Vengeance

Karasi sat cross-legged on the soft grass, her concentration intense as she practiced weaving arcane energies with Elias, her mentor and guide in the art of magic. They were engrossed in their studies, the air around them tingling with the faint hum of mystic forces.

As Karasi was perfecting a particularly complex spell, Casimir, a stoic figure approached them. His presence interrupted the flow of their practice, but Karasi welcomed the break, looking up with a bright smile.

"How's the practice going?" he inquired.

Karasi beamed at him, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"It's going well, Elias says I've improved a lot. I feel like I'm getting closer to being able to save my father."

At Karasi's words, a shadow flickered across Casimir's face, his expression clouding with uncertainty. He glanced at Elias briefly, exchanging a silent communication that spoke volumes.

Elias, recognizing the weight of the situation, cleared his throat before speaking gently.

"Karasi perhaps we should take a moment to rest."

Karasi furrowed her brow, sensing the shift in mood but not fully understanding its significance.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"There's something I need to show you," Casimir intervened. 

"What is it?" she asked. 

Casimir motioned for her to follow as he turned and began to walk away from the practice area. Karasi glanced back at Elias, who offered her a reassuring smile and a nod of encouragement. 

She rose to her feet and followed Casimir, the soft grass whispering beneath her sandals.

As Karasi followed Casimir deeper into the forest, the sight of her old home looming before her only intensified her sense of unease.

Stepping inside the dilapidated house, Karasi's heart sank at the sight of the devastation that had befallen their once peaceful abode. The furniture lay in disarray, shattered glass littered the floor, and ominous stains marred the pristine white walls.

A gasp escaped Karasi's lips as she caught sight of the blood pooling on the floor, stark against the faded wooden boards. Her pulse quickened with fear, her mind racing with the terrible possibilities of what could have transpired within these walls.

Turning to Casimir, her voice trembled as she posed the question that weighed heavily on her heart.

"... is my father okay?"

Casimir's expression darkened as he shook his head slowly.

"Your father... "

But before Casimir could finish his sentence, Karasi's world shattered into chaos once more. With a desperate cry, she dashed past him, her heart pounding in her chest as she searched for any sign of her father's presence.

"Where is he?!" she demanded, her voice raw with anguish.

"Where's my father?!"

Ignoring Casimir's attempts to restrain her, Karasi tore through the house, her eyes wild with panic as she scoured every room, every corner, every shadow. But her father was nowhere to be found, and with each passing moment, the truth of his absence weighed heavier on her soul.

Collapsing to her knees amidst the wreckage of her home, Karasi felt tears streaming down her cheeks, her breaths coming in ragged gasps.

"Pa...Papa..." 

"there's no time to cry. You must be strong. Stronger than you've ever been before." he said, his voice cutting through her tears like a beacon in the darkness.

Karasi looked up at him, her eyes still swimming with tears. 

Casimir's grin widened into a sly smirk as he gazed at Karasi, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous glint. He leaned in closer, his voice low and persuasive as he spoke, his words dripping with cunning.

"Karasi," he began, his tone smooth and calculated,

"do you want revenge? Do you want to let the people who did this to you and your father live their lives, untouched by the consequences of their actions? Is that the justice you seek?"

Karasi's brow furrowed in confusion, unsure of where Casimir was leading with his line of questioning. She felt a knot forming in the pit of her stomach, a gnawing sense of unease creeping over her as she struggled to comprehend his intentions.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"Of course, I want justice for my father. I want to make those responsible pay for what they've done."

"That's right," he stated as he reached out touching her face.

She felt a shiver run down her spine as his touch lingered on her cheek, his fingers tracing a tantalizing path across her skin. His touch was electric, sending a jolt of both fear and excitement coursing through her veins.

As he leaned in closer, his breath hot against her ear, her heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

"Make them suffer," Casimir whispered, his voice low and seductive.

"Make them pay for what they've done to you, to your father. Show them the same cruelty they showed you" 

Her mind swirled with conflicting emotions, torn between the desire for justice and the fear of losing herself in the pursuit of revenge.

She knew that Casimir was tempting her with the promise of power, of vindication, but at what cost?

With a trembling hand, she reached up to brush Casimir's fingers away from her face, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke.

"I... I don't know if I can do that. I don't want to become like them, consumed by hatred and vengeance."

But Casimir's grin only widened, his eyes gleaming with a predatory light as he pressed closer, his voice dripping with persuasion.

"You're stronger than you think. You have the power within you to make them pay, to ensure that no one else suffers as you have. Embrace your anger, your rage. Let it fuel you."

As Karasi grappled with the weight of her decision, a sudden interruption shattered the tense silence. A man cloaked in black emerged from the shadows, his hood drawn low over his features. His presence was ominous, sending a chill down Karasi's spine as she watched him with wary eyes.

"Sorry to interrupt," the man said, his voice muffled by the confines of his hood. He cast a respectful nod towards Casimir before continuing.

"But His Highness requests your presence, Casimir. Urgent matters require your attention."

Casimir's brow furrowed slightly at the man's words, his expression betraying a hint of concern.

"Very well," he replied.

"I will come at once," he added, turning his gaze to Karasi. 

"Go back to the cave residence with this man. He will ensure you arrive without incident."

She nodded, though a sense of unease gnawed at her insides. She didn't trust the mysterious stranger and didn't feel comfortable being alone with him. But she trusted Casimir's judgment, knowing that he would never put her in harm's way.

She watched him go, a sense of loneliness settling over her like a heavy cloak. Despite her apprehension about being left alone with the mysterious cloaked man, she squared her shoulders and turned to face him, ready to follow his lead.

The cloaked man inclined his head respectfully towards Karasi.

"Come, miss. I'll make sure you arrive safely."

She nodded, her steps faltering slightly as she fell into pace beside him.

-

-

-

"What took you so long?" he greeted Casimir with a scowl, his voice laced with irritation. 

"I wasn't given a horse to ride," he retorted bluntly.

"Don't complain about my speed when you don't provide the means." he added as he met Christos gaze.

Christos' scowl deepened at Casimir's disrespectful tone, but he waved off the comment with a dismissive gesture.

"Enough," he said curtly, rising from his throne to approach Casimir.

"We have more pressing matters to attend to."

Taking his seat once more, Christos leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"The princess has gone missing," he announced, his voice dripping with malice.

"I guess we don't need my tool anymore," he murmured to himself, a sinister glint in his eyes betraying his thoughts.

"Indeed," he replied with a chilling smirk of his own.

"I will dispatch my soldiers immediately to search for the princess. Her capture will be swift, and her punishment severe."

A cruel laugh escaped Christos' lips. The king's delight at the prospect of his cousin's suffering was palpable, a testament to the darkness that consumed him.

As Christos continued to revel in his cousin's distress, Casimir's mind raced with sinister thoughts. His lips twisted into a malevolent grin as he imagined the countless ways he could bring about the princess's demise. It would be a simple matter for him to end her life.

"Send a hundred of our finest soldiers," his voice rang out with authority as he called forth one of his soldiers.

"Find the princess and bring her to me, no matter the cost," he commanded.

The soldier, a hardened veteran with a steely gaze, nodded in acknowledgment of the king's orders. Without hesitation, he turned on his heel and marched out of the throne room, his footsteps echoing against the marble floors as he made his way to assemble the troops.

As the soldier disappeared from view, Christos leaned back in his throne, a wicked grin spreading across his lips. With a flick of his wrist, he motioned for his advisors to approach, their faces a mask of deference and obedience.

"Prepare the dungeon,"