Seriously

Madeline’s expression remained calm, though her jaw tightened at Ely’s words. The mixture of resignation and defiance in Ely’s tone was maddening, but Madeline wasn’t about to let that sway her resolve.

It’s not about making you paint a town or work on a farm, she replied, her voice steady, though the intensity in her gaze didn’t waver. It’s about making you confront what you’ve done. You can’t erase the past, but you can choose how you move forward. You say your skills aren’t suited for redemption—then learn new ones. Find a way to be more than what you were under Elgar’nan’s thumb.

She stepped closer to the bars, her voice dropping slightly, becoming more personal. I’m not going to let you take the easy way out, Ely. Not because I pity you, but because I believe that somewhere in there, you still have the strength to make a difference. Maybe not today, maybe not even soon, but one day.

Madeline let out a soft breath, crossing her arms as she continued, And if you truly believe you’re beyond redemption, then prove me wrong. Show me I made a mistake by sparing you. But if there’s even a shred of decency left in you, Ely, then use it. Don’t let your story end as another one of Elgar’nan’s victims.

She tilted her head, her gaze never leaving Ely’s. What happens next is up to you. But I’m not here to hand you an escape. I’m here to offer you a chance—a hard, painful, and uncertain chance—but a chance nonetheless.

@Aelynthi Loraronna