[center][h1]-Collab Between Pezz570, 13org- [color=6ecff6]Karina[/color] [b][color=c4df9b]Tayla[/color][/b][/h1][/center] [hr] [hider=View Post] The scene around Tayla if she opened her eyes was, somehow, both beautiful and terrifying. With one of the ice blades aimed at Tayla's back, hovering in the air just a few centimeters away from her and Karina's rapier, almost touching Tayla's throat after she stopped the lunge. Surrounding both of them, the many shards of ice that weren't caught by Tayla's wall were hovering around them, pointed towards Tayla. The way they reflected the light made the scene even more beautiful. [color=6ecff6]"You know what is the difference between you and me, Tayla? Even if our struggles were different, the difference is that I never gave up. Even if things didn't go exactly the way I wanted, I persevered and continued to walk my own path. I succeeded thanks to my own effort, talent and persistence, while you didn't. You simply gave up when things didn't go as you wanted, when things got difficult and when people said you were a failure."[/color] Karina said, without moving her blade or the ice blades. [color=6ecff6]"You were capable of not only putting up a fight with me despite not having any formal training, but you were also capable of analyzing my fighting style and creating tactics to counter it. Do you think anyone can do such a thing? Especially against someone as me? You are not an idiot, Tayla. Otherwise you wouldn't be able to analyze my fighting style like that and you most certainly aren't a cripple or physically inept. Then why are you in the place you are right now? Have you already asked yourself this question?"[/color] Karina asked, looking at Tayla. [color=6ecff6]"You are capable, Tayla. Whether it's due to natural talent, your own effort or a mix between the two, it is undeniable that you have what it takes to brave your own path, to make your own choices. Yet, look at you right now... You are alone, merely a pawn for the cult. Walking someone else's path, simply following orders without even thinking about what you're doing or how much suffering you are causing. Someone who gave up their own dignity, their own honor and ideal. All that just for what? A piece of bread and maybe a place to sleep. Are you truly alive, or do you simply 'exist'? Do you have a purpose, a goal for your life, your actions? "[/color] Karina continued. Tayla stared down towards the ground. Her hands balled into fists. With every word, she felt a well of anger and hatred threatening to spill over the brim. [b][color=c4df9b]”A pep talk?”[/color][/b] Tayla said quietly. [b][color=c4df9b]”You held your blade just give me a damn pep talk?!”[/color][/b] Tayla whipped her head upwards, staring daggers at her adversary. [color=6ecff6]"You weren't forced to do the things you did, Tayla, nor were you left without options but to take the path you took. There is always another option. Unfortunately for you, you didn't take the chance I gave you back then... and I am not so kind to give you a third chance."[/color] Karina said, this time her tone was much colder and more serious. [color=6ecff6]"It is time for you to make a choice, Tayla. All the wrong choices you made in your life took you where you are right now. Alone, a disposable pawn to spread the cult's suffering, treating others as things for you to step on without even questioning the orders you were given, without thinking about what you do is right or wrong. Someone who has nothing truly theirs, everything you possess is stolen or a result of someone else's suffering."[/color] she said, looking straight into Tayla's eyes. [color=6ecff6]"Choose, Tayla. This is your second and last choice. Accept what you did, learn and grow with your mistakes, making up for the suffering you caused or continue thinking that everything that happens to you and everything wrong you do is thanks to someone else, always fleeing away from your actions, from your mistakes and from yourself."[/color] Karina finished as she looked at Tayla. [b][color=c4df9b]”And what about everybody who has done harm to me?!”[/color][/b] Tayla spat. [b][color=c4df9b]”What? They don’t have to make a choice? They just get to go on living their lives hurting others just like me?”[/color][/b] [color=6ecff6]"You should be thankful I am a woman who does not go back on her word! I said I would give you another chance. You should probably listen to me... Lest you want to simply give up... again. After all, that does seem to be something you are rather experienced on doing, right?"[/color] Karina suddenly said, raising her voice as Tayla began talking back about giving her a pep talk. [color=6ecff6]"While I do not believe in destiny nor Karma, everything is a cycle and your actions will always come around to bite you back, Tayla. Nobody is safe from the consequences of their own actions."[/color] Karina continued. [color=6ecff6]"Your choice is yours alone, Tayla. Or at least it should be, but again, your words tell me that your choices were always, always influenced by someone else's. Always being told what to do, always trying to be someone else, copying someone else. Have you ever done any meaningful choice in your life [i]by yourself[/i]?"[/color] she continued. [color=6ecff6]"You were harmed. Don't feel special, everyone passes through tough times sooner or later into their lives. That said, you could have chosen to become stronger, not just so you wouldn't be harmed again, but prevent other young girls [i]like yourself[/i] to be harmed again. But you didn’t. You became strong, yes, but for what? How many young girls do you think are now left alone in this world to fend off for themselves after what the cult did? How many 'Taylas' you made with your actions, either directly or indirectly? How many of them will suffer as much, if not even more than you did?"[/color] she asked, with a cold, judgmental stare towards Tayla. [color=6ecff6]"If every single one of them makes the same choice as you did, simply making others suffer just like they suffered, becoming as bad as the ones who harmed them, how long do you think it would take for this world of ours to become a living hell? Even worse than it is now?"[/color] Karina asked. Tayla wiped the tears from her eyes, determined to hold her ground. [b][color=c4df9b]”Tell me, Princess. Does this make you feel all high and mighty? Standing there. At blade point. Offering me a second chance?”[/color][/b] [color=6ecff6]"Do you think that strength and power gives a person the right to be above everything? Above the law, above any rules? No, Tayla. It's exactly the opposite. Those who stand at the top are the ones who must lead [i]by example[/i]. It is our duty to use the privileges that we were given to maintain the order and the wellbeing of those under us. Our actions reflect [i]much[/i] farther than those who are below us, Tayla. No matter where did your 'power' came from, from strength, intelect, influence, charisma or even to pure effort, it doesn't matter. It is the universal duty of those with power to lead by example. This is the burden that all those who are above carry. This is the old saying that 'with great power comes great responsibility', this is [i]Noblesse Oblige[/i]."[/color] Karina said, with a determined and dignified stare. [color=6ecff6]"Tell me how different the you right now are from the ones that harmed you when you were younger? You obtained power from your strength and instead to use that to prevent others to suffer like you did, to fight against those who use their power without responsibility, like the ones who harmed you, what did you do? You joined an organization that does exactly that. Can you say you, right now, deserves the power you have?"[/color] Karina asked, looking Tayla deep in her eyes. [color=6ecff6]"Where are you leading those less powerful than you, those who look up at you? Do they look at you in disgust and hate or in admiration and respect?"[/color] Karina finished as she looked at Tayla. [color=6ecff6]"Answer me honestly, Tayla. Can you now see your mistakes? You will [i]never[/i] stop suffering if all you do is to perpetuate this suffering. There will always be someone more powerful than you who is willing to make the same choices that you did."[/color] Karina finished, looking at Tayla as she waited for her reply. For a moment Tayla said nothing. Intently she stared at the ground, hands balled up into fists. This women… Always acting as if she knew her… Never bothering to actually hear her. [b][color=c4df9b]”I’m sorry, princess,-”[/color][/b] Tayla began at last. Her apology sounded insincere. [b][color=c4df9b]”-but you don’t get to tell me whether my choices were a mistake.”[/color][/b] Tayla shot the woman a glare that almost bled hatred. [b][color=c4df9b]”You don’t get it do you? The world doesn’t work that way. Those with power don’t lead the weak. Those with power stomp all over the weak. My choices, my ‘mistakes’, those choices were the best options I had available. My only mistake was that I failed to escape from under privilege’s foot. "You speak of honor, of dignity. You speak of right and wrong! But what you don’t do is try to understand. You see, princess? You think you care, but the truth is you really don’t. Like I said, you are just like everybody else. Nobody in this damn world cares. Therefore, why the hell should I?”[/color][/b] An itch crawled up the back of Tayla neck. An idea coming to mind. [color=c4df9b][b]“Perhaps you are right about one thing though. Maybe all I ever was to the Clan was just a pawn. What I won’t be is your pawn, though.”[/b][/color] The ground beneath Tayla suddenly Warped. Two pillars of stone extruded from the ground. One knocking aside the woman’s blade. The other stretching up and around all the shards of ice, and then tightened until the shards of ice were crushed. As she spoke, Karina could feel Tayla's hatred in her voice. No matter how wrong she was, no matter what she did, in her eyes, her actions were always justified. Blinded by hatred, for Tayla, the world was the one that was wrong. [color=6ecff6]"Maybe I should have just killed you then, Tayla? Maybe I should just have sent the military to turn this city into a pile of smouldering ashes!? It would definitely be much easier!"[/color] Karina shouted, angry at Tayla as she spoke. [color=6ecff6]"You are blind, foolish girl! Do you really think everything you do is justified? That the whole world is out to get you? You are not special, Tayla! Understand this! Those who have power are not faceless entities, they are people! They can make choices too. Either the right one, to lead by example, or the wrong one... To use their privilege to trample upon the others."[/color] Karina said, irritated. Before she could say anything more though, Tayla suddenly warped the ground beneath her, knocking both her blade aside and the other protecting her from the shards of ice. [color=6ecff6]"You blinded yourself in your insanity! A puppet? No! I take back my words. You are just an entitled brat! Who refuses to grow up and accept the consequences of your own action! Believing that you are always right and the world is always at fault!"[/color] Karina hissed as she jumped back to protect herself against the stone that suddenly warped around Tayla, grabbing her rapier on the ground. Tayla spun on her heels, making for the winch that controlled the portcullis. [b][color=c4df9b]"I may not be able to beat you, but I don’t need to win in a fight! All I need to do is make it so you can’t open this gate!"[/color][/b] As Karina saw Tayla going for the winch, Karina immediately formed an ice blade from the ice below her.. [color=6ecff6]"You forced my hand, Tayla... Again and again... You truly tried and now you finally made it. You left me with no choice. You are beyond help. You are unworthy of wielding the power you have right now!"[/color] she hissed as the blade flew towards Tayla’s arm in a frightening speed with Karina following close behind, dashing towards her with a rapier. Tayla reached out with her hand, intent on destroying the winch. Tayla would die here. She had come to terms with that. [i]Useless.[/i] Her father’s words rang in her head again. [i]Never once did you amount to anything.[/i] [b][color=c4df9b][i]Maybe.[/i][/color][/b] Tayla thought back. [b][color=c4df9b][i]But since nobody else seems to care, then neither will I.[/i][/color][/b] Everything seemed to move in slow motion. This. This was the end… “TAYLA!” [hr] [i]Damn that woman![/i] Smit thought. [i]Damn! Damn! Damn![/i] Against his better judgement, Smit had abandoned his post as well. Tayla was a fool. She was reckless. She was stubborn. She seemed unable to admit when she was in the wrong. And yet… and yet… Smit couldn’t let Tayla face that woman again! She would die this time! She would die for sure! And yet despite how upset he was with the girl. Despite the fact that she nearly got him killed. Smit knew he would forever blame himself if he let his… friend… die. [i]Damn! Damn! Damn! Where the hell is she?[/i] Smit had made it all the way to the eastern gate house. The scene here was chaos. The towns folk had made their way in. A few people here and there even intercepted Smit, forcing his hand. Chaos everywhere, but still no Tayla. Smit opened the door to the Inner Portcullis room. [color=6ecff6]"You forced my hand, Tayla... Again and again... [/color] A familiar voice said. Smit’s eyes opened wide. The ice woman. She was about to kill Tayla with an icy blade. Smit took off at a run. “TAYLA!” Smit yelled. Tayla’s head jerked towards Smit just in time to see him push her out of the way. Then… then came the pain. [hr] Tayla fell to the floor from the force of Smit’s shove. [b][color=c4df9b][i]NO![/i][/color][/b] She panicked. [b][color=c4df9b][i]Why?![/i][/color][/b] Tayla rushed back to her feet, but by that point… [b][color=c4df9b]”Smit-”[/color][/b] Tayla whispered. Her eyes wide with horror. Smit collapsed to the ground… bloody… dead… Anger. Despair. Disbelieve. Hate. Madness. [b][color=c4df9b]”SMMIIIIIT!”[/color][/b] Tayla cried, screaming at the top of her lungs. She collapsed to her knees. Hands on the ground. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t see. She couldn’t hear. All she could do… was hate. [b][color=c4df9b]”AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”[/color][/b] Nothing mattered anymore. Nothing. The room seemed to tremble. The walls, the ceiling, the foor… it’s surface began to ripple… The stone of the room began to warp. Pillars shot from the walls, the floor, the ceiling… Each and every one lunging toward Karina. Four pillars. Eight Pillars. Ten Pillars. More! To many pillars, Too many to fight back. [b][color=c4df9b]”I hate you!”[/color][/b] Tayla screamed. [b][color=c4df9b]”I HATE YOU!”[/color][/b] More and more stone pillars warped from the surface of the room. She would kill this woman. It didn’t matter how much of a toll this put on Tayla’s body, she would kill this woman! Tayla’s eyes began to dry. Her lips became chap. Her tongue felt heavy in her mouth. Warping was the most taxing of all Tayla’s abilities, and warping an entire room continuously like this was no joke. The feeling of dehydration quickly creeped in. “T-tayla...” A voice said weakly. More. More pillars! The woman wasn’t dead yet! How was she not dead yet?! “Tayla…” Tayla ignored the voice. She would kill this woman! She would! “Tayla-” A hand gently touched Tayla’s shoulder. “- you’ll kill yourself...” [b][color=c4df9b][i]Smit.[/i][/color][/b] Tayla eyes snapped open. The room immediately returned to normal. All pillars returned back to the stone’s surface. At her side lay a dying Smit. He had use the little strength he had left to crawl to her from the place where he collapsed. Smit looked into her eyes, trying to give her a comforting smile, despite the pain. He lowered his hand and gently held her own. His hand felt cold. His warmth was leaving him. [b][color=c4df9b]”Smit...”[/color][/b] Tayla croaked. It was hard to talk. She had over extended herself. Her magic used up too much water in her body. [b][color=c4df9b]”Why?”[/color][/b] Smit gave Tayla a sad, weak smile. His hold on her hand weakening. Smit shook his head. “It… it doesn’t matter anymore...” [b][color=c4df9b][i]No.[/i][/color][/b] Tayla thought. [b][color=c4df9b][i]No. Please.[/i][/color][/b] “All that matters right now… is that… you’re… okay...” No… she knew what was implied. She didn’t want it to be the reason... She didn’t want it to be the reason! Tayla waited. She waited for him to say more… but… nothing more came… Smit, Tayla’s one and only friend, lay dead at her feet. Feeling broken, Tayla knelt there by Smit’s quiet corpse. Another itch crawled up Tayla’s neck. This… This wasn’t her fault! It couldn’t be her fault! It was the woman’s fault! It was- [b][color=c4df9b][i]No...[/i][/color][/b] Tayla thought. [b][color=c4df9b][i]This is my fault.[/i][/color][/b] The thought surprised her. The itch on her neck even seemed to hesitate. Then slowly, it faded away. Tayla wanted to cry, but no tears came. She was far too dehydrated and her body couldn't afford to produce tears. [b][color=c4df9b]”I’m sorry, Smit…”[/color][/b] Tayla whispered. [b][color=c4df9b]”I'm so sorry...”[/color][/b] [/hider]