Vengeance: The Origin of a Liar

Fractured Truths

Amariah ran through the castle halls, her footsteps echoing off the stone walls, her heart pounding in her chest. She barely noticed the servants who stepped aside to let her pass, her mind consumed with the words her father had just said. "You're weak, Amariah."

Weak.

She had never heard him say anything like it before. Her father, the man who had raised her with nothing but warmth, had just crushed her sense of self with a single sentence. Her whole life, she had been told that her royal blood made her special, that she was destined for greatness. But now, in the blink of an eye, it all felt like a lie.

She reached the library, her sanctuary, the place where she would often retreat to read and think. It was quiet here, the only sound the soft rustling of pages. But tonight, it felt suffocating.

Amariah collapsed into one of the plush armchairs by the window, the darkness outside mirroring the storm brewing inside her. She wiped her eyes, furious with herself for crying. Weak. She repeated the word over and over in her mind. Her fingers curled into fists, nails biting into her palms.

Was he right?

She glanced out the window, the flickering torchlight casting long shadows on the stone courtyard. The castle grounds seemed endless, as if they stretched on forever, and yet, she had never felt more trapped.

The memories of the forest flooded her thoughts. The strange people she had met. The girl named Mercy who had shown her kindness. The fear in her father's eyes when he found out she had gone there. War. Her father had said the word like it was nothing, as if it didn't change everything.

But why was he so afraid of it? Of her finding out the truth? And why did he want to keep her inside, away from the rest of the world?

Her hand trembled as she reached for a book on the nearby shelf, any book to distract her, but her mind wouldn't let her focus. The knowledge she had uncovered—about the forest people, the powers they possessed—gnawed at her like a hunger she couldn't ignore.

And what about Karma? Her father had been furious when he found out Karma had helped her, but why? Karma was different, she knew that. He wasn't like the knights her father adored. He had a quiet strength, a mystery that both intrigued and terrified her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of soft footsteps approaching. She didn't need to look up to know who it was.

"Amariah?" A voice she knew well called out from the doorway.

She didn't answer, keeping her gaze fixed on the darkened courtyard below. But her heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice. Karma.

His voice softened when she didn't respond. "I'm sorry for what happened back there, Amariah. I didn't mean for your father to... react like that."

Amariah didn't look up. "What did you expect?" she asked bitterly, her voice catching in her throat. "For him to just thank you for taking me into the forest? For giving me a glimpse of the world outside these walls?"

"I didn't mean for it to be like that," Karma said quietly, stepping closer. "I only wanted to show you the truth."

Amariah finally turned to look at him, her eyes red from crying. "The truth? What truth, Karma? My whole life has been one big lie! And now, I'm not even sure I'm meant to be in this kingdom. I'm not like them. I don't have... abilities like the others. I'm just... just a princess with nothing to offer."

Karma's expression softened, and he knelt down in front of her, his hands resting gently on her knees. "You have more to offer than you think, Amariah. The world outside these walls isn't as simple as your father wants you to believe. But you're stronger than you realize. Maybe not in the way you think you should be, but... you're stronger than anyone else I've ever met."

Amariah shook her head, wiping her tears away, her chest tight with emotion. "I don't feel strong. I feel like... like I've been kept in a cage my entire life, and now that I know the world outside, I'm just... I'm not good enough."

Karma's hand gently cupped her chin, lifting her face so their eyes met. "You are good enough, Amariah. And you're not alone in this. I know your father wants to protect you, but sometimes, the best way to protect someone is to let them see the world for what it really is."

Amariah stared at him, unsure of what to say. There was something comforting about Karma's presence, a calm that made the storm inside her heart seem a little more bearable. But the weight of her father's words still lingered.

"What are we supposed to do now, Karma?" she whispered. "I can't just forget what I saw in the forest. I can't pretend it doesn't matter that people are being treated like criminals for just... being different."

Karma's eyes darkened with understanding. "I don't think you're meant to forget, Amariah. But you have to be careful. There's more at stake than just your kingdom. The war your father talked about... it's real. But it's not just about fighting. It's about everything that's been hidden for so long. And the more you dig, the more you'll uncover. And the more dangerous it will become."

Amariah felt a chill run down her spine. "Then what do we do? What do I do?"

Karma stood up slowly, his hand still resting on her shoulder. "I don't know yet. But I think you're going to have to make a choice soon, Amariah. A choice that will change everything. You can stay here, safe in your father's castle, living the life he's planned for you. Or you can step into the world beyond these walls, where you'll find both danger and possibility. But one thing's for sure: you won't be able to go back to the way things were."

Amariah stood up, her heart heavy with the weight of his words. She could feel the weight of her father's expectations pressing on her, the walls of the castle closing in around her. But she also felt something else—a spark of something new, something she couldn't ignore.

"I don't know what to do, Karma," she admitted softly. "But I know I can't stay here forever. Not when there's a whole world out there waiting to be discovered."

Karma gave her a small smile, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Then we'll figure it out together. One step at a time."

Amariah nodded, taking a deep breath. It wasn't going to be easy, and she wasn't sure she was ready for the challenges ahead. But one thing was clear—her life was no longer just about being a princess. It was about discovering the truth, about finding her own strength, and about embracing the world outside the castle walls.

And no matter what it took, she was going to do it.

4o mini