In a divided kingdom where magic is feared and those who wield it are hunted, Ariana, the daughter of a powerful councilman, lives a life of privilege and duty. But her world unravels when she encounters Kiran, a fugitive with the power to command...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
The faint afternoon sunlight filtered through the window, painting soft golden streaks across the bed where my mother lay. She looked more peaceful than she had in years, her face serene, though her illness still clung to her like a shadow. Sitting beside her, I reached out, brushing a stray lock of silver-streaked hair away from her face. She stirred at my touch, her eyelids fluttering open.
“Ari,” she said softly, her voice tinged with the warmth of recognition. “You look tired, my darling. Are you alright?”
The tenderness in her tone was enough to make my resolve falter for a moment. She always had this way of making me feel small and safe, like a child again. But I wasn’t a child anymore, and the weight of the truth I carried felt heavier than ever.
“I need to talk to you, Mother,” I said, sitting back in the chair. My fingers fidgeted with the hem of my jacket as I searched for the right words. “There are... things you need to know. About Father.”
Her brows knit together, a shadow of concern passing over her face. “What’s happened, Ariana? Is something wrong?”
I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “You’ve always told me to trust my instincts. To do what’s right, no matter how difficult it might be.”
“Yes,” she said slowly, her gaze locking onto mine. “That’s what I’ve always believed. Why?”
“Because I think I’ve been ignoring my instincts for too long,” I admitted. “And I can’t stay silent anymore. Not when I know what he’s done.”
My mother’s lips parted slightly, as though she wanted to say something, but she stopped herself. Instead, she gave me a small nod, encouraging me to continue.
I leaned forward, my hands clasped tightly in my lap. “Father has been keeping secrets from all of us. Terrible secrets. He’s not just fighting the Umbra. He’s... waging war against anyone with magic. He’s been killing them, Mother. Not just in battle, but in cold blood.”
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she looked as though she might stop me. But she didn’t. She only stared, her silence urging me to keep going.
“There’s more,” I said, my voice trembling. “Do you remember the explosion in the eastern quarter last year? The one that destroyed the border outpost?”
She nodded faintly. “He said it was to keep them in line, that magic users were hiding out."
“He lied,” I said, my voice hardening. "There was no magic, they were just people, innocentpeopleand children. It was him. He ordered the bomb to be planted as a false flag. He wanted to rally support for his war, to make the council more compliant.”
Her hand flew to her mouth, and I could see the horror in her eyes. “No,” she whispered. “He wouldn’t... he couldn’t.”
“He did,” I said firmly. “And it doesn’t end there. He’s been capturing magic users and keeping them as prisoners, experimenting on them. And when they’re no longer useful, he has them executed. He’s turned this war into something monstrous.”
My mother’s face paled, and for a moment, I thought she might faint. I reached out, taking her trembling hand in mine.
“Why are you telling me this now?” she asked, her voice barely audible.
“Because I’ve been complicit,” I admitted, my chest tightening with the weight of the confession. “I’ve followed his orders. I’ve lied for him. And now, I’m tangled in all of this, just like he wanted. He’s made me his pawn, Mother. But I’m done. I won’t let him use me anymore.”
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she shook her head slowly. “Ari, why would he do this? Why would he go so far?”
“Because he’s afraid,” I said bitterly. “He’s always been afraid of magic. He sees it as a threat to his power, to everything he’s built. And he’ll do whatever it takes to stamp it out, no matter how many lives he has to destroy in the process.”
She closed her eyes, her free hand clutching the blanket tightly. “I knew he hated magic,” she said softly. “But I thought it was because of what happened during the attack, because of what they did to me. I never thought...”
“That’s what he’s using as justification,” I said, my voice filled with anger. “He’s using you, your illness, as an excuse for his cruelty. But this isn’t about protecting you or anyone else. It’s about control.”
For a long moment, the only sound in the room was the faint rustle of the curtains as a breeze drifted in through the window. My mother’s hand tightened around mine, and when she opened her eyes again, they were filled with determination.
“What are you going to do, Ariana?” she asked, her voice steady despite the tears on her cheeks. “If you’ve told me all of this, you must have a plan.”
“I do,” I said, straightening in my chair. “I want to stop him. I want to end this war before it destroys everything. But I can’t do it alone.”
Her gaze softened, and she reached up, cupping my cheek with her hand. “You’re so brave, my darling,” she said. “But you have to be careful. Your father is not a man who takes betrayal lightly. If he finds out you’re working against him...”
“I know the risks,” I said, my jaw tightening. “But I can’t sit back and watch him tear our world apart. I have to do something. I have to try.”
She smiled faintly, though her eyes were still filled with worry. “You’ve always had such a strong heart, Ari. I only wish I could protect you from this.”
“You’ve done more for me than you know,” I said, leaning into her touch. “And now it’s my turn to protect you. I won’t let him hurt you any more than he already has.”
For a moment, we sat in silence, the weight of the truth settling over us like a heavy fog. I could see the pain in her eyes, the sorrow for what my father had become. But there was something else too—pride. She believed in me, even if she didn’t fully understand the path I had chosen.
“Promise me you’ll be careful,” she said finally, her voice trembling. “Promise me you’ll come back to me.”
“I promise,” I said, though the words felt hollow. I couldn’t guarantee my safety, not with the battle that lay ahead. But I would do everything in my power to keep that promise, for her sake.
As I stood to leave, she called out to me, her voice filled with urgency. “Ariana.”
I turned back, meeting her gaze.
“No matter what happens,” she said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, “you’re still my daughter. And I love you.”
“I love you too,” I said, my voice breaking. And with that, I left the room, the weight of her words following me as I stepped back into the cold corridors of the palace.
I didn’t know what the future held, but one thing was certain: I wouldn’t stop until the truth was known, and my father’s reign of fear and tyranny was brought to an end.
