An Extra’s POV

"Was this… the best choice?"

Rey now had Esme in his arms, and The Oracle was now holding the unconscious Ciela. After she fell unconscious, Rey had used his Spatial abilities to bring her to him, and afterwards gave The Oracle the Vessel she required.

With their deal sealed, there was practically nothing left of their exchange. It was time for Rey to return home, and for The Oracle to start her business.

But…

"I feel like I just did a horrible act, depriving her of her wish."

Rey's guilt was eating him up, and he turned to The Oracle to hear her opinion on it.

"Indeed. Ciela should be more compatible with me anyway, so having her as the Vessel is a lot more beneficial to—"

"Not that, idiot! I mean… ahem… sorry about that."

"It's fine. It takes one to know one."

"W-whoa! Where did that come from?" Rey was more than surprised to see the usually emotionless and detached Oracle throw a jab at him in such a way.

It even made him smile a little.

"A-ah…" The moment he smiled, he realized that this had to have been The Oracle's plan all along.

This was her way of cheering him up.

"Thanks… Oracle?"

"You're welcome, Rey." The two of them exited the space where Esme was in through another door that suddenly appeared before them, and once they did so, they returned to The Oracle's golden palace. 'Does that mean she could have brought us to Esme directly? Then why didn't she?' Rey wanted to ask, but quickly decided against it. The reason she chose such an elaborate method was probably to have a discussion with him, and based on how productive it was, he didn't regret a second of it. The only problem on his mind was Esme… and one other issue.

"What about Alicia? Is she—?"

been healed already." The Oracle's response was swift, almost as if she

can heal her curse with [Tempora], but that would mean reverting her Stats and Skills that have evolved due to summoning Dagon. That won't be good in the long run, so

than relief, however, Rey didn't feel much about the

to save her, so he didn't feel as excited as he thought he

Rey muttered, almost in a defeated tone. "Thank you for

"It's nothing."

to feel the spatial pressure around him loosen. The difference between how he was willingly leaving the Domain this time, and how he was forced to the last time played in his mind, causing him

had changed in such little time that he

"One last thing, Rey."

name, Rey looked up to see The Oracle's

wary of that Familiar that you keep close. The one you trust

brow went up and he blurted out.

They are filled with sheer malevolence and unknown elements. Definitely… definitely malicious." Rey already knew most of these things about Ater, but there was a certain ominousness that rang from The Oracle's warnings that seemed very legitimate. He didn't like the eerie

mean, even the System told me to stay away from him, but…

that at this

claims to be bound to me, I guess there's no real way to verify his claim. It's also possible that he could find a workaround, given all that

him if push came to shove,

be

I will take your counsel seriously." He bowed, smiling broadly at The

"Mhm…"

"Bye."

"Yeah… bye."

lay his eyes on the entity before him. Something about their farewell

to be more memorable—at

"Your name?"

"Pardon?"

you remember

I believe I was once

sorry for hitting you during our last