The Truth Beneath the Lies

"I clutched my katana, its blade heavy with blood and tears-his blood, his tears. The one who loved me, the one who stood by me when no one else would... and I took his life. My chest ached, a hollow, searing pain that no sword could match. Why? Why does someone like me-a broken, unworthy soul-go on living, while he lies still and cold? What cruel fate allows me to draw breath while he fades into darkness?"

( 20 years ago)

The Tale of Taki and the Ring of Destruction

The classroom buzzed softly with whispers as the teacher stood at the front, addressing the eager students.

Today's lesson was one that always captured their attention-a tale of betrayal, power, and secrets long buried.

"Today," the teacher began, clearing their throat, "we'll discuss how Aguni stole the fabled Ring of Destruction. After taking it, he faced Taki in battle-but despite Aguni's cunning, Taki emerged victorious and struck him down."

The class listened intently until a hand shot up. "Oh, what's wrong, Hiratsu?" the teacher asked, smiling thinly.

Hiratsu leaned forward, his brow furrowed with curiosity. "Why did Taki copy the Ring of Destruction to help Aguni steal it?"

At the question, the teacher visibly tensed. "Umm... ah... well, you see," they stammered, "Aguni... Aguni was a great liar. Yes, that's it! He must have tricked Taki into helping him."

Hiratsu wasn't satisfied. "But if Taki was involved, why didn't the king punish him?"

The room fell silent. The teacher shifted nervously, sweat beading on their brow. "Ah... w-well... after class, I'll explain everything," they said hastily, ending the conversation.

When the lesson concluded, Hiratsu waited patiently as the other students trickled out. But the teacher never returned.

Disappointed, he gathered his books and turned to leave-until he heard raised voices echoing from the principal's office.

He crept closer, pressing his ear against the heavy wooden door.

"I'm tired of all these lies!"

the teacher's voice rang out, trembling with frustration.

"Why should we keep making them believe Taki is a hero? The truth is-Taki was the one who stole the Ring of Destruction!"

A heavy silence followed before the principal's voice, calm but firm, responded.

"I know the truth. But the children must believe in Taki. He wasn't just any warrior-he was the ruler. And the people need a ruler they can love."

Hiratsu stepped back, heart pounding in his chest. The story he had been taught-was it all a lie? And if so, what other secrets were still hidden in the shadows?

Hiratsu's heart pounded as he ran through the quiet streets, his mind racing with the conversation he'd just overheard.

The sky was fading into a deep orange, but he didn't care-he needed answers.

And there was only one person he trusted to tell him the truth.

Bursting through the door of his home, he called out, breathless.

"Father! Father!"

From the other room, his father's calm voice answered, "Yes, my son?"

Hiratsu found him sitting by the hearth, hands rough from years of work but face kind as always. For as long as he could remember, his father had been the one person who never lied to him.

"The school... the teachers..." Hiratsu's words tumbled out in a rush. "They're telling us lies!"

His father's face tightened, and he set down the wooden carving he'd been working on.

"What lies, Hiratsu?"

he asked, his voice low with concern.

"They said... they said Taki was the one who stole the Ring of Destruction-and Aguni wasn't the villain after all!"

His voice cracked, confusion and anger twisting inside him. "Why would they lie about that?"

For a long moment, his father didn't speak. The warmth of the fire crackled between them, but Hiratsu could feel a chill creeping into the room.

When his father finally met his eyes, there was something unfamiliar in his expression-something heavy.

Something he had been carrying for a long time.

"Sit down, my son," he said quietly. "There are things you must know."

Hiratsu sat down beside his father, his heart still pounding in his chest. His father reached beneath the wooden bench and pulled out a worn, leather-bound book.

The word Diary was etched across the cover in faded gold letters. Dust clung to its edges, as though it hadn't been opened in years.

His father sighed deeply, his fingers tracing the cover as if it carried a weight only he understood.

"Son,"

he said quietly,

"this world is full of lies. Never trust anyone blindly-not even the stories they teach you."

Hiratsu's throat tightened.

"But why would they lie about Taki? Wasn't he supposed to be the hero?"

His father flipped open the diary, its pages yellowed with age.

"Because the truth isn't always easy to hear," he said. "And the truth is... Taki wasn't a hero. Not in the way they want you to believe."

Hiratsu leaned in closer as his father began to speak, his voice low and heavy with secrets.

"There were once three brothers-Arthur, Aguni, and Taki. Each of them was strong, gifted in their own way.

But Taki... Taki was the cleverest.

And the most dangerous.

When the Ring of Destruction was forged, it was said to hold unimaginable power-power that could destroy kingdoms or bend the will of even the strongest minds.

Taki wanted it for himself.

So, one night, using his magic, he created two perfect copies of the ring. He stole the real one and slipped one fake into Aguni's chamber, hiding it beneath his bed.

The other he placed in the royal treasury, where the kingdom's greatest weapons were stored."

Hiratsu's eyes widened as his father continued.

"The king was no fool.

One day, while inspecting the treasury, he sensed something was wrong.

The magic on the ring was faint-but it was enough to make him suspicious. So, he ordered a search of his sons' rooms. When the guards found the second copy under Aguni's bed, the king did not hesitate and threw the Ring in the treasury."

His father's voice grew quieter,

"The king believed the rings and the weapons in the treasury were too powerful-too dangerous to be left in anyone's hands. He feared his sons would tear the kingdom apart fighting over them. So, without a second thought, he ordered the entire treasury-every weapon, every artifact-to be burned. Flames devoured everything."

Hiratsu swallowed hard.

"And... and Taki?"

A bitter smile curled at his father's lips.

"As the flames consumed the treasury, Taki stood by-watching. And when the last of the fire faded, he smiled... but it wasn't a smile of relief.

It was the smile of someone who had gotten exactly what they wanted.

While everyone believed the ring had been destroyed, Taki still had the real Ring of Destruction, hidden where no one would ever find it."

Hiratsu's hands trembled as he tried to process the truth.

"Why didn't the king see it? Why didn't anyone stop him?"

His father closed the diary softly.

"Because Taki was a master of deception.

He knew how to play the part of the loyal son, the righteous ruler.

And by the time anyone suspected the truth... it was already too late."

A heavy silence settled between them, broken only by the distant crackling of the hearth.

"They tell you Taki was a hero,"

his father said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"But never forget

sometimes the people who wear the brightest crowns cast the darkest shadows."