Vale stared blankly at his Champion, one whom he was supposed to be the 'master' of.

He had a choice to make…

He could search for another way to save Ximena, without the succubus' involvement.

He could try to convince the succubus to help either by force or coercion.

Or, he could give up, which he wasn't going to do.

Both viable options seemed bleak, as it would be detrimental to her Loyalty if Vale forced Salome to do something which she adamantly detested… regardless of whether Vale would even be able to make her.

As for convincing her…

That may be possible, but at the very least, it wasn't going to be easy.

At the same time, Vale wasn't even sure if he wanted to risk it. There was the chance that Salome and Ximena both died in the attempt…

Vale sighed heavily as he sauntered over to the throne, dragged it a little to the side so he could sit facing Salome.

Vale muttered quietly, dismissing the screen detailing Level 8:

"No."

Vale leaned back and rested on the comfy cushion.

"I believe we have an unfinished conversation."

Salome smiled at Vale's remark:

"Ah, yes. I assume you'd want to hear about why she and I hate each other. And, conversely, I would love to hear about those 'trials' you faced at the ripe age of ten."

Vale gave a soft smile and responded:

"I did say trials… but it was the trials that strengthen the mind, not the body. And recently, I've come to realize I was a little hasty in my judgment. There are still things I've yet to lose, and things I've yet to realize I've lost or never even had in the first place. My mind was anything but tempered."

Salome smiled deviously.

"Once again, how unexpectedly profound… I've realized something quite similar recently."

Vale tilted his head slightly, stretching his neck.

"You have? What is it?"

Salome sighed and lost her smile:

"I realized I'm a hypocrite…"

Vale gave the succubus a questioning look.

"In what way?"

Salome looked away from Vale and down the hallway once again.

"I… I'm a liar…"

Vale quizzically craned his head, but Salome stayed looking off into the distance.

After a moment of silence, she continued:

"I always tell myself I'm a proud yet pragmatic queen, who will do anything for victory… but time and time again I delude myself into unfortunate situations, erasing the easiest ways to victory in pitiful attempts to avoid loss… while also serving my own goals."

Vale studied Salome's calm demeanor:

"That's the most normal thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth."

Salome drew her head back to Vale with an awkward smile and continued from where she left off:

"But once again, I find myself in a situation where I refuse to acknowledge the logical solution in the face of my emotions, which I continuously trick myself into thinking I've suppressed."

'So even the great succubus queen has a heart…'

'Well, a heart that covets something other than lust.'

Vale sighed.

"I suppose you're talking about Ximena."

Salome chuckled, then replied:

"Yes, and no… I've realized because of her, but I've also realized it goes way beyond her."

Vale raised an eyebrow at the unexpected statement.

Salome continued:

"What she did to me in the past was awful, and what I did to her was despicable… I could never convince myself that letting her go from the prison once again would be a good idea, nor could I ever be convinced to help. On the other end, neither have I killed her yet…"

Vale stared blankly at the succubus.

Salome continued as the corners of her lips rose.

"I've been tempted to kill her, time and time again. I've had the opportunity, time and time again… I've resisted my desires fervently, repeating that her existence was essential to our continued survival, time… and time… again. Feigning a smile of indifference when my seething hate was begging to break loose."

Salome's smile contorted into a wicked grin.

"I've come to realize, after seeing her in that state — the absolute joy it brought me — the remorse and regret which began to wash away... I'm done pretending to be a pragmatist, Vale."

Salome stared Vale directly in the eyes:

"I came here to fight the scourge, but they are not the only ones whom I've sworn revenge on in my long lifetime."

Salome drifted her wicked grin back toward the corridor that led to Ximena. All while Vale sat silent with a blank look on his face.

"You see, that's why I'm a hypocrite. I'll say something like that… but I still won't do it. I won't go out there and finish her off. But, still, neither will I aid in her survival…"

Vale looked deeply into Salome's eyes and the confused lie hidden behind her twisted smile.

'I've never realized…'

'I've never realized just how hurt she was.'

What Vale meant was…

Salome had always given off a calm and collected nature. Never really exposing any instability. She showed her hatred for Ximena and the Corrupted, but never once to its full extent… She'd never shown the true control her hate had over her mind.

Vale didn't know how many years Salome had spent fighting alone, but it wasn't a few. He didn't think the effect was too terrible on her before… but that was obviously not true.

Her emotions were most definitely a wreck. Twisted desires for vengeance long cemented in her mind.

Vale probably hadn't even been alive the exact amount she'd been fighting alone, after the death of all her comrades and kin. He couldn't even begin to imagine the mental strain the succubus had undergone.

Nor what she underwent now, trying to hold back her hatred. The opposite of what she'd done for centuries.

Salome continued:

"Save her if you can, but I will never assist in any way. I won't hold it against you if you succeed. At the same time… I will. I will hold it against you. Though, don't be concerned. My Loyalty will still align with you 100 percent. Without you, I can't beat the scourge, after all… That's another feeling I've forced myself into."

Vale, after a long pause, stared emptily into the succubus's dim eyes and asked:

"Tell me… I want to know what you went through. What did the Corrupted subject you to? What did Ximena do to you, and you to her? How… how long had you been fighting alone before I summoned you? And… why are you so… scared?"

Salome laughed:

"Me? Scared? Of w—"

Vale cut her off.

"Everything…"

Salome paused, an indignant look on her face, then her expression turned blank.

Finally, she sighed.

"Perhaps you have a point…"

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