Liora's Veil

This is for Mikeydred’s November challenge and Poppy’s November prompt.

Part 1

Everything in Evaron was perfect. Its people observed societal norms and rules; no one had as much as a traffic violation. There was hardly any litter on the floors of this picture-perfect society.

But Evaron wasn’t perfect. It’s people wore veils that masked not just their faces, but their emotions. The government of this ever-orderly society used them to ensure that everything in it was completely under its thumb.

Not everyone in Evaron wanted to live with such questionable perfection; perfection that came with hefty personal sacrifice. The young Evaron woman, edgy and rebellious, wanted to break free of completeness that wasn’t at all complete.

Having realised that she had no choice but to conform to this dysfunctional society’s rules, Liora decided. She would wear a veil if she had to, but with a few adjustments.

Liora’s veil wouldn’t mask emotions like others’ would; instead, it would enhance them, under the watchful but well-deceived eyes of the authorities. 

Part 2

The young Evaronian, knowing that her veil’s functions weren’t apparent to the rest of Evaron society. began to spread messages of rebellion to its young citizens.

“We can’t live like this. All of us have feelings. We are lying if we keep them to ourselves all the time.”She told them.

“Liora, what must we do?” One of the youngsters, a sprightly young man named Leon, asked.

“We must fight. Fight for the right to be ourselves. Fight for the right NOT to lie.” Liora almost hollered with conviction.

Liora’s attempt to rebel, however, didn’t go without hitches. The Evaronian authorities, who wondered why the crime rates in Evaron had suddenly increased, had noticed the subtle smirk that stretched across Liora’s face under her veil. They brought her before a special council. 

Part 3

“Remove your veil,” One of the council’s elders instructed her. To their complete surprise and utter horror, she complied - and another, completely transparent one covered her beautiful features at once. For the first time, Liora’s disdain for Evaronian authority was on display for all to see. The young woman, wise beyond her years, had mastered the art of deception - and covert rebellion.  

Part 4

Liora had gone against the grain, not with her pretty fists, but by tweaking, with her clever fingers, a veil that was supposed to mask and control.

The young lady, in front of a council of unmasked, shocked, hapless leaders, walked away from her trial, smiling under her shimmering, transparent veil. Change in Evaron had begun.