The weight of Kaela's words followed him back to the hideout. The choice she had placed before him was one he couldn't take lightly. Aligning with power in Black Hollow meant influence, protection—but it also meant control. It meant being used.
He sat by the fire, staring at the flames as they flickered and danced. Mira leaned against the wall, watching him carefully. Callen sat nearby, sharpening his dagger, the sound of steel against stone filling the silence. Finn, as usual, fidgeted, glancing between them all.
"You're thinking about saying yes," Mira finally said.
He exhaled. "I'm thinking about what it means."
Callen smirked. "It means selling a piece of yourself. Power doesn't come free, and neither do alliances in Black Hollow."
Finn shifted. "But wouldn't it make things… easier?"
Mira scoffed. "Nothing's easy here."
[Quest Updated: Choose a Path – Accept Kaela's Offer or Remain Independent]
He clenched his fists. This wasn't just about survival anymore. This was about defining who he was in this city. Was he willing to kneel to gain power? Or would he take the harder road and carve his own place?
He looked at his companions—his first real allies in this brutal world. Whatever choice he made, it wouldn't just affect him.
The next evening, he met Kaela again. This time, in a more public setting—the upper level of the Hollow Den, where the wealthy bet and watched fights from the safety of private booths. A stark contrast from the blood-soaked pit below.
She sat comfortably in a corner booth, sipping a glass of wine. A thin smile played at her lips as he approached. "You came."
He slid into the seat across from her, keeping his posture guarded. "I want to know exactly what you're offering."
Kaela swirled her drink, watching him. "Influence. Protection. A future beyond just being another brawler scraping by for coin."
He studied her. "And what do you get out of it?"
Her smirk didn't fade. "Loyalty. Usefulness. A fighter who can be molded into something greater."
[Survival Instinct Activated: Manipulation Detected]
His jaw tightened. He had suspected as much. Kaela wasn't offering power—she was offering a leash, even if it was made of gold.
He leaned back. "And if I say no?"
Kaela sighed, setting her drink down. "Then you'll remain a wildcard. Which means, sooner or later, someone will try to remove you. This city doesn't favor those who refuse to pick a side."
A test. That's what this was. She wasn't just giving him an opportunity—she was seeing if he would break.
He took a slow breath, his mind racing. If he accepted, he would gain security but lose his freedom. If he refused, he would have to fight harder than ever to survive.
[Final Decision Required: Accept Kaela's Offer or Remain Independent]
He met her gaze. "I'll give you my answer soon."
Kaela smiled knowingly. "Make sure it's the right one."
Back at the hideout, his companions were waiting.
"Well?" Mira asked.
He ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "She wants loyalty. And in return, she'll make sure I don't end up dead."
Callen scoffed. "That's just a fancy way of saying she'll own you."
Finn looked uneasy. "But if you say no…?"
Mira crossed her arms. "Then we protect ourselves."
The fire crackled between them. His heart pounded as he realized—this wasn't just his fight anymore.
No matter what he chose, there would be blood.