'Seriously… what is this bastard on about?'

Mias continued, with no regard to Vale's incomprehension.

"As for when I was marked… It was when Ophelia spotted me. Specifically, it came after she made the offer of knowledge."

Mias snickered, pleased at Vales befuddled look.

"Because that was the moment I decided to betray you, making marking me a possibility."

Vale reeled back, questions aplenty in his mind.

"So, you did betray me?"

'What the hell is going on!'

'Can someone understand for me?!'

Mias looked pleased upon spotting Vale's increasingly confused face.

"To beat an oracle, it takes much more than hiding yourself and your actions; it also takes feeding them true, but misguiding, information."

Mias laughed and added:

"The moment I let myself be marked, and that half of me began to relay its future to the oracle, it was imperative that I betray you for real."

Vale screamed:

"So you did betray me!"

Mias looked incredibly amused with himself.

"Well, half of me did…"

Vale was wildly confused.

Mias continued:

"I'd made up my mind right then and there that I'd eliminate my involvement as much as possible, besides what was necessary, to control the variables. To that end, I decided to only interfere directly if Ophelia was about to kill you, or you her. Making my betrayal to you real, but still, there was a future where I killed Ophelia instead of saving her. That future the oracle would prevent, so it could be eliminated. Meaning, the only possible remaining outcome was your victory."

'This doesn't make any sense!'

Mias chuckled:

"With that in mind, the half of me that was here was replaced by a fourth of me, which split and came back from the village. While this me was out and about, having the time of its life exploring the lands. I know it's confusing, but despite my mind being connected, the oracle only has access to what I see and feel, not what I think. So while aware I could split, and able to see from each marked me's perspective, they were not aware I had already split, and only half of me was marked."

Vale paused in deep thought:

"But… if that's true. Then—"

Mias cut Vale off:

"Yes, I was marked when we had our strategy meeting…"

Mias laughed, then added:

"That was the next part… I had to make it seem like I was setting you up for failure — fully betraying you. Lying about Salome's ability to outpower an oracle and how many troops you'd need."

Salome, sprawled out on the ground, called out:

"He's an ass for the next part…"

Mias sighed, looking over at Salome:

"You'd be dead if it weren't for me…"

Then he looked back at Vale and said:

"While a force of 55 warriors and Salome could potentially defeat an army of 2958 under my guide… such a feat would only be possible with intense care and preparation — but two days wouldn't nearly be enough time. Especially against an oracle who had a piece like Ophelia to move. Meaning… while marked, I was confidently guiding you down a path of surefire loss."

Vale remarked:

"Oh, so you are an asshole."

Salome, groaning in pain, having been sapped by Vitality Drain, muttered:

"It gets worse…"

Mias laughed at the succubus' words, then added:

"But them knowing our plans, and exactly how we'd move, also meant they could prepare perfectly… In other words, Salome's every action was known beforehand, and strict machinations were set in place that would culminate in her death."

Vale's eyes widened as Mias added:

"Therefore… she had to die."

Mias laughed as he looked over to Salome, who was rolling her eyes.

"So, I helped her 'die'. Or at least, I made it seem like they killed her. Then, as long as we were able to slip out undetected. The marked me would be able to take Ophelia away, while the unmarked me returned here with her. If all went well and we remained unseen by any marked, they should have never seen Salome alive in the future, thinking her death to be true."

Vale muttered:

"You're insane…"

Mias laughed:

"I get that a lot."

Vale mulled over everything in his head. While he was severely confused. There was also something he was sure didn't add up.

"Mias… my original plan was to have you assassinate her. How did they prevent that?"

Mias leaned back in the chair:

"That one began when they forced Ximena into her Crystal Prison."

'What?'

"Whoever the oracle must have seen a future where I killed Ophelia when you sent me the first time. So to prevent that, those five needed to attack this dungeon and put Ximena in that state…"

'No way…'

Mias laughed:

"It's insane to think about it… They may not have known why, but they knew that the action would cause you to change your mission from assassination to scouting…"

Mias laughed hoarsely.

"Then, they even had Ophelia display her healing ability right away, leading to me telling you and the subsequent change in agenda. Afterward, Ophelia presented that she knew something I wanted to know. Through those factors together, her life was spared from me."

A little bit of anger bubbled in Vale, but his insane confusion at the whole situation held it back.

Mias sighed, then added:

"While it's all confusing, I can simplify it in a few sentences: I controlled every variable and whittled down all the possible futures. At most, three conclusions remained for the oracle — one where Ophelia died by my hand, fled before the attack, and this one. I left no path where Ophelia could gain total victory…"

Mias leaned back in his chair:

"Of course, I've still yet to discover who the oracle was or their true goal, but I could easily discern their top priority was Ophelia's life. Therefore, I forced them to follow a path to that conclusion by my will."

Mias, after a slight pause, added:

"Also, this means that if Ophelia ever shows up again, Salome and this half of me must remain hidden."

'You mean everything…'

'Him spilling Ophelia's offer to me...'

'His overbearing confidence...'

'Betraying me… but also not?'

'Was all to trick this oracle?'

'I don't know whether to be pissed or impressed.'

Mias smiled:

"One last thing… With Ophelia out of the equation. It will also be up to you to finish the attack on the village without either of our help. But now the original plan to starve them will work. Unless the oracle has another trick up their sleeve. Though I doubt it. They saved Ophelia and 'killed' Salome. From what I've discerned, that's enough for them — they don't care for the villagers."

'Wait…'

Vale sighed heavily.

"I call bullshit."

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