Chapter 274 Beat Freedom Into You
Galliadra's eyes narrowed as she assessed me in return. The air between us crackled with tension, a silent standoff that held the promise of either resolution or impending conflict. Octavia's presence in my mind remained a steady anchor, a source of support as I navigated this delicate negotiation.
"I have taken human form as you requested," Galliadra stated, her voice retaining the echoes of her draconic power. "But know this, Daniel, I am here only to hear what you have to say, not to change my allegiance."
I nodded, acknowledging her stance. "Fair enough. I won't force you to change, but I want you to understand the consequences of blindly serving Tiamat. She sees you and your sisters as mere extensions of herself. Is that truly the life you want? To be absorbed into her without ever experiencing true individuality?"
"You as act as though I have not lived for an eternity already thanks to Tiamat, praise her name. Why is it so much for her to ask for the life that she gave back after millions, and possibly billions of years?" Galliadra asked in a cold voice, and that made me pause.
It was the first time that any of them, or Tiamat had said anything that made sense. Still, even if they lived millions of years or more, what did that matter if it was never for yourself? While the comment struck a chord with me, it also gave me more fuel for the fire I was trying to build.
"Sure, you live till the end of time, but what have you accomplished for yourself?" I asked, and Galliadra scoffed at me.
"How can you ask such an arrogant question? I have helped conquer entire galaxies! I have watched the rise and fall of countless races, causing many of the downfalls myself!" She growled, but I could tell I was starting to get under her skin, and it was my turn to scoff.
"No, those are your mother's accomplishments. All of those things were done on her orders," I explained, and I could feel the mood of the room starting to shift to hostile, so I asked a question. "If you knew that there was life on another planet nearby, would you go and end their existence without your mother's permission?"
Galliadra's gaze intensified, and for a moment, the air felt charged with the weight of her internal struggle. The question seemed to stir something within her, a conflict between her loyalty to Tiamat and a flicker of individual thought.
"I... I would need to consult with my sisters and seek Tiamat's guidance," she answered, her voice wavering slightly.
I seized the opportunity, pressing on. "But what if you could make that decision for yourself? Another question, do you actually deep down inside really enjoy killing people? Ending hope?"
"What does any of this matter to you?!" Galliadra finally snapped, and I shrugged.
I seemed to be striking some kind of cord that resonated with her, but her allegiance to her mother was much stronger than her sister had been. Calishora acted tough, but she had been loud, and full of bravado, but her mental state was that of a house of cards. This one was different, but I needed to find out just how different. There was a chance that after we started fighting, there would be no going back, or hope of them changing sides.
"I am curious. Calishora was not a bad person deep down inside, your mother forced her to be that way. So, I am trying to figure out if this is a common theme, or not," I explained, but that only seemed to spark her rage even more.
"My sister was always weak! Do not compare her to me!" Galliadra screamed, her eyes glowing.
Well, this was going about as well as I had imagined, but if there was even a chance I could turn this around on Tiamat, I would pull out every trick in the book to steal these women from that cosmic bitch!
Galliadra's anger radiated through the chamber, and I could feel the intensity of her emotions. Yet, there was a glimmer of something else in her eyes – a struggle, a conflict that she couldn't entirely suppress.
"Your sister wasn't weak. She found strength in choosing her own path, in breaking free from Tiamat's control," I insisted, my words cutting through the heated atmosphere. "I believe there's more to you as well, beneath the layers of loyalty forced upon you."
Galliadra clenched her fists, visibly torn between the ingrained loyalty to her mother and the unsettling realization that there might be another way.
"I've seen what true individuality can bring – love, connection, a life of your own choosing. It's not weakness; it's strength. I've witnessed it in Calishora, and I'm convinced it's not too late for you," I urged, my tone softening.
Her gaze faltered, a flicker of doubt crossing her features. Octavia's voice echoed in my mind, urging caution but acknowledging the potential breakthrough in our conversation.
"You can be free from Tiamat's grip, Galliadra. You don't have to be a pawn in her cosmic game. Choose your own destiny, and I promise, you won't regret it," I continued, my words a mix of sincerity and determination.
For a moment, the room held its breath, the weight of our words hanging in the air. Then, Galliadra took a step back, her eyes narrowing once again, but this time with a different kind of focus.
"I will not be swayed by your words, Daniel," she declared, her voice regaining its cold edge. "I am a daughter of Tiamat, and my loyalty to her is unshakeable."
I sighed inwardly, recognizing the limits of my influence at this moment. The spark of doubt I had seen in her eyes was there, but it was not enough to overcome the deep-rooted loyalty instilled by eons of servitude.
"Very well, Galliadra. If you choose to continue down this path, then I will just have to beat freedom into you!" I yelled and burst forward as Galliadra started to transform.
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