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...
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The night was calm, a gentle breeze flowing through the open windows of my room as I sat by the window, looking out over the palace grounds. The moonlight bathed everything in a soft, silvery glow. I could hear the faint rustling of the trees outside, the whisper of nature settling into the evening.
I didn’t expect the soft knock at my door.
“Ariana?” My mother’s voice came through, gentle and warm, as always.
“Come in,” I called, quickly turning away from the window and trying to steady my breath. The warmth in my chest, the racing of my heart whenever I thought of Kiran, was something I had yet to fully understand.
The door creaked open, and there she stood—my mother, looking more fragile than usual but with that same knowing gaze that had always made me feel safe. She looked at me curiously, her eyes lingering on my face.
“Are you well, darling?” she asked softly, closing the door behind her.
I nodded, brushing my hair away from my face. “Yes, just thinking.”
“Thinking about…?” Her voice trailed off, and I knew there was no hiding it now.
I paused, my pulse quickening. Was I really ready to talk about this? About Kiran? About how my feelings had evolved from something I had never expected?
My mother’s presence was comforting, though, and I found myself unable to keep the truth from her any longer. “Kiran,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze softening as she took a few steps into the room, her hands folded in front of her. “Ah,” she said, her voice laced with understanding. “I thought so.”
I blinked, not sure how she could have known. “What do you mean?”
“Don’t play coy with me, Ariana.” She smiled gently, sitting beside me on the edge of the bed. “I’ve seen how you look at her. You’re not fooling anyone.”
I felt heat rise in my cheeks, and I looked away, staring out the window again, trying to hide my sudden vulnerability. “I didn’t mean for it to happen,” I confessed, my voice thick with emotion. “But I… I care about her, Mother. In a way I can’t explain.”
My mother’s hand came to rest on mine, her touch warm and reassuring. “It’s alright to care for someone, darling,” she said. “But tell me, do you like her?”
The question hung in the air, and my heart skipped a beat. My mind raced, my thoughts tumbling over one another as I tried to process her words. Did I like Kiran? Of course, I did. But was it just admiration? Or was it something deeper, something more complicated than that?
I bit my lip, feeling like I was on the edge of some precipice, ready to confess something that might change everything.
“Yes,” I said, my voice barely audible. “I do like her. More than I probably should.”
My mother’s eyes sparkled, a soft, affectionate smile curving her lips. “Ariana,” she said, her voice warm with something akin to amusement, “it’s alright to have feelings. You’ve always been so guarded, so careful with your heart. It’s good to see you finally open up to someone.”
I sighed, looking at her in wonder. “I don’t know what to do with it,” I admitted. “I’ve never felt this way before. Kiran is... everything I never expected, and yet I can’t stop thinking about her.”
My mother leaned closer, her voice becoming more serious. “Ariana, you have nothing to fear. Love is unpredictable, but it’s also the most honest thing we can experience. If you truly care for her, then let yourself feel that. Don’t hold back just because of fear or what others might say.”
I nodded slowly, her words sinking in. But a part of me still hesitated. There was so much at stake—everything that had happened, the tension between the Umbra and Solan, my father’s expectations, my role as a leader. Could I afford to let myself be vulnerable? Could I really allow myself to fall for Kiran, knowing how complicated everything had become?
“I’m scared, though,” I confessed quietly, my voice breaking just a little. “I don’t know what to do with these feelings. And I don’t want to hurt her.”
My mother smiled gently, her eyes filled with empathy. “You won’t hurt her, darling. You’re both on this journey together, learning as you go. Trust in your heart. It’s not wrong to care for her.”
“But what if it’s too much?” I whispered, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of everything. “What if I make a mistake? What if everything falls apart?”
She reached out and cupped my cheek, her thumb brushing over my skin. “There’s no such thing as perfect, Ariana. You have to take chances. Love is worth that risk.”
For a long moment, I stayed there, holding her gaze, the weight of her words settling over me like a comforting blanket. I had spent so much of my life suppressing emotions, pushing away anything that could make me feel vulnerable or weak. But now, with Kiran, I felt something different—something new, something worth exploring.
“I think I’ll tell her,” I said, the decision coming to me as if I’d known it all along. “Tomorrow. I’ll tell her how I feel.”
My mother’s eyes softened, and she nodded. “Then go to her, Ariana. Tell her. You deserve to be happy.”
I couldn’t help the smile that broke across my face. “Thank you, Mother,” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.
She squeezed my hand, her smile warm and knowing. “You’ll be just fine. And remember, no matter what happens, I’m always here for you.”
---
As my mother stood to leave, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. For the first time in a long while, I felt like I was finally starting to understand myself—my feelings, my heart, my place in this world.
I glanced out the window again, the night sky dotted with stars, and thought of Kiran. The thought of her made my heart race, and I knew that no matter the outcome, I was ready to take that leap. Ready to tell her how much she meant to me.
