Chapter 3: The Puzzle Deepens
Words- 1904
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It's been a few days since I woke up in this world, and I'm still adjusting to my new life here. To be honest, it feels surreal—like I'm living in a dream I don't want to wake up from. The power flowing through me, the possibilities that come with it, it's all exhilarating. It's like my blood's always pumping, my mind racing with ideas.
And guess what? I've discovered another mind-blowing feature of the Essence of Home (E.H.). If I declare a place as my home, it becomes a part of E.H.—completely invulnerable and utterly customizable. So now, I don't have to worry about the Ironborn or any other raiders. Nobody's breaching this castle, and if they try? Good luck to them. Ser Patrik will handle protecting the surrounding villages, but as for the castle itself? It's untouchable.
Even better, now that the castle is connected to E.H., I can feel its entire layout, down to the tiniest detail. And let me tell you—it's unlike anything in Westeros. Sure, from the outside, it looks like your standard medieval fortress, but on the inside? It's on a whole other level.
The walls are hollow, with warm water flowing through them, pumped up from a hot spring located 20 kilometers away. That same spring supplies all the water for the castle. It's like central heating, centuries ahead of its time. And the use of glass? Ridiculous. Glass is a luxury in this world, but here? It's everywhere—windows, decorations, even furniture.
But the real kicker is the plumbing. The pipes, the drains—everything about it screams advanced engineering. Not to mention the mana I can feel running through the walls, keeping everything functioning. There are wards woven into the very structure, enhancing the walls' strength and durability. Whoever built this place wasn't just ahead of their time—they were from a completely different world.
Sitting on my bed, staring out at the stars through my window, I stretch out my hand. A book on mind magic appears in my palm, summoned from the depths of E.H.
Yeah, I've barely scratched the surface of what E.H. can do, but I already know this: it's an infinitely expanding dimension that reshapes itself to fit my needs. It's like an extension of me, so I instinctively understand its essence. The library, for example? It's massive, like the collected knowledge of every civilization and world is stored there. I've only spent a little time exploring it, but even from what I've seen, it's overwhelming.
[Libraries]
The best part? E.H. doubles as my inventory. If I need something, I just think about it, and it's there—like this book.
I flip through the pages, scanning spells written in a language I don't recognize but somehow understand. Within minutes, I've learned mind reading, mind manipulation, hypnosis, and illusions. Talk about overpowered. According to the book, I'm a mere beginner by multiverse standards, but in this world? I'm probably already a magical powerhouse.
Why start with mind magic, you ask? Because I have a nagging doubt in the back of my mind. It's not even a proper suspicion—more like an itch I can't scratch, a feeling that something isn't right. And if someone did plant it there, I need to know.
---
The Next Morning
"Sarah," I ask as she helps me dress, her deft hands tying the laces of my tunic. "What can you tell me about my father? What kind of person was he? What did he look like?"
She pauses, her brow furrowing. "He was an amazing person, my Lord. Well-respected by everyone. But… he was cold. He didn't speak much."
"And? What about his appearance? What did he look like?" I press.
Her confusion deepens, and she stares at me like I've asked her to describe a ghost. "What are you asking, my Lord?"
"What about my mother, what did she look like?" I asked.
Same response. That's what I got.
That's when I realize something's wrong. There's not a single portrait of my father—or any of my ancestors—in the entire castle. And yet, no one finds that strange.
Reaching into Sarah's mind, I search for memories of my father. But there's nothing. Not a single memory of him—or of anything before my birth. Her supposed brother? She only remembers him from after I was born. It's like her entire life began the moment I came into existence.
---
After breakfast, I wander the castle, observing the people going about their daily work. But in reality, I'm reading their minds, searching for anything that predates my birth.
Nothing. Not a single memory.
---
I step into Sereyna's quarters, finding her seated at her desk, her quill scratching against parchment. "Ma, when are we starting my light body exercises?"
She glances up, sighing. "Why must you be so stubborn? Fine. We'll start tomorrow."
"Thanks, Ma." I give her a smile and dart out of the room.
Yup. Blank, everything is blank before I came into existence. Though I did find something intresting. It would seem Master Edward had been using coins from castle's treasury for his wine and wh*ring. And Sereyna decided she would play spy. She was matching the reports to the actual spending when I entered.
Something needs to be done about it.
As I entered the solar, I see an obese man sitting behind the desk reading a book.
Seeing me entering, he asked," What can I do for you my Lord?"
I don't feel the need to respond as I cast mind control magic on him to only follow my orders.
"You will run the house how you used to without any theft and if anything important comes up, you have to inform me about it."
I said .
I had hardwired his brain to work like a robot. He will only follow my command, eat and sleep. His brain only activates when someone is talking to him.
A quick check in his brain tells me that he is the same as others regarding previous memories, blank. Yes, he was stealing money for wine and wh*res. And that everyone in citadel was a rat who stole information. Good thing I took care of this spy.
It's clear now: whoever reincarnated me didn't just drop me into this world. They planted my family and me into the middle of an already-running simulation, complete with fake memories and fabricated histories.
---
For now, I've got magic to study and a multiverse worth of knowledge to explore.
Sitting in my bed, I cast a Do Not Disturb spell on the door—my version of a muggle repellent charm. It should keep any unwanted guests away while I dive into my studies.
"Alright," I mutter to myself, rubbing my hands together. "Let's get started."
I pull out a stack of books I had stored in E.H., the titles alone making me giddy with excitement.
Use of Mana for Beginners
How Magic Works
Basic Magic Spells Used in HP Verse
Magic Clones
Baby Steps for Space Magic
Augmentation
Casting Blessings and Curses
"That should be enough for now," I say, laying them out neatly in front of me.
By noon, I've already devoured How Magic Works. It's an eye-opener, full of fascinating concepts that spark a dozen new ideas I can't wait to experiment with. Following that, I breeze through Basic Magic Spells Used in HP Verse and, most importantly, Magic Clones.
Now, Magic Clones—that's a game-changer. It's basically the magical equivalent of Naruto's Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, but with a twist. These clones are bodies of flesh and blood, not mere illusions. They don't disappear when hit unless I, the caster, will it. They bleed like real people, and if one sustains enough damage to "die," it's as messy as the real thing. The memories they gather flow back to me without any mental backlash, and I don't feel their pain.
I can even see through their eyes, issue mental commands, and here's the kicker—they can perform magic just like me. Of course, their magical reserves come directly from mine, but since my mana pool is essentially infinite, that's not a problem. They're perfect for multitasking and, let's be honest, for some hilarious pranks. Imagine a clone dramatically dying in a pool of blood just to freak someone out. The possibilities are endless.
Grinning at the thought, I create my first clone. He materializes beside me, stretching and looking around with curiosity.
"Alright, you're up," I tell him. "Go about your day so Sereyna doesn't start worrying where I've gone."
The clone nods, mimicking my grin, and moves to take my place. Dispelling the Do Not Disturb charm from the door, I step into the cozy study room within E.H., ready to dive even deeper into my magical studies.
[Room]
---
The next morning, I wake up feeling refreshed. Dispelling the clone, I glance at the bedside table, where a folded piece of parchment sits.
Unfolding it, I read:
"Sorry, my friend,
I forgot to add physical evidence of your family's existence and only put it in their memories. I've corrected this mistake, so now there are portraits of your father and ancestors, as well as other artifacts showing they existed. There are even books detailing your family's history in Cathidole.
Bye."
Of course. Of course, he's been watching. And of course, he could change everything with a snap of his fingers.
Shaking my head, I chuckle. "Right, because why not? Might as well rewrite reality while you're at it."
---
During the day, I take some time to check out the so-called "evidence" my mysterious benefactor added. True to his word, there are now portraits of my father and ancestors lining the halls, their painted faces staring down at me with a kind of regal authority. Books in the library chronicle my family's history in excruciating detail, from the founding of the castle to my father's exploits.
Curiously, though, when I probe everyone's memories, nothing has changed. Their recollections remain exactly as they were—fabricated but consistent. It's only the physical evidence that's been updated.
Honestly, I find it both funny and fascinating. The sheer audacity of it!
It even gives me an idea. Imagine creating an entire world and scattering the skeletons of mythical creatures—dragons, giants, whatever—just to mess with future archaeologists. They'd be digging up bones and rewriting history books about civilizations and beasts that never existed.
I grin to myself. Yeah, I'm definitely doing that someday.
_________This is the dividing line between insanity and MC's brain.__________________
Author:- Tell me how you liked the character and do comment how you want story to go from here and also tell me if you have any intresting ideas.