Twisted Justice

By Aarya Jha

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” He trembled. The blood had long dried and now looked dark brown stark against his fair hand. “You told me it was going to be okay if I listened to you!”

He grabbed my collar with all his might, which wasn’t very much. “You told me I would save everyone!” He screamed in my face, his eyes widened with fear. “You said I was the hero! Why is it that everything is burning? WHY?”

All I could do was set him down on his unsteady feet and smile. This smile had always given him a sense of comfort and safety, and now this same smile looked down at his despair.

“Child,” I started. “You have been naive. I never said you were the hero. All I said was that you would do something big that will go down in history. Even destroying the realm will achieve that, little one.”

“You lied to me!” The crown prince of the Kirone Empire shouted. “I AM YOUR PRINCE! You are just a lowly mage! I never understood why my father ever trusted you. You are incompetent!"

"You may be my prince, but you do not command me," I was the Head of the Mages of the Kirone Empire, and I served only the King, well, the late King. "I don't understand what gave you the impression that I'm incompetent, but I can assure you that The Great Mage Alastair Wikuvias is far from inept. I have been practicing and perfecting my magic for more years than you have lived, boy, and I will not have you speak of my prowess with that spoiled and filthy mouth of yours.”

I flicked my hand and his lips sealed. He tried to speak, but no sound reached my ears. My magic was just that strong.

"Father," A silky voice belonging to my daughter Celestia said. She bowed to me and looked at the crown prince with contempt. "I see you have not rid us of this scum yet."

I reversed my spell on the prince just to hear his reply. It sounded entertaining. "Celestia Wikuvias! I thought we were meant to be! Your eyes the colour of periwinkle only belonged to me, did they not? I promised you the throne beside me, did I not? We vowed to lay with no other, did we not?" The prince's voice quavered with grief and betrayal. 

"I belong to no one but myself. You were just a tool I could easily take advantage of due to your childish feelings for me," Celestia replied in a cold voice and turned to me. "Father, it is done. News has been spread of the Crown Prince's treachery against the Kirone Empire."

"W-what?!" The prince looked at me for help. "I did no such thing! You know that! I was born to lead the empire!"

"You were born to put an end to your father's disgraceful rule. How dare he allow anyone, even someone having barely a shred of magic to hone their alleged skills? Even when it's a waste of important resources? Most of them turn out to be complacent little imbeciles mindlessly using the assets most crucial to the survival of our Empire," I spat. "Our once great Empire is now on the brink of ruin! Almost all our wealth has been used up. Your father's rule is an utter dishonor to the founder of our Great Empire, your great-grandfather."

"If it takes destroying the realm to remake it again, then so be it. The sacrifices will not be in vain," Celestia stated with an air of indifference. I had taught her well.

"So, you all are willing to kill innocents just to get what you want? You are the real villains, not my father, if you ask me!" The prince huffed. 

The bodies of palace servants lay undisturbed near his magically bound feet. I had not bound his hands in hopes he would have the wits to cast a spell to save himself. I was wrong. The prince was much too occupied with shouting at us to realise he had a way out. He had always been narrow-minded that way, and that is why I couldn't let him be part of our plan. He couldn't see the bigger picture. 

"Let us leave, Celestia," I beckoned her towards the door. 

Just then, the prince realised his hands were free and cast one of the most potent spells in his arsenal. Celestia choked as the force gripped her neck tighter. I smiled because my pupil had finally done something, but was disappointed the next moment as I would have to kill him now. I snapped my fingers and the force disappeared, leaving Celestia coughing on the blood-stained floor. 

"I had hoped you would follow us," I told the prince. 

"Never!" 

I had no choice but to end his life. He sensed what was coming and begged me to stop, but I only sighed and snapped my fingers. The blade stabbed him straight in his heart, and there was no way for him to heal himself. He bled out slowly and died a painful death.

Celestia and I then left the palace and travelled to the new capital, Athienna, of the new Wikuvias Empire, to be led by the Great Mage Alastair Wikuvias and his descendants.

“...The evil prince was banished, and that is how the Kirone Empire came to an end.”

“Again, again! This story is amazing!” Selene giggled.

“That it is. But remember dear, that this never happened in real life,” Celestia Wikuvias set her daughter on the bed and tucked her in. 

“I know, mother,” Selene smiled and closed her eyes.

“Why have you not apprised her about your history? Our history?” Alastair Wikuvias asked his daughter. “Do you believe her affection towards you will wane upon learning of your actions? We…” He gestured around him, “...created an Empire! She must learn how.”

“No, she mustn’t. I want her to live without knowing what her mother and grandfather did before the creation of this Empire.” 

“And what did we do?” Alastair asked coldly, glaring into his daughter’s soul.

“Kill innocents just to propagate our ideology,” Celestia sighed sadly, turned and stalked away from her father.

As he stared after her, he realised something. Selene’s father had made Celestia gentle. Disgusting! How dare that lowly noble ruin what Alastair had worked years to cultivate in his daughter? How dare he raise questions in Celestia’s mind about the past and her role in it?

“I don’t want to make my daughter a widow, but I do not see much of a choice here,” Alastair murmured as a small flame crackled on his palm. 

By Aarya Jha