41 Back to basics

The warmth of the body in my arms disappeared. The heavy metal chest plate was no longer pressed against me. The panting breath on my neck has left. The smell of the heavy fog and blood in the air was gone in a moment.

I closed my eyes and tried to live in the moment for just a little longer. Yet, as sweet as the memory was it was not enough. Not enough for me to ignore the rest of the world.

I was back. In this room where I spent ages researching. The place I spent hours trying to modify a recipe to use less expensive or faulty ingredients. The stone cold floor was a bitter reminder that this world was mine. That the dream ended. 

I could only face this place now. It was nostalgic and unfamiliar. I had spent so long calling that cabin my home that this place felt alien. Even if this place was just as valuable to me as that cabin.

This was the place where I tested my wit. A place to hide away from the rest of the world. A sanctuary that was baptized in Fortuna's birth. This place changed so many things for me that I could not forget it. 

I did not consider the importance of this place to me until this moment. How could I have threatened it when so many happy memories were here? Sure they were not the intoxicating moments spent basking in Lily's presence. Yet, these memories were just as important.

I could even argue that it was more important than those bitter memories. Yet, I would have sacrificed it all in some sort of petty revenge against the wrong things.

I did not hate this castle. This place was just another part of me that I let fade away out of spite. The people that tormented me here had no sway on these walls. Potter's insufferable ignorance was a thing far removed from this haven. Dumbledore's nonsensical authority could not touch me here. Lily's ever present domination of my memories could not dye this sanctuary.

So even if I did not want to be in this place right now I could not help but relax a little. No, that was wrong I had no problems with this place I just wanted a certain someone to be by my side as well. That was the only thing that was missing from this place.

Fortuna's mood was ever present as usual. She was bathing me in her affections as she usually did. Sometimes I could get the impression that she was upset with me but that would fade quickly. The pure emotion that hummed in my chest was enough to clarify her care.

I could not doubt her just as I could not doubt the beating of my own heart.

Her showering of affection was enough to take away some of the bite of this whole scenario. I was just going to have to accept that this was how things were going to have to be. I could talk to Ashley whenever I wanted. I could also visit her whenever I pleased. The massive amount of points I got could prove that.

[The chat mission has been completed! Congratulations to Users Red-Head Obsessed Prince and Likely To Fuck Her Brother for clearing the mission!]

[They have chosen to send an invite to the User Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin.]

Why was I not surprised that her Username would be something like that? Argo did have to spend literal ages with those whiskers on her face. Most people called her a rat but a cat motif would have fit just as well.

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: Nice to meet you information-san!]

[Feminine Penis: Why is this also a Skyrim joke?]

[Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin: I thought this was something in game!? Why am I seeing this in the real world!? Am I still trapped in there!?]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: You are out of the game Argo. This is a multiversal chat group. You must have gotten something from the newbie gift pack that should be more than enough proof.]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: Game?]

[Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin: You better not be pulling my leg Prince. I will have Ashley wring your neck if this is. Somethings are too cruel to joke about.]

[Feminine Penis: Prince-san does not care about being cruel T-T]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: Ah, I had time to think about it Izumi-san. I am sorry about what I did to you, I was not in the best place and it seemed like the easiest way to take care of things. I could have handled that differently. I know that it will not make things right between us but I had to say sorry anyways. You can send me the merchandise that was destroyed and I can fix everything.]

[Feminine Penis: YOU CAN FIX MY LIMITED EDTION LALA-DARKMODE!?]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: I am not saying sorry.]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: Magic can fix a lot of things Izumi-san. Also, don't listen to Ashley she is a brat. I am sure some part of her feels bad.]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: There is no such thing. Don't listen to his lies.]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: A very very small part.]

[Feminine Penis: I don't need the apology just fix everything please!]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: I will, I should have never put a fellow otaku through something like that.]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: So no more threats?]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: I care a great deal about Ashley but I won't be punishing you guys so needlessly. We are supposed to be a group and me doing that was cruel. Ashley is more bark than bite so don't worry about her.]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: Lies! I will still cut a bitch if I have to… I may have been a little hasty in my opinion about you chumps. So I probably don't need to stab you guys…maybe.]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: Glad to see you making progress Ashley. Baby steps and all that shit.]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: I don't know what you are fucking yapping about.]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: I don't know if that means I am safe or not.]

[Feminine Penis: Same.]

There I apologized and managed to get some semblance of normality. Izumi sent me a rather large amount of goods through the Chat Group. He had a lot of shit, most of it magical girl stuff. Even Serafall would be impressed with his collection. Those two must never meet. Izumi might complete his transformation in a Trap if they did. 

I quickly fixed everything. My magic was truly the answer to all of my problems and issues. I sent all of his merchandise back to Izumi. It did not make up for the mental trauma I inflicted on him but it was something. 

[Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin: IS THIS REALLY A DEVIL FRUIT!?]

[Feminine Penis: Wait really!?]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: THAT'S SO COOL!]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: I mean I don't know but if the system called it that. Then yeah it probably is.]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: Is this one of those anime things again?]

[Feminine Penis: Gah, why must you be like this Bro-con!? This is a DEVIL FRUIT!]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: Heretic!]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: One of these days we are going to have to sit down and watch some anime together Ashley. We could make it a whole day just cuddling and watching masterpieces.]

[Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin: You guys finally got together? Kirito owes me a thousand yen. There was no way incest was going to hold you two back.]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: I am not related to Ashley.]

[Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin: WHAT!? That has to be a lie!? You can trust me Prince no one will know about your sick sibling love.]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: He really is not. Lol]

[Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin: Fuck! Now I can't collect my winnings. My reputation is going to be in tatters. No one is going to trust me anymore if they find out I did not know something like that!]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: Can we take a step back. Prince-san and Bro-con got together!?]

[Feminine Penis: Shocking! He broke the route! He is a flag breaker!]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: Forget that! He is now a NTR protagonist!]

[Feminine Penis: OH GOD!]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: Quick! Argo-san. Did Prince-san have dyed yellow hair!? Or did he have no eyes!?]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: Wait! Ashley and her brother were not like that. So I could not be an NTR protagonist.]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: What the fuck are y'all going on about now!?]

[Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin: SHE HAD A DIFFERENT BROTHER SHE WANTED TO FUCK!?]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: I am not her brother! She did not want to fuck him! It was just likely to happen!]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: That did not sound any better, fuck how can I explain this.] 

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: Good luck.]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: This involves you as well!]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: I know what I am about I don't need to explain jack.]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: Wait, could Prince-san be an Ugly Bastard!?]

[Feminine Penis: HE NEVER POSTED A PICTURE HE COULD BE!]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: I ALMOST WENT ON A MISSION WITH AN UGLY BASTARD. MY CHASITY WAS IN DANGER!]

[Feminine Penis: MY BUTT WAS IN DANGER!]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: I AM NOT A NTR PROTAGOINIST!]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: I mean you did take me.]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: You are not helping!]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: Was not planning on being helpful.]

[Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin: Ignoring all these grand revelations. Prince was not an Ugly Bastard. He did not look like your typical NTR protagonist either.]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: Praise be no Ugly Bastards!]

[Feminine Penis: Praise be!]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: Thank you Argo. I was not sure how to handle this.]

[Khajit Has Information If You Have Coin: No problem Prince! The scary thing about him is that he did not look like a NTR Protagonist but he clearly is still one. I HAVE TO GO WARN KIRITO. WHO KNOWS WHAT HE DID TO POOR ASUNA!]

[Feminine Penis:AHHHHHHHHHHH!]

[Breast Reduction Is Off The Table: AHHHHHHHHHH!]

[Likely To Fuck Her Brother: Lol.]

[Red-Head Obsessed Prince: I AM NOT AN NTR PROTAGONIST!]

I was not! No matter how things turned out I was not one of those guys! Ashley's brother was the only thing she ever had. She did not feel romantically for him. She just wanted his affection no matter the price. 

Wait, a minute. I was fully capable of making drugs that would have most women a stuttering sloppy pile. I could be a rather effective NTR protagonist. I did not even have to put much effort into it. I even had those thoughts about doing that to Lily.

Not to mention all of the people I felt a romantic connection to had some sort of relationship. Ashley with her obsessive desire and Lily with her wishy washy feelings.

I was not an NTR protagonist right?

I was just going to ignore that conundrum for now. I may not have liked being compared to those guys but what did it matter if I was? It did not really change who I was as a person.

I had one thing left from the mission that I had not used yet. The Multiversal Gacha Ticket. I might as well see what that thing gave me.

[User: Red-Head Obsessed Prince has rolled the Multiversal Gacha and has received Alpha Stigma (S-rank)]

I was really not sure how to feel about this one.