A Land of Compromise

The sunset blazed on, the sky held a beautiful pink hue within each one.

I swam on remember the Keth's words, "Farewell then, my 21st child."

I smiled.

I saw Levy there waiting for me at the beach.

She seemed to run towards me as fast as she could among all the pain of feeling knives cut into her fins at every step.

She looked at me as if to ask where did you go?

"I said goodbye," I smiled sadly, "And I also got this back." I showed her the book.  "Just in case we need it."

She nodded her head in agreement.

"Okay we're gonna have to do something about this because you're literally not saying anything and not exactly expressing anything in any way." I exclaimed, looking proud.

She gave me a confused expression, pointed to her mouth as if to say I can't speak.

"I'll find a human and give you its voice instead!" I grinned, that will be perfect.

She instantly shook her head disagreeing.

"What?!" I exclaimed looking at her expression that was clearly telling me to not, "We don't know them besides they're just humans."

She still frowned, "Arghh! Fine." I sighed, leaning my head on her.  "Can I still do this, or does this hurt you more?" I whispered.

She shook her head, smiling.

One step, that was all it took.
One more step and we would be farther than before.

While you may feel down now in this terrible circumstance, never give up.  Try to pull yourself up and take one more step, and continue taking those one more steps.

Because if can't go on now, whose says you will ever be able to later?

Several more steps, then we rest.

"Hey Levy..." I muttered a bit out of breath, she was too.  Well more in the painful element.  "I am going to find what humans call paper and have you write on it.  But it won't be one paper, it will be a notebook full of sheets to write all your thoughts and opinions on!" I exclaimed excitedly.

Her eyes also brightened in excitement and smiled as if to say thank you.

When I calmly told her to stay there, I began trying to find some paper while I thought about certain things

Sometimes I wonder why she accepted it?  Why did she give up her voice?

I always remember back home in the sea, nobody would ever really give her a chance.

Even with me, nobody liked that we were close.

I heard they always said nasty things to her when she was just a child too.

Everything she did, everything she said, she was criticized for.

So maybe without a voice, she won't be criticized for and she can explore more of herself on who she truly is that way.

Well at least that's what I think... or always thought.

I went over to this little stand-- it has weird items, including some food that humans eat.  Among those, it had a notepad, ink, and a feather which was basically an item to write with.

I gave a person some gold coins which they admired more than anything, before heading back to Levy.

I headed back, but when I got there, around her were several people.  They were shouting and yelling at her for trespassing because apparently sleeping on the streets weren't permitted in this location.

But she wasn't sleeping, she was just waiting for me.

I ran over right away and explained that she was waiting for me.
I told the townsfolk she got into an accident and became mute and it always pained her whenever she walked now.

It was true... Except I caused that accident.

The people were now more sentimental, but some were still judging her slightly in their eyes.

But I decided to ignore them because it wasn't worth it.

A man than headed our way, "We offer service to you for having a disability," he politely said, "The kingdom offers help to any with disability under king Lucino so please allow me to guide you the way."

I looked at Levy who was immediately emersed in eagerness to go.

I nodded my head at the man, "Alright, thank you." I simply told him.

The man brought us to a cart, some kind of wagon that were being carried by stallions.

It was some way that humans moved place to place without walking, I heard.

The man was up at the front, while we were in the back.

I saw Levy frowned as she looked at me in worry.  She then proceeded to write a message,

'Are you sure, I'm not too much of a burden?'

I stared at her and shook my head immediately, "Of course not and I'm not just saying that to make you feel better.  I told you I'll always go with you where you want to go.  Besides a part of me wouldn't mind seeing this place with you," I smiled at her as scoot herself closer to me.

I leaned my head over her shoulder, like I always did and at that moment, I wondered am I still allowed to do this?

I look at her, but she didn't seem to be frowning, uncomfortable, or have any nonconsenting expressions.

It wasn't like she froze with shock either, so I suppose it was okay.

Now that she liked another, did I have any right to do anything like we did before?

It was a question I often asked myself a lot.

...

We were offered a room to stay in.  It was dawn and I looked out the window.

Out in the courtyard I saw that human.

Should I tell Levy, but she is resting.  If I do this, then this will give me no hope even with the little chance I have at the moment.

"Levy," I shook her gently, deciding to bring her happiness, "It's the human."

She rubbed her eyes and looked amazed.  I handed her the notebook.

'Lucino?  I must see him right away then,'

She held up, eyes' glowing in excitement. She smoothed down her hair and suddenly before I knew it, she was out the door.

I blinked, even within the pain, she'll embrace it to achieve her dreams or goals... Because like she said you can't get by doing nothing, what's a little pain if you are going to achieve your dreams in the end?

Love isn't without sacrifice.

I looked over and at once saw her run to him.  She waved to him with a bright smile and excitement showing on her face.  I saw her grin and open her mouth as if to say something, but she forgot-- due to excitement, that her voice had gone away.

The human stared at her very much confused.  He smiled awkwardly like he didn't want to be there as if he didn't expect this and wanted some time alone.  It was like he was different in a way, but I pushed those thoughts away and told myself this was for her happiness.

Still, he looked at her as if she was memorizing, "I'm sorry?" He looked a bit confused.

Levy lowered her head as she bowed with much pride.  It sadden my heart almost.  She opened her mouth several times more, but nothing worked.  Her face frowned and she bit her lip  It seemed to frustrate her that she couldn't say what she wanted to.
She had to work something out right?

I couldn't bare watching this.

But that was when I realized I moved on my own and was now standing before the two.

"I..." I began and widen my eyes as I felt my speech fumble with every word.  I stared straight into his eyes and took a deep breath, "This is Levias."

He smiled at once, it was a name that would bring a smile to anyone's face.

"Levias, what a beautiful name for a wonderful girl such as yourself." He praised instantly -- almost too instantly if you ask me.

"She has been wanting to meet with you for awhile after all she has done.  After a recent event and accident, however, she can no longer speak and her legs are now quite weak when walking.  That is why," I continued, "she is often in pain."

Levy nodded her head some more.

I then mentioned one last thing, "Levias is hoping you are alright as you were saved from almost drowning in the sea,"

"Oh you heard about that?" He asked rubbing his neck, "That's a bit embarrassing."

Still he smiled warmly and those previous odd expressions must have been illusions from my mind.

"Please allow me, to offer you rooms and stay here.  Both of you seem quite wonderful, in fact I never knew there were people in my kingdom with the names of Levias and..." He trailed off thinking for a moment.

It was then I gave my name, "Alehkzir," I muttered.

The king widen his eyes, "Oh, well you must be foreigners.  Why have you come this far, and grace me with your presence."

Abyss, I hadn't think of this far.

I can't just tell him, "Oh Levy is a princess of the sea and wanted to turn human to explore the human world and be with you, so she gave up her voice and now feel like knives are slashing through her tail every step she takes"

Not only will we be called crazy and insane, we will also be sent to some asylum for that and be tortured to "cure" us of our insanity.

And I can't possibly let anyone know about mermaids or any beings of the sea.

I could only fear the worse for them, I may not like them or get along with them, but I never wish harm or cruelty on their entire species.

Because what if there is another like Levy out there...

So instead I told him, "We we're traveling by when Levy recently became mute along with her sudden pains of just anytime she walks now.  But she actually has been wanting to meet you.  We were also hoping we could stay for awhile." I said, hoping he would by my lame half-abyss lie?

He smiled, "Of course you can and Levias, it is a pleasure to meet you.  I never met another beaut as lovely as you." He saw some servants coming over and dismissed himself, "I'm sorry, but I must be going, but don't worry I promise to spend some time together and I'll show you my kingdom, alright?"

He praised her beauty.

Maybe it was my jealousness acting up, but something about that didn't say right with me.

He didn't know her and he was just telling off how beautiful she is without getting to know her.

Unless he plans to.

I'm probably just getting paranoid over nothing, Levy would tell me to stop worrying and that she can handle herself...

No, she would listen to me and try to understand what I'm feeling and blame herself.

I helped her back to the room and as soon as we got back she wrote to me

Lehz I can't wait, he offered to show me his kingdom.

I said nothing and only smiled.

I can't believe I forgot my notepad.

"You did run off as soon as I told you, I was a bit shocked myself," I laughed dryly.

She smiled too, but then she wrote down something else.

Why didn't you tell him I saved him?

I actually didn't think about that.  "Why would we be here though?  I just thought we should keep that we're from the sea and what we really are a secret and I guess..." I sighed, "I didn't really think about it."

She looked down before writing again, "Oh yeah, you're right."

The opposite of what she probably felt about him, I just shrugged, but I didn't tell her that I didn't like him nor the fact he gave me weird vibes.

So we sat there together just being in the other's company for the rest of the day.

// Legend here,

I got everything planned out. 

But anyways what do you think of Lucino, he seems good with words, huh?\\