Part 156: Miriel A

Ah, Virion. THERE you are.

Eeek! I must beat a retreat! Virion, AWAY!

Not so fast!

M-mliady! You're... gripping my arm... so very... hard! Owww...

If I don't restrict you, you will simply run away again. Now then. Do you recall a promise to teaching me fortune-telling?

Erm, let me see... You know, I'm not sure I do...

I have not seen you since we forged our earlier understanding. You take meals in your tent and practice archery in the dead of night. I can only theorize from this behavior that you are attempting to avoid me.

No! Of course not! I've just been... busy. Busy, busy bee! Buzz buzz! I scoff at the mere SUGGESTION that I might try to avoid you, milady.

Your answer is less than plausible. But regardless, here you are. You will teach me what I want to know, or I will go to Chrom. You've had ample time to prepare a standard lesson plan.

M-milady is nothing if not incredibly, frustratingly persistent... But are you sure about this? You may be... disappointed with what you discover.

What do you mean?

Well, it's only that... You see... Fortune-telling has nothing to do with seeing the future. It's about seeing the emotions of the questioner, and manipulating them.

Fascinating. Please, tell me more.

Let me think... How can I put it? It's like an exercise in persuasion. I simply tell the person something that is likely to happen, yes? And then I convince them it is an omen meant only for them!

And you choose a vague, common event, such as any interaction with water. That way, when it occurs, the person will establish a link back to your augury. They are so preoccupied with seeing their experiences as special, they never notice. I see... So when you told my fortune, in a way you were merely appealing to my ego.

People will believe the moon is made of cheese if you just turn their heads right. Really, that's all there is to it. ...I hope you're no too disappointed?

Not at all. On the contrary, in fact.

Oh?

Though my scientific mind had doubt, a small part in me believed your claims. You clearly have great insight into the human psyche.

Er, well...

This opens up a whole new field of very promising study. You must teach me everything you know. Verbal tricks, persuasive skills, all of it. I will record your findings and study them at length later.

A-all right. I'll do it. Just s-stop... gripping... my arm!