"Things were different when we were young," Esimo said, voice almost faint at the latter part of his statement, gaze distant, melancholic.
Kailen listened silently.
"We were innocent at the time. When we saw each other, it was just two siblings meeting, sharing the bond of family."
Esimo sighed deeply, then continued, "But things changed as we grew." His brows creased. "My elder sister — she got insecure. She said I should swear some sort of allegiance to her, that I should promise to never get involved in the matters of clan concerning our parent's inheritance."
Kailen sighed. This pattern, of friends and family turning on one another for power, was not surprising. When power was involved, people would do anything sometimes.
