Kolra and Kayo found themselves at the mercy of Maer, the Deity Queen, who became their guard to their cell instead of a regular guard. As all of the chaos went on within the Jail, Maer stood there, unmoving. A shiver ran down Kolra's spine. Despite the gravity of the situation, Kolra couldn't help but engage in her usual chat, teasing Kayo about his crush on Wendy.
"Looks like your dream girl got away from us, Kayo, that's too bad," Kolra quipped, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. "Guess you'll have to find another way to win her heart."
Kayo blushed and stammered, his words filled with embarrassment. "I-I can't help it, Kolra! Wendy is amazing, I... I can't just stop caring about her."
Kolra's playful expression faded as she listened to Kayo's heartfelt admission. In that moment, the gravity of their situation weighed heavily upon her. She began to reflect on her own feelings, realizing that her care and concern for Wendy ran deeper than she imagined.
Maer enters the Cell, looking at the both of them. A sinister smile played on her lips.
"You both find yourselves at a crossroads," Maer began, her voice laced with a deceptive sweetness. "I can offer you a chance, a way out of this predicament. You have shown strength and resilience, qualities that could be valuable to us."
Kolra and Kayo exchanged cautious glances, uncertainty etched across their faces. They knew that accepting any offer from Maer came with its own set of consequences, but the allure of freedom and a chance to shape their own destinies was difficult to ignore.
Maer stepped closer, her presence filling the confined space of the cell. "If you pledge your loyalty to the Celestons and the Royal Kingdom, I can grant you positions of power and prestige within the Kingdom. You will be rewarded for your services and be given the opportunity to rise through the ranks," she explained.
Kolra's eyebrow raises as she contemplated Maer's offer. The prospect of gaining influence and stability was tempting, but she couldn't shake the feeling that accepting such an offer would require her to compromise her own beliefs and abandon her loyalty to Wendy.
Kayo's fists clenched tightly as he struggled to contain his conflicting emotions. The allure of power clashed with his unwavering determination to fight against the injustices inflicted by the Celestons. He knew that accepting Maer's offer would mean severing the ties he held with Wendy, the one person who had shown him kindness and sparked a flicker of hope in his heart.
Maer's gaze bore into theirs, her voice dropping to a low, almost hypnotic tone. "To accept this offer, you must renounce all feelings you have for those who betray the Celeston family. Wendy included," she declared, her words hanging in the air like a sinister ultimatum.
Kolra and Kayo felt their hearts tighten as the weight of Maer's demand settled upon them. They understood the high cost of acceptance—betraying their own hearts and sacrificing the bonds they had formed with those who opposed the oppressive rule of the Celestons.
Silence enveloped the cell as Kolra and Kayo exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting their inner turmoil.
Maer's eyes narrowed, her mind working swiftly. She knew that persuasion would be the key to breaking through Kolra and Kayo's resolve, just as it had been with many others who had fallen under her influence. With a calculated smile, she took a step closer.
"Kolra, Kayo, I understand the weight of your convictions. I respect your unwavering loyalty to your principles," Maer began, her tone seemingly genuine. "But I implore you to consider the bigger picture. What good is loyalty to those who are destined to fail? To suffer? To be crushed by the overwhelming power of the Celestons? Let's face it.. You know how this is going to end if you continue to support Criminals, and not the Celeston Family."
Her words hung in the air, an invitation to doubt and uncertainty. Maer continued, her voice filled with calculated conviction. "Think of the lives you could save, the influence you could wield from within. Together, we could reshape the Kingdom, bring about change that benefits not just the Celestons but also those around the planet. Imagine the power you could harness, the resources at your disposal. With that power, you could protect the ones you care about. Instead of being at the mercy of the Celestons, you could become their equals, their allies. "
Kolra's brows furrowed as she listened to Maer's persuasive words. The weight of their past struggles and the seemingly insurmountable power of the Celestons pressed upon her. Doubt began to creep into her mind, fueled by the promise of protection and influence that Maer presented.
"Kayo, think about it," Kolra said, her voice tinged with a hint of desperation. "We've been fighting for so long, but what do we have to show for it? Pain, suffering, and endless battles. Is it worth it? Can we truly make a difference on our own?"
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Kayo's eyes widened, a flicker of frustration crossing his features. "Kolra, we can't just give in to the Celestons like this," he argued, his voice filled with defiance. "Joining them means abandoning everything we've fought for! I-It means betraying our principles and those who have stood by us. Are we willing to sacrifice them for a glimmer of power?"
Kolra's gaze wavered, torn between her desire for change and the fear of losing themselves in the process. "Kayo, look at the bigger picture," she countered, her voice softer. "If we can gain influence, We can bring about change from within, we can protect ourselves, and become stronger Neospacians, even if it means aligning ourselves temporarily! Think about it."
Kayo's fists clenched, his eyes reflecting the turmoil within. "But at what cost? Are we willing to sacrifice our own identities, our own values, to become their slaves? Maer's offer is nothing but an illusion, Kolra. We cannot forget the suffering they have caused, the lives they have destroyed."
Silence settled between them, the weight of their decision hanging heavily in the air. Kolra's shoulders slumped, her voice laden with defeat. "I don't know, Kayo. I don't know if we can truly make a difference on our own. What we have been doing, It.. It just hasn't been working due to being a part of the poor society, also, you have to look at where our choices have lead us.. Right into Jail. Maybe... just maybe, we have to consider Maer's offer."
Kayo's eyes widened in disbelief, his voice pleading. "Kolra! No! Don't let their empty promises cloud your judgment. We are stronger than this! We have fought for what we believe in, and we can continue to do that! We don't need the Kingdom's power!"
"You're so stubborn.. So Stubborn that you won't even consider it, won't you…stupid big brother..."
Kolra hesitated her speech, her eyes shifting between Kayo and Maer. Fear, uncertainty, and a glimmer of hope danced in her gaze. She steps over to Maer who pats her on the head. Tears welled up in Kolra's eyes as she said "I'm sorry, Kayo..." with her voice trembling.
Maer's hand gently caressed Kolra's head, a twisted smile forming on her lips. "You've made a wise choice, Kolra," she said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "Your strength and loyalty will not go unnoticed. Embrace this opportunity, and together we will shape the future."
Kayo's eyes filled with a wave of disbelief, sadness, and betrayal. He spoke, his voice barely above a whisper. "If this is the path you choose, Kolra, then I have no choice but to continue fighting alone."
Maer's gaze shifted towards Kayo, a chilling smile playing on her lips. "Oh, Kayo," she said with a deceivingly sweet tone. "You've made your decision, and now you shall face the consequences of your defiance."
Kolra watched with a heavy heart, her eyes filled with worry, as Maer turned her attention towards her brother. There was a calculated glint in Maer's eyes as she approached Kayo, an unspoken promise of pain and suffering. Maer raised her hand, and with a swift motion, unleashed a blow that struck Kayo with brutal force. The impact sent him crashing into the cold, unforgiving walls of the cell. A sharp cry of pain escaped his lips as his arm twisted unnaturally, the bone snapping under the sheer power of the strike.
Kolra gasped, her hand instinctively covering her mouth, her eyes wide with horror. She could barely comprehend the strength behind that single blow, and Maer's words echoed in her mind— 'it was just a light tap.'
Maer turned to Kolra, a smug expression dancing across her face. "Do you see, Kolra?" she taunted. "This is but a taste of the power that lies within your grasp. Embrace the Celeston's strength, and you too can become a force to be reckoned with."
Kolra stood there, her eyes fixed on her injured brother, several conflicting emotions swirling within her. The pain in her heart deepened as she witnessed Kayo's suffering, but she couldn't deny the growing yearning within herself. Maer's words echoed in her mind, tempting her with the promise of power and strength. The desire to protect those she cared about, to never again be helpless, poor, and weak.
As Kolra stared at her broken brother, a sense of determination settled over her. She couldn't ignore her own desires any longer. She couldn't ignore the fact that embracing the Celestons' could grant her the strength she needed to make a difference, to protect not only herself but to be a strong warrior known within the Kingdom.
Guilt washed over her, knowing that Kayo had been left behind in her pursuit of power, but she couldn't let that guilt consume her. She had made her choice, and now she had to live with the consequences. With a heavy heart, Kolra turned away from her brother and faced Maer once again. Her voice trembled slightly, but determination laced her words. "I accept your offer, Maer," she said, her voice with both sorrow and resolve. "I will embrace the power you offer, but it's not for their sake, but for my own goals.. "
A knowing smile played on Maer's lips as she nodded in approval. "Very well, Kolra," she replied, her tone tinged with satisfaction. "Embrace your destiny, and together we shall reshape this kingdom according to our own design."
As she walked away from the cell, leaving behind her broken brother, Kolra's heart ached with guilt and regret. But she knew that she couldn't turn back now.
Kayo watched in disbelief as Kolra walked away, his jaw dropping to the ground as she was leaving him behind with a shattered arm and a broken spirit. His heart ached with a profound sense of loss and betrayal. The once bright and vibrant aura that surrounded his sister now seemed tainted, consumed by the allure of power and ambition.
Without his sister by his side, he felt utterly lost and directionless. Kolra had been his anchor, the one who always knew what to do and how to navigate their challenges together. Now, faced with the reality of being on his own, Kayo's mind raced with a flood of questions and uncertainties. He couldn't help but doubt his own strength and abilities. How could he continue the fight without Kolra's guidance, the brains of their plans? What in the world was he supposed to do now?