The Ancient One allowed Loki to lay out plans along the timeline and on Earth, while Odin let Deathstroke act in the Celestial Realm; this was their exchange.
Even the protective talisman in Deathstroke's hand that could shield from Heimdall's sight was personally handed over by Odin to the Ancient One to be given to him, and forcibly summoning Gin back was also under Odin's instruction.
This was all to lead Deathstroke to the Immortal Palace.
The Ancient One also pushed a little, giving Deathstroke a mission, with an imaginary enemy named Twilight of the Gods and the Great Serpent.
But it can't be considered just an imaginary enemy; the Great Serpent did escape, yet the Ancient One was not entirely unaware. There are no things on Earth that can escape her attention.
The Ancient One did not lie, only there were some matters she didn't mention.
She couldn't clearly see, or control, Deathstroke, so it was better to conceal some things.
The future Loki intends to release the Great Serpent to muddy the waters, and that's fine; the power of the Great Serpent is neither too strong nor too weak, just within Deathstroke's capability to handle...
The Supreme Mage and the Divine King, neither of them exist in future Loki's story, giving them a chance.
Odin is disliked by Loki, so he doesn't even have a role in the story, and now that he's still alive, he has become an outsider.
The Ancient One exists unknown to Loki from beginning to end; the Time Gem allows her to avoid having her destiny arranged by anyone, making her an outsider too.
As observers, they can clearly see the book in future Loki's hands even before the Revealer begins to reveal the entire story. When Loki in the future writes the story, the Ancient One has already read the whole book using the Time Gem.
The plan stems from this, the Supreme and the King struck an immediate agreement.
One hopes Loki becomes the Savior of Asgard while the other hopes Deathstroke can protect the entire Cosmos, thus they took advantage to weave a great scheme, enveloping everyone into it...
However, because of this, Odin must maintain a harsh attitude toward Loki in the future to ensure he's not written into the story today.
And the Ancient One must make Deathstroke the Supreme Mage to ensure the Supreme Mage of the future doesn't rewrite today's history.
This is the price for both of them.
"He is my son."
"He is my inheritor."
"If they know the truth, they will surely hate us to death."
"Whether a writer or an actor, while in a story, it is hard to break out from the script. The limitation of vision prevents them from seeing. Perhaps one day Loki will walk out of the story and see clearly, and Deathstroke will get validation from other worlds, but above Loki's story is another story, which itself is also written by existences from another Dimension."
"Heh, we are all pitiful puppets manipulated by invisible hands... but let it be, this day will come sooner or later. Loki comes from the future, seeking change, yet this is the greatest constant... Loki remains Loki, this is what he will do."
The two exchanged a few more words calmly, followed by a long silence.
The Ancient One could not appear in public, and Odin pondered how to continue the performance.
Although their standpoints slightly differed, one for Asgard's future, the other to protect the Main Dimension, they could cooperate for mutual benefits.
A protector trading with another protector is much easier than striking deals with any Demon or Evil God. For the world they both know, they would spare no effort.
This is what the Supreme Mage and the Divine King should do, for this matter is not about right or wrong; this world is not about good, evil, right, or wrong.
The flames in the fireplace were still burning, and the two just sat by the side of the ship, quietly watching the flames flicker.
...........
"So, Loki, have you finished?"
The young Loki returned to the hole under the pond, the green flames making way for him as he silently walked back to face the old Loki.
The older version of himself still loomed in the flames, arms crossed, concern evident as he asked.
"Completely... Well then... what next?"
Loki answered him, raising his head to question the self across the fire.
The old Loki lowered his head, a complex expression covering his wrinkled face: "The end. If you've seen how movies are made, you might understand it as your part has wrapped up, and this might make you feel better."
"I haven't watched any movies, and I wasn't asking about that; that's just my end. You know what I'm asking about."
Loki calmly redirected the conversation, unconcerned with that topic.
The old Loki raised an arm, pinching his chin as he thought, but Loki could not see his expression, only the sound of his other self was heard.
"Ah, that, if I didn't remember it wrong... the Crown no longer exists, the throne remains unoccupied, Mephisto's attempts merely entertained the public... there will be family reunions in the world, love will be born, those who were in despair shall rise, and those in high positions will fall, a new future, and a hero guards it... you will be in an Eternal garden, accompanied forever by a familiar yet unfamiliar lover..."
The old Loki smoothly spoke every word, ensuring Loki could hear them clearly.
"This is the end."
"....," Loki let out a deep breath, squeezing a sound from his nasal cavity as if sneering: "That's a beautiful lie, but reality won't be like that. I will disappear forever; we are far from having the power to continue the story like that."
"...Indeed, it's a shame, but it's time, swallow this lie."
A black crow flew towards the young Loki, landing between his hands, with pitch-black eyes staring at him.
The Revealer had asked it countless times who it really was.
The old blind man knew the answer; it was Loki, it was the lie.
"I thought there would be a game," the young Loki brought it closer to his face, smelling the feathers, a familiar feeling enveloping his whole body.
"The game has always existed, but not between us. I am you, so the game is omitted, after all, in the end, the house always wins."
The old Loki kindly answered him, flipping his wrist that was pinching his chin, gesturing for the young Loki to proceed.
The young Loki bit off the crow's neck in one shot, and simultaneously the surrounding flames began to twist, the image of the old Loki flowed into his body like light smoke.
As blood and feathers filled his mouth, tears in Loki's eyes gradually dried up, and several minutes later, he spat out the crow's feathers, walking toward the stone platform.
The feathers seemed to weather rapidly, some on the ground instantly turning white, blown sky-high by the airflow stirred by the flames.
He threw his helmet into the flames, taking off the one on the stone platform and donning it, wiping the bloodstains off his face with the back of his hand.
"Ha, damn me, I've deceived even myself!"
He spat on himself in disgust, but it was not just the young him; he himself had no other choice.
The young Loki truly saw through him in the end; he had no power to conclude the story.
The God of Story could only write an opening but could not spawn an ending.
He didn't know what to do next.
The only way was to find someone who knew what should be done.
He adjusted his cloak, slowly walking out of the circle of fire, those emerald flames licking his clothes and skin as if celebrating the coronation of the new King.