Chapter 7: Resolution

I slowly open my eyes and it takes my mind a second to realize I am back in my house in reality. Back in my basement. Cecilia is in one of three places. In front of my VR pod, and I will see her as soon as I step out. At the kitchen table, exactly where she was before. Or, she will be gone.

Part of me hopes it is the second. The first would be odd, or maybe just bad timing, and the last one would be worse, because she could hurt herself. I think I’ve made up my mind though.

[Glad you’re being decisive. But you aren’t letting me know about it?]

I think you should have an idea of what’s going on though. Considering I came up with my idea shortly after you told me your ‘great plan’.

[Yeah, but I’m curious what you can do with the information, ‘I can move to someone else after three months’.]

“Come on, don’t play stupid.” I say out loud as I exit my VR pod. I look around and I see no sign of Cecilia down in the basement.

I slowly make my way up the stairs, avoiding all the steps that creak, so I don’t let her have the upper hand. I need to have the upper hand for this to work properly.

I sneak to my room before even going in to the kitchen, but what I see surprises me. I see Cecilia sleeping on my bed. I’m not particularly bothered, by it… she’s asleep?

[Lucky break. Didn’t you just say you wanted the upper hand?]

I did… but this is too convenient. Oh well, I’m not one to complain when things are handed to me. I just need to find that dammed contract I made her sign.

[What are you going to do with it?]

You’ll see soon enough. You just need to wait patiently.

I move to my dresser and slowly open the top drawer. Underneath all of my nicely folded socks, there was a piece of paper. The contract. Actually, this is just a copy. I have the real one hidden somewhere else, but I can just finish that off later, this is all I need for now.

“Ph… Phillip, you’re done with Forged Path already?” Cecilia nervously stands up, holding her hands behind her back. I hear paper rustle…

“Yeah I came to grab some socks, my feet were getting cold. So I figured I’d get a thicker pair.”

“Yeah… about us-” I cut her off.

“Why do you have our contract behind your back? I know it’s not the rental agreement. There is a copy at the government office, so even if you tear it, nothing will happen. It’s our other contract. The one that limits you in the things you can do to me and around the house.” I talk to her with a straight face. In my mind I’m dying, thinking: ARGH! I lost the upper hand in one swoop!

“I… uh…” Cecilia stops moving away and brings the contract in front of her. “I thought that maybe if you couldn’t find it… you’d maybe forget about it at some point and I… accidentally fell asleep…” She talks slowly, pausing a lot.

“Cecilia.” I sigh and hold out my hand. “There is nothing to worry about. Please give me the contract, you know I have a copy somewhere else. Why would I keep only one copy of something so important?”

“Yes… I came in here looking for said other copy… and fell asleep after crying…” Cecilia sits on the ground at the end of my bed. Dropping the contract on the ground, she starts to cry. “I was… happy living here with you. I was happy that I could spend time with you every day, make you food and… make you happy…”

I grab the contract and sit down in front of Cecilia with a smile on my face.

“You’ve worked hard Cecilia. This situation is truly a mess. It really is. I’ve known you liked me since before Ireina entered my head. It was just me be stubborn and not letting go of the past. It was me being difficult. I should have long since moved on by now.” Cecilia looks up at me as I stare at the contract. “I blamed it on trust, yet I was comfortable with you living here. I forget sometimes that you were the one that helped me first when I was feeling down. All I’ve done is push you away, yet you still seem to like me.”

“I…” Cecilia slowly wipes her tears away.

“No, I’m not going to question it. Whether it is an unhealthy obsession, or earnest love. It matters not to me. It was wrong of me to ignore it, and you, for so long. I am the one who is at fault.” I wipe the tears from her face with my sleeve. “Look at me Cecilia.” She raises her eyes to look in to mine. I slowly raise the contract to eye level using both hands. “This is useless now.”

I tear the contract in half. I don’t do it quickly, but it isn’t slow. I proceed to tear the contract in to small pieces, then I drop it to the ground.

“But…”

“Oh? Are you worried about the other copy?” I reach in to my dresser quickly and pull out the paper. I’ll probably have to re-fold my socks now. “Here is the last paper copy.”

[So this was your plan. You actually made it work while she had the upper hand. Good work Phillip, now how will you finish this?]

Ignoring Ireina, I tear the paper to shreds.

“The plan was to tear the copy of it first and then let you tear up the original, but what’s a plan without a little deviation from the original?”

“Phillip… what are you doing.” Cecilia stands up slowly.

“I’m making a decision. You are free to do as you like. You are no longer bound by a contract. I know that’s probably not the only thing that was holding you back, but it might help you knowing you don’t have to follow those rules.” I sigh as I shrug my shoulders, standing up and looking eye to eye with Cecilia. “My decision is complicated, I hope you are ready for what I have to say.”

“What do you mean… complicated…” Cecilia frowns, “Most of your decisions are straight forward. How can this one be complicated…?” Cecilia hesitates to move anywhere, staring on to my eyes.

“So, this is going to require a lot of work on everyone’s end… but Ireina, the goddess AI thing.” Cecilia nods her head, “It basically owns me. I’m not upset by it, it’s actually quite helpful. However… here’s the thing. She says I am her possession, but you also like me. So I was at an impasse. That was how it was, until she told me something. She can move to another mind after three more months. Technically she will still be in my mind, but her main consciousness will have moved to someone else…” I pause for dramatic effect.

“Yes!” Cecilia nods her head.

“Wait… I was just pausing for dramatic effect. How did you know what I was going to say?”

“You were going to suggest that she move her main consciousness to my head and then if you date me at that point it would technically not be dating two people, but a single person.”

“Um… not what I had in mind… but that works just as well!” I smile happily. “I was thinking that since she is a goddess, she must be able to control the body as well. Probably a boat load of conditions to that.”

[So many conditions you wouldn’t even believe. The least of which is the original owner letting me have control over the body, and letting me keep control over it. They would be able to boot me out whenever they felt like it as well.]

“She says it’s possible to control your body…” I pause again and make a complicated expression. “It’s a complicated solution and it feels wrong… morally. I would still technically be going out with two people. If I even went out with you.”

“You would.” Cecilia nods with confidence.

[I agree with her. You would.] Ireina’s voice radiating with confidence.

“Argh, you both said the same thing.” I sigh and hang my head. “So that’s the situation. It feels wrong to me… right now. It really does. But I am owned by a goddess and I would feel absolutely horrible if I just told you to leave.” As I finish talking, Cecilia suddenly hugs me.

“I will accept anything. I’m so happy you finally told me your true feelings.”

“All I did was say I might do some things. There’s no reason to thank me yet.” I sigh as I hug Cecilia back, despite my complaining.

[I thought you didn’t complain when things were handed to you?]

Shut up. I can do whatever I want!

“Thank you Phillip. Thank you so much!” Cecilia starts to cry on my shoulder as she continues to squeeze me. I think I feel my back cracking, but I ignore it as she cries.

---Later that day---

“So, are you calm now?” I ask Cecilia while we sit at the kitchen table beside each other. I take a drink of water from my glass while waiting for her answer.

“I think so. I’m really sorry for crying for so long. I was just so relieved that you weren’t going to kick me out of your house for lying to you.” She takes a drink from her glass of water.

“I don’t mind. I relieved me a little too, knowing I didn’t have to kick you out. I would have felt bad for probably the rest of my life. I was also worried that I was going to start a harem… but the definition gets a little fuzzy when you shove two people in the same body.”

“But what if anybody else starts to like you?”

“Fuck ‘em! I already have what I need!” I sigh and then smile, “You know Cecilia. Forged path is actually a really fun game.”

“I’m sure it would be, Mr. ‘Let’s change the subject’, if I wasn’t trapped as a slave. You know, no one has bought me yet? A girl from another world, skills unknown to these lands! I mean, I don’t want to be bought as a pet, but I don’t want to stay in a cage for my login time either!”

“I see, I’m on my way to the coastline, what city were you captured in?”

“Innisgrale. Or so everyone says.” Cecilia sighs, “I haven’t heard of anyone making it near the town at all. The forums all say that they were mauled by giant bears, or attacked by bandits, no matter where they approached the town from.”

“I’m in that town. It’s a funny story. I was being chased by a Devil Bear. It’s a large black bear that has red stripes. I read about while I was in a library. Anyways, I ran from the thing for a solid hour. I have no idea why it didn’t kill me. Maybe it was enjoying the chase. I neared the town and, what would you know, I saw a group of guards there that were getting ready to head out to hunt that Devil Bear that was chasing me.”

“You are incredibly lucky… go to the store and buy a couple lottery tickets.” Cecilia smiles. “That’s some incredible luck.”

“It doesn’t end there either!” I puff out my chest, “The guard that specifically saved me happened to be a part of the royal guard sent there on punishment! All he did was badmouth a prince.”

“I thought it was a country.” Cecilia tilts her head.

“Yeah, he said it was run more like a kingdom. Oh, the continent’s name is Romania. Some called it Romania Kingdom in the past, but now it is Romania Continent.” I laugh, “Anyways, I’m receiving the training of a city guard with actually having to become a city guard. I’m sure I’ll be asked, but I can just refuse.”

“That’s insane!” Cecilia lowers her head, “If only I had the same luck you did. But you should seriously invest in a lottery ticket.”

“I’ll think about it… actually I’m craving fast food. Want to go out with me and get some? We can buy a lottery ticket on the way back.” I stand up and hold my hand out to Cecilia.

“I’d love to go with you.” Cecilia smiles as she take my hand. We quickly leave and grab some food.