercenaries who can coordinate with you. You will meet them soon.

Genie the Wish Granter: What is your last wish?

Felix: Hm...what else do I need...? Ah! A transcendent weapon that fits me!

Genie the Wish Granter: Received.

With that said, Genie took out a fish skeleton from Felix’s pocket. After channeling power into it, the skeleton enlarged and was imbued with dark elemental power. While Felix was still bemusedly looking at the fish skeleton gun in his hand, Genie disappeared as it had granted all three of Felix’s wishes...

Felix: H...How does this fit me?!

【Beginning】
After fulfilling Felix’s wishes, Genie vaporized and disappeared from the tomb. This time, Genie arrived at a secluded village in a forest abounded with wooden carts. The village was only inhabited by men and all the residents loved wearing hats and collecting extraordinary things.
Although none of the villagers knew how to read ancient languages, they found it interesting that a lamp suddenly materialized out of nowhere, so they kept it. Genie hibernated there until an aged adventurer and his beloved dog visited the village.
The adventurer conversed with the village head as if they had known each other for a long time. The other villagers did not show any signs of caution and played with the adventurer’s dog. Quietly looking at the villagers playing with his dog, the adventurer sitting next to the village head could not help but sigh.

Aged Nello: Time really flies, huh...? I still remember the day when I first came here with Devoted Dog.

Village Head: We were young then...If it wasn’t for you and Devoted, we wouldn’t have our beloved hats with us today.

The two reminisced about the past when Nello and Devoted Dog retrieved their hats; now, Nello returned to revisit them with Gracious Dog. Memories of the past replayed in their heads, but a dog’s bark snapped them back to reality.
It was Gracious Dog. It rolled over and faced its belly at the sky, as if asking Nello to scratch it. Nello then reached out his hand with a smile and lightly scratched Gracious Dog’s white belly, causing its tail to wave ferociously, but when Nello stopped, it looked at him with large begging eyes.

Aged Nello: Oh right, why did you invite me here?

Village head: We found something interesting and thought that you might want to see it.

With that said, the village head went into a house and took out a notably old lamp to Nello...

【Before Battles】

Village Head: This lamp suddenly appeared in our tool storage room. We thought it’s an ordinary lamp, but the ancient script on its bottom clearly indicates otherwise...

Village Head: ...so we wanted you to come and see if this is the lamp you’ve tried to find for years.

【Enemy Dialog】

Aged Nello: “Only...one who reads my name...and dusts me...shall be my master.”

Aged Nello: “Genie”?

【End】
Nello said the genie’s name as he lightly rubbed the lamp’s side. Genie then appeared, scaring everyone to kneel in respect. Gracious Dog fiercely barked at Genie, fearing that it might harm Nello. Looking at the genie before him, Nello was both shocked and surprised that he could personally confirm the rumor within his lifetime.

Genie the Wish Granter: I am Genie the Wish Granter of this lamp. I can fulfill three wishes for you. What do you wish for?

Aged Nello: Me?

Genie the Wish Granter: Correct. What is your wish?

Nello hesitated. Talking about dreams, he was already a famous author; about love, he had his beloved wife; and about money, though he did not have much, he did not have to worry about it either...
No matter how hard he thought, Nello realized there was nothing he wanted to wished for. He had lived for more than fifty years and had almost everything he ever wanted. For the things he had no possibility of possessing, he no longer fancied them. He looked at Gracious Dog sitting next to him and recalled Merry Puppy, Grumpy Puppy, Devoted Dog and Valiant Dog. Hence, he said his first wish.

Aged Nello: I want to see how my dogs are doing, Merry, Grumpy, Devoted, and Valiant.

Upon hearing that, Genie conjured its power and created circles beside Nello, on which each showed the life of one of the dogs — Merry and Grumpy were doing their best to protect the villagers living on a mountain; Devoted Dog was guiding an old man around the realm to bring joy to children all over the realm; and Valiant Dog was living a simple life of a hermit with Skyhowling Hound and Yang Jian on Peach Mountain...
No matter what they were doing, they were all smiling. Nello could not help but feel relieved and sensed tears stream down his face. He wiped the tears away and said his second wish...

Aged Nello: My second wish is that all of them, including Gracious Dog here, can live happily ever after.

Genie nodded and sprinkled dots of light on the five dogs.

Aged Nello: And my last wish...

Nello and Gracious Dog looked into each other’s eyes. A smile spread across Nello’s face before he patted Gracious Dog’s head:

Aged Nello: I wish that when I leave this world, this silly boy here can find a companion who needs his help but doesn’t mind his clumsiness.

Genie the Wish Granter: This is your last wish and you are not keeping it for yourself? You can wish to personally see all of the dogs or even live with them.

Aged Nello: I’m reaching the end of my life. Why should I put them through the misery of separation again?

Aged Nello: This wish is, in fact, for my own sake. I can’t go with ease when I’m not sure if they’re going to be fine without me.

Genie the Wish Granter: Very well, then.

A light sphere flew toward Gracious Dog. Not knowing what the light sphere was, the dog tried to bite it. However, the sphere merely merged into its body and disappeared, prompting Gracious Dog to turn around and look for the “enemy”.
Nello then crouched and hugged Gracious Dog while crying happy tears: “This is great. Thank you, Genie.” After granting Nello’s three wishes, Genie vaporized and disappeared. Although Genie was yet to understand what emotions were, the old individual’s relationship with his dogs caused Genie’s eyes to mist...

【Beginning】
After fulfilling Nello’s three wishes, Genie disappeared again, but Genie could not forget how Nello’s wishes brought it to tears. When Genie appeared again, it was in a country of werelizards. They gave the magic lamp to their king, but the king was unable to read ancient languages, so he merely used it like an ordinary lamp. Later, a sagacious werelizard was ordered to visit the king and examine the lamp. It was not until then did the king learn that it was actually a magic lamp!
The king listened to the sage’s instructions and read the genie’s name while rubbing the lamp, so Genie appeared in front of the Lizard Tyrant.

Genie the Wish Granter: I am Genie the Wish Granter of this lamp. I can fulfill three wishes for you. What do you wish for?

Wrathful Lizard Tyrant: Haha! It’s simple. Destroy the nearby gnome country!

Genie the Wish Granter: Pardon me, but there are three things I cannot do. One, I cannot kill. Two, I cannot control free will. Three, I cannot revive the dead.

Wrathful Lizard Tyrant: Why are there so many rules?! And you dare call yourself the wish granter?

While the tyrant pondered over how to fulfill his wishes, the sage whispered something in his ear, and he wore a cunning smile before saying:

Wrathful Lizard Tyrant: Alright! My first wish is that the gnome country nearby has an earthquake!

Genie the Wish Granter: ...Are you sure that is what you want?

Wrathful Lizard Tyrant: Just do it! Stop asking so many questions!

Genie the Wish Granter: Understood.

Although Genie was extremely reluctant, it could not reject its “master’s” order. Genie conjured its immense power into dots of light, which fell onto the gnomes’ home — an earthquake ensued.

【Before Battles】

Glacier Gnome: Wh...What is happening?

Volcano Gnome: Don’t just stand there! Let’s run!

【After Battles】

Wrathful Lizard Tyrant: Good! I don’t even need to move a finger and this piece of land is already all mine!

【End】
Seeing the earthquake and the innocent lives perish, Genie suddenly felt ashamed of its own power. The Lizard Tyrant exploited its power to eliminate his opponents and enlarged werelizards’ territory. Genie was glad that the tyrant only had three wishes, or more lives in the realm would have died...
Completing the Lizard Tyrant’s three wishes, Genie vaporized. Though the tyrant was unwilling to let the lamp go, Genie had no intention of staying. After that, the lamp changed hands for numerous times over the years. It had been so long since someone summoned Genie that it had lost count of how much time had passed.
Some time later, the magic lamp was bought by a merchant at a chamber of commerce and was taken to the castle as a gift for the emperor, Louis. Genie thought that it could finally take a rest and that no one would use its power for maleficent deeds again...
An individual named Ali Baba took the lamp from the castle and he was able to read the ancient script on the lamp. He summoned Genie!

Genie the Wish Granter: I am Genie the Wish Granter of this lamp. I can fulfill three wishes for you. What do you wish for?

Ali Baba: Mm...I can’t think of what I want all of a sudden. How about you, Genie?

Genie the Wish Granter: ...me?

Ali Baba: Right. What do you want?

Genie the Wish Granter: I...I want...“freedom”.

Genie thought there was no one in the world who was selfless enough to grant it freedom, but when Genie was asked what it desired, it did not mind saying it even though it knew no one cared. However, Genie was wrong; Ali Baba’s answer surprised it.

Ali Baba: Then let me help you. I’ll give you your freedom after my first two wishes.

Ali Baba: First...how about something like ‘a transcendent scimitar which can summon a bunch of men to help me steal’?

Genie could not help but burst into laughter. Maybe the master this time was an idiot and not as virtuous like the others. After laughing, Genie turned Ali Baba’s headpiece into a crown and said:

Genie the Wish Granter: Now you can summon subordinates. Just tap on the crown.

Ali Baba: Oh, really?

As Ali Baba spoke, he was already going to touch the crown. After Ali Baba tapped the crown, a cloud of mist appeared, in which meows could be heard. The mist gradually took shape and formed cats. Ali Baba whistled and jumped in excitement:

Ali Baba: Genie! You’re incredible!

Genie the Wish Granter: What is your second wish?

Ali Baba: I haven’t quite figured it out yet...I’ll let you know later.

Ali Baba said while jumping and somersaulting around Genie, getting on its nerves. Genie wanted to tell him to stop, but Ali Baba was its master. As long as he was not finished choosing his three wishes, Genie had to stay with him. Hence, Genie traveled with Ali Baba and suffered from his annoying words and attitude during the entire journey.

【Beginning】
Since then, Genie led a life of following Ali Baba and learned that he was actually a thief who stole numerous valuable treasures.

Genie the Wish Granter: ‘You being a thief never crossed my mind.’

Ali Baba: I’m not a thief! I’m THE thief! They’re different!

Genie the Wish Granter: ‘So either way, you steal...’

Ali Baba: Shush! I can’t think and observe clearly with all your babbling.

Genie, manifesting only its upper body, lay low on a roof with Ali Baba while he closely observed his next target. The treasure room was guarded at all times and it only had one door and one window. The window was so narrow that no Human could sneak through it, but a smile spread across Ali Baba’s face while he said:

Ali Baba: Humph! I won’t be stopped even if there were more guards!

Ali Baba lightly tapped his crown and cats emerged from the cloud of mist. He pointed at the treasure room and ordered the cats:

Ali Baba: Go and get the treasure for me!

To his surprise, none of the cats heeded his order and instead, merely did what they wanted — some licked their paws, some just sat there, and some were fighting each other. Ali Baba could not help but yell:

Ali Baba: Get the treasure!

His vexed yell did not draw the cats’ attention, but instead alarmed the guards...

【Before Battles】

Guard: Hey! What are you doing up there?!

Guard: Intruder! Get him!

【After Battles】

Ali Baba: Haha. Want to catch me with that turtle speed?

【End】
Seeing that Ali Baba had failed to steal the treasure and was pursued by numerous guards, Genie wanted to exploit the situation. Wanting Ali Baba to finish all of his wishes, Genie asked the thief:

Genie the Wish Granter: ‘Do you want to use your second wish, master? I can get you the treasure and help you escape this dangerous situation.’

Ali Baba: No need! I can handle this trivial matter. Don’t underestimate me!

Guards shot arrows at Ali Baba, who was on the roof and agilely dodging all of their incoming attacks with jumps and somersaults. After giving a mocking smile, Ali Baba leaped toward the ground. When the guards dashed to where he was supposed to have landed, Ali Baba had already gone, because he had already hidden himself in the kitchen. He waited until the guards walked away before he carefully left from the shadow. Genie then asked him again:

Genie the Wish Granter: ‘Are you sure you do not need my help? I can easily get everything done.’

Ali Baba: I said no. And those cats, they’re not helping...

Just then, Ali Baba happened to see fresh fish on the table. An idea flashed across his mind — he knew how to control the cats. Ali Baba took a few fish before he tapped the crown again. The green mist emerged and gradually turned into cats, but this time, instead of ordering them around, Ali Baba showed them the fish and said:

Ali Baba: If you get the treasure for me, I will give you these.

The cats’ eyes seemed to radiate before they hurriedly turned into mist and drifted through the treasure room’s tiny window. Ali Baba returned to the roof and waited for the cats to return. The green mist floated back to Ali Baba with the treasure, which he excitedly put into his pocket and took out the fish for the cats. After obtaining their food, the cats transformed into mist and went back into the crown.
Upon getting the treasure, Ali Baba hastily left the scene while talking to Genie.

Ali Baba: See? I said I didn’t need your help. Or how could I call myself THE best thief of all time? Haha.

Witnessing Ali Baba’s ability to effectively use his magic item and his sophisticated fighting skills, Genie thought that Ali Baba might not need his assistance for quite some time. Hence, Genie could not help but feel its head ache.
After that, Genie still followed Ali Baba around the realm and watched him gradually become the infamous “ Forty Thieves” by utilizing the cats’ power and his own abilities. To this day, still no one realized that the Forty Thieves were actually a single individual — Ali Baba.

Genie the Wish Granter: ‘As long as you wish for it, you can have all the treasures in the world! Why are you bothering yourself with stealing them?’

Ali Baba: Haha. That you won’t understand! Although the result is important, the process is even more crucial!

Genie gave up arguing with him. If he did not want to make his two remaining wishes, there was nothing Genie could do but to continue following him. However, Genie would remind him from time to time about his second wish. It was not only to leave him as soon as possible, but also restating their promise — using the third wish to grant Genie’s freedom...