Motivation

Sylas' gaze seemed to penetrate into the very soul of the Basilisk King.

He had seen this sort of look many times before.

Motivation.

Some people thought that this was all you needed to make it through life. You would feel some acute painful or embarrassing situation, then you would swear that you would change your life from that point onward.

But that wasn't how real life worked.

Motivation was fleeting. It came in spurts and could just as easily vanish, overshadowed by much harsher and less idealistic emotions.

This was why Sylas had always built his life around Discipline instead. This was what drove him to accomplish what he had, to reach the heights he had.

The determination in the Basilisk King's eyes didn't move Sylas at all. He had seen it in too many people.

But soon enough, those same people who swore to his face that they would be better would end up sinking back into their same habits again.