Chapter 204: Rejection

"That was so confusing... There was a fan club for me!?" Cassandra said.

"Yeah. You would feel right at home there," I said.

She was very happy to hear it.

So happy, that she tackled me and kissed my lips over and over.

Since I felt entirely torn between loving and being angry with her, I sort of just let it happen.

Isabella is probably going to be pissed. But I'll be glad if she has the opportunity to, all things considered...

Cassandra laid her head on my chest and closed her eyes.

"We need to discuss a few things, Cassandra..." I said.

"I know...but I just want to enjoy this..." She said.

"First of all, I still want to get Isabella back," I said.

"I thought as much..." She said.

"I owe it to her for everything she did for me. Still...if you're willing to come along..."

She looked up at me and smiled.

"I will follow you forever, darling! After all, I am Mizik's slave. His possession!" Cassandra said happily.

You're...not really a slave anymore...

"Look, Cassandra... I probably shouldn't call you my slave at this point. You're my wife now," I said.

"Eh!? U-umm...as glad as I am to hear that... Does that still make me your possession? I...kind of liked it... I still want you to call me your slave..." She said.

Weird! You're so damn weird!

"Sure... You're still my...possession... I guess... If that's what you want, I can oblige. I love you, Cassandra. I truly mean it. But we have a lot of work to do," I said.

"Right! So, when I came to, I was already awake and in my...unhappy place..." She said as she slowly got off of me.

"And you saw an image of a purple dragon with the memories?" I said as Cassandra helped me up next to her.

"I did. But it felt different, like it wasn't a memory."

That was truly strange...

I didn't see anything on my end like that and my status menu was heavily glitched.

Currently, it was functioning as normal.

I silently wondered to myself how all of the other Miziks were doing...

I promised them at one point before I left that I would find a way to fix everything. The current plan was to torture the hell out of the Oracle. Hopefully, to the point where she died screaming a thousand deaths just like I did.

I tried to get up and realized my body was still in terrible pain from shooting up fifty levels out of nowhere.

Strangely, I had leveled lots before, but never had any adverse effects from it. In all honesty, I just assumed it was because I didn't earn this level.

Blessing of the Creator did this for me.

"Let's get ready and go talk to Isabella," I said.

Then Cassandra hugged me and frowned.

"You're not going anywhere. You need to rest first. And I get to take care of you like a proper wife!" Cassandra said happily.

Oh...right...

"Ah...fine. But do you have any ideas on how you managed to keep your memories? Something on my end also caused the system to break. I'm not sure what, exactly. I want to know in case we can use it to get Isabella back."

"Hard to say...but I have a theory. What if it has to do with the Corruption?" Cassandra said.

It was a possibility, considering the fact that Difar and his fragments never lose their memories.

But if it were true that those who were Corrupted couldn't lose their memories, why did Arvild forget everything? Hadn't he been infected before?

Why did everyone in the world forget?

It was the strangest thing...

The only possible theory was that if it had to do with the Corruption, it was also because of another factor that we were ignoring.

Basically, it was something out of our control.

"It could, but that only raises more questions. Although, I'm starting to doubt that we can control it," I said.

Cassandra looked a bit worried as I said this.

"Mizik...I really don't think we should worry about Isabella at this point," she said

"I still want to try. She deserves at least that much," I said.

"Then get some sleep. I'll take care of you until you feel better," she said

"Okay...but I have another question... Did you merge with your current self? And if so, she isn't going to get violent, is she?" I asked.

"An excellent question, darling! My current self was broken, lonely, and full of hatred just like the despicable old me. However, she couldn't resist the version of me that merged with her. In fact, after learning about you, she didn't want to resist. She accepted it fully and whole-heartedly! Just like my darling Mizik accepted me last night...ehehe..." Cassandra said.

Stop being dirty.

"Right... That was...really crazy last night..." I said nervously.

"Wasn't it wonderful!? Actually...if possible... I want Mizik to chain me up in the dungeon and-"

"WOAH! Hold on! Why!? Isn't that a bit much!?" I said as I felt my face heat up.

I felt like I was sweating at the thought of such a thing.

"Not at all! You promised to violate me, darling! Won't you prove to me that you forgive me!? It's only right...fitting for my darling to have his way with me while I'm in chains! Especially in that place!" Cassandra said.

She started breathing heavily and blushing.

Why? Why can't you just be normal? You don't have to be so freaky! I mean...it's an interesting change of pace...but still!

"Cassandra, I'm not going to torture you. Not in any way," I said.

I knew what she meant, but I wanted to pretend like she meant something else in case I was wrong.

"Silly Mizik! I'm not talking about that! I want you and I to go in the dungeon and express our immense love to each other through-"

"I get it! Please stop... This body still isn't desensitized to that yet..." I said.

"Even better! I get to see Mizik's innocent expressions when he hears my shouts of-"

"S-stop being so perverted! We can discuss that later..." I said.

Cassandra smiled adoringly at me and kissed my cheek.

"We have plenty of time before we depart Albatross, darling. Let's make the most of it~! I'll be the best wife ever! I promise! I'll be even better than Isabella!" She said.

And then she kissed me again.

From that day forward, I no longer saw status menu glitches and dreams of death.

* * *

Cassandra was really good at taking care of me.

She could actually cook.

All this time, Cassandra knew how to cook! And she was REALLY good at it! She mentioned cooking before, but I assumed she couldn't actually do it.

I was so wrong. She was amazing at cooking. A true natural! Someone gifted in the culinary arts!

She told me that her stubborn sister refused her knowledge and advice because she wanted to please me on her own.

I admired the determination, but Isabella shouldn't be allowed in the kitchen under any circumstances.

When I wondered about Cassandra's cooking ability, she told me: 'you never asked, darling'.

Although I remember her offering several times. I declined because I didn't want to have her doting on me.

Who could have guessed that she was better at it than I was...?

She was also amazing at making drinks and potions. Especially drugs and poisons.

She made medicine for me while I was recovering.

And she could mix drinks like a master...

Lastly, she seemed quite good at sewing and weaving. She made most of the clothes I had worn recently and had a room down the hall dedicated to her many crafts.

Of the many hobbies she mentioned having, she really did excel at all of them.

Her sister didn't seem to possess many practical skills, however.

Isabella was incredibly smart, good with people, great with negotiations, acting, playing instruments, and singing, to name a few.

While Cassandra preferred simpler things.

She wasn't very skilled in acting and had never learned to play any instruments. Her negotiations skills were somewhat lacking as well.

She could sing just as well as her sister, but never really practiced with it.

And she was surprisingly smart. In fact, she placed second at the academy in testing back when she attended...just behind Isabella.

I was surprised at how normal she was.

All things considered, of course.

Cassandra was a crazy, obsessive stalker. To say that she was weird was an understatement.

She seemed to want to immerse herself in as much as me as possible. Even going as far as to take a great interest in all of my own hobbies as well.

Isabella never expressed a great interest in learning a lot of my practical survival skills or hobbies.

Cassandra wanted to learn everything and have me teach her. It seemed like a good bonding exercise.

Regardless, I was more than happy to have her at my side.

I also asked Cassandra about her conversation with Cain regarding going into my room.

I made her tell the truth.

She wanted to visit my room to smell my clothes and lay in my bed like some kind of pervert.

Because 'the scent of Mizik is the greatest scent in the world!'

I married a perverted stalker!

Regardless, when I began feeling better several days later, it was finally time to talk to Isabella.

* * *

As the Oracle stood within the scrying hall of the council building, she frowned.

"Something is very wrong here..." She said.

She assassinated Mizik, but...

Somehow, he regained his memories.

What's more, is that Cassandra helped him accomplish this. She never lost her memories at all.

"This has never happened before. What is going on? And why do I feel as if I am in terrible danger...?"

The Oracle looked around.

"Did his warning have meaning? And is this...the great disaster that he spoke of...? No...I will fix this. Things will have to be reset again. Yes...I will find a way."

The Oracle began scrying once more...

*   *   *

"Mizik...I really think Isabella is a lost cause. Please reconsider..." She said.

I hugged Cassandra and smiled.

"It would be wrong of me not to try to get her back. We went through a lot and she saved my life more times than I can count. Please, I have to do this," I said.

Cassandra reluctantly nodded and we went to go find Isabella.

She was finishing one of her classes on the second floor and I approached her.

I knew her schedule, after all. I never forgot after all these years...

"Oh! Hello, Mizik. I haven't seen you around for a while so I was curious on where you went. Are you enjoying married life?" She asked.

Look what that damn Oracle did to you...

"Yes... Yes I am. But I need to talk to you."

"Oh? You seem...different than usual. Is it your eyes? Maybe the way you speak? You have a much more determined air about you. You're much more mature. It's certainly...interesting..." Isabella said as she looked me up and down.

I was standing differently than normal, but I also knew her well enough to tell that she was sizing me up in a romantic sort of way. Apparently, I might have caught her attention.

"It's a long story. I need you to come with me and Cassandra, though," I said as I reached for her hand.

I felt someone grab my wrist and Walter appeared.

"You are not permitted to touch Princess Isabella, Mizik. I respect you, so I will offer you this one warning," he said.

"Good to see you too, Walter. But this goes far beyond what you can understand. I'm not trying to hurt her," I said as I pulled my hand out of his grip.

Walter was strong, to be sure, but I could tell from that little exchange that I was stronger.

Not to mention...I was the wielder of Vengeance. This meant that regardless of his personal duty or attachment to his charge, Honor was loyal to me.

"Walter? It's okay. I trust Mizik not to harm me. Besides, I believe my sister and I have ended our feud," Isabella said with a gentle smile.

By Iris, I miss you...

"I understand. I shall trust him as well. But I will not leave your side," he said.

"Walter, it would probably be best if you didn't concern yourself with what I want to talk to her about," I said.

"I shall concern myself if it has anything to do with my charge. It is my duty."

"Fine. But please don't get involved," I said.

"I will make no promises."

It's your funeral. Don't say I didn't warn you...

I wanted him to leave us alone, but I motioned for Isabella to follow us, regardless.

Once we sat down in a room together, Cassandra placed herself next to me and Isabella sat on a couch on the other side of the small table between us.

"Isabella...what I'm about to say might shock you to your very core. You probably won't believe me, either. But I promise you that it's all true. Please... Hear me out," I said.

"I trust you, Mizik. You've been such a kind gentleman to my dear sister. You are my brother-in-law, after all," Isabella said.

"No. I'm not. I come from a different timeline. One where you and I were married, instead."

Isabella's expression changed to one of intrigue and uneasiness.

"Like I said, it's hard to believe. But I need you to listen to me. You were always reasonable and smart. I need you to give me your full attention," I said.

Then she straightened her posture and narrowed her eyes.

"You may proceed," she said.

I really never wanted to be on the receiving end of this... But I'll have to do my best to not piss her off...

"Be careful, Mizik..." Cassandra said.

"I know. I remember this part of her all too well..."

Isabella raised an eyebrow to me and I continued.

"I was somehow selected to be a hero that fights against a world-destroying plague called the Corruption. Our world is currently experiencing the effects of it and will cease to exist within a few years as a result. In the midst of it, you and I fell in love and got married. You saved me from dying at Cassandra's hands and became a shield to protect me on my journey. We were married for twenty years," I said.

"I see... Is there anything else?" She asked.

"Yes..."

I began explaining everything I could currently recall in as much detail as I could give her.

I also talked about what the Corruption is, the things we did, her personality, habits, and likes.

I also talked about her dislikes.

I told her many stories of our loving interactions. I told her of our adventures and even our battles.

Finally, when I had finished, she stared blankly at me.

"So this other version of me was...married to you... And you have certainly given me a lot of evidence to support it... Even if it was just words..." Isabella said.

I could tell that she was conflicted...but...

She smiled and laughed.

"Ah...you...must have had the same dream as Cassandra. Yes...I think this is the most likely case..." Isabella said.

"Isabella, I-"

"Silence! I do not wish to believe any of this...nonsense! How do you know so much about me from a simple dream!?" She asked.

"Because the best twenty years of my life could never be a dream. Every moment I spent with you was precious. You saved my life so many times and the love we shared together was more pure than an untouched spring of fresh water."

"You are...oh... You certainly have a way with words..." Isabella said.

I could see her blushing a little and I smiled.

"Is there anything coming back to you? Anything at all?" I asked.

"Look...let us say I believe you for the sake of this talk. If you and I were married, why have you now given yourself to my sister instead of me? You said she tortured you, after all."

"Ugh...because she took advantage of the fact that you didn't have memories. I didn't have my memories either until a few days ago. The morning after we wed, I went into her dungeon because of the strange messages on my status menu and got my memories back. The day we met after I came back to Albatross, I couldn't focus because of the messages. Does that sound right?"

"Yes...you seemed very unattentive..."

"Good. The trip into her dungeon caused my former self and I to merge. Cassandra never lost her memories and in the previous world, she-"

"Yes, developed an obsessive love for you, correct?" Isabella said.

"Precisely," I said.

"I see. Well, I will say two things before I take my leave. First, even if you are telling the truth, I will never allow myself to share a man with any other woman. So consider that 'marriage' null and void. She looks enough like me to be an ample replacement. Secondly, I would like to say that I have decided not to believe a word of any of this. I believe you are likely a stalker with delusions of grandeur. I hope my sister comes to her senses and divorces you," Isabella said coldly.

I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces.

"W-wait...Isabella!" I said.

She stood up and looked down at me as if I were an insect.

"I thought you were a respectable man... It seems like the only thing nice about you is the handsome and cute face you have. It is wasted on an awful degenerate such as yourself," Isabella said.

Then she turned and walked away.

After that, Walter appeared.

"You are a truly despicable human being, Mizik. Do my Lady a favor and never speak to her again," he said angrily.

Then he, too, walked away.

I slumped down as the door to the room shut and cried silently.

Cassandra hugged me and leaned her head on my shoulder.