A Price for Magic

How could you laugh at this moment when right before your eyes a tragedy was unfolding.
How could you sit here and act like everything was fine when in reality nothing but a harsh future was in the making.

You cry yourself to sleep, hoping for once, you could forget everything and take a break from reality.  But now more than ever, your dreams consist of miracles and wonders that are always much better than the harsh tragic reality.

I wanted to laugh.  Oh how I've been terribly wrong.

How am I to explain their sister will die any day now because of me.

And they were the two that actually seemed to care for Levy and didn't hate me.

But maybe Laiken would be cool about it, he always was.

I stepped into the sea and my illusion disappeared.

They stared at me and nodded without a single question to bare.

They weren't even surprised at this rate.  Did they have a feeling it would be me.

For awhile, nobody said anything we just started back at the other.  Maybe it was to intimidate the other or maybe it was to see what the other would do.  But it wasn't until I said,

"I'm sorry." I then headed up the sandbar, but Laiken pulled at my arm.

"What?  What do you mean by that?" Laiken didn't give in to anything I said. "You can't just stare at us for so long and say sorry then leave?  I haven't seen you in a few weeks-- nor have I seen my Little Sister,"

He was always reasonable and never took anyone's stupidity.
He always pointed out the king's flawed viewpoints and ideas.

I turned to him sadly, "She..." I pressed my lips together unsure how do I say it.

"Come on, we won't be mad.  Just say it already!" Lysandria exclaimed, "It honestly was something.  Everyone wanted her back.  Even Father who doesn't seem to care except doing what's right.  We were just planning to but... We stopped doing anything with the kingdom until she is found," Lysandria smiled.

Laiken then looked down and paused, "She is a human isn't she?  She was talking about that the last few days I saw her.  She was different--- I mean she always was, but then she seemed done with everything." He looked down sadly,

"She was done with Lilac, Lusamine, and Lauretta." I was told softly, "She was done with Father.  And she was done with everyone telling her what to do and judging her."

I then nodded my head, "You're right.  She asked me to turn her into one.  I couldn't refuse her.  I never could... I guess and now I am afraid for her entire existence.  I never wanted to hurt her, but she is running out of time.  She saved a human once and made herself believe he was in love with her.  But now that human is marrying another.  And if that happens the next sunset she'll die." I looked down and watched their faces turn to anger or just get mad at me, but they didn't.

Instead their faces soften.

"Alehkzir..." Laiken widen his eyes, "I don't blame you because when Levy wants something we all feel the same way.  We want her to be happy.  So now I must ask, what spell did you use?"

I smiled sadly at his words, "I shouldn't have done any of this.  But she was so determined that she would be fine that I did it.  I did it despite the fact-- that she will feel as if knives and swords were cutting her feet and slicing her fin in half every time she walked.  I did it despite the fact-- her voice would never be heard again.  Now... I want to so badly take her place."

Lysandria looked at me, "Why would she agree to that?"

"I wondered that too.  But this is all my fault, I should have refused her wants," I sighed, putting my lip out, "But then I would feel guilty and realized she would forever be sad.  If only I can reverse this or even save her, but she won't allow me to kill him.  He seriously doesn't even like her at all." I exclaimed my anger getting a bit of the best of me.

I was always expressive for her.

I would always do anything to see her-- to be with her.

"That human was talking about someone else the entire time.  He thinks Levy is boring, but she is anything but boring..." I felt myself getting mad, "How is that... How is it something like her will die?!" I raised my arms, tears falling from them at ever moment.

Maybe I shouldn't cry or tear up in front of them, mermaids who cannot shed a single tear unless they gain the love and soul of a human.

Levy thought she would gain that, but now... It almost seem hopeless.

"The human said that about her?!" Laiken widen his eyes.

I shrugged, "She told me.  Well more like mouthed and wrote out but same thing."

They both looked mad at the fact.

"How can we help?" Lysandria looked at me.

"She won't go for any violence." I stated, "And I don't know how else to help her without killing anyone of them," I furrowed my eyebrows.

"You had a book once.  Do you still have it?" My eyes gleamed at his words.

"You me this amazing book of all complicated and complex spells ever to be created and existed?!" I exclaimed as I made the book appear with a clap of my hands and some magic weird smoke.

"Three fourths of the spells here are complicated meaning they require something to make them happen.  I can do most of them with no issue since I am an amazing magical being.  Ardizevepas are so great," I grinned as I flipped through the pages of the book.

I came to the section where I did the spell on Levy.  I then turned the book to them.

"This is what it is.  Because the spell had her give up so much within the spell it didn't need anything." I said as I showed them.

They both turned to each other with their eyebrows furrowed.

"Uhhh I can't read that." Laiken was the first to say it.

I widen my eyes.  Oh right, it's in the ancient Ardizevepa language.

"Oh sorry I completely forgot." Then I saw a spell and I looked at them.

She wouldn't do it though.

But sometimes you have to do things that others may not like.
If she is saved then it is worth it.
It may be selfish but I'll do it.

"If all else fails, the blood of the changed one and their most valuable thing can save one's life.  From the sacrifice and blood they give, a knife can be forged to end his soul.  With the blood and death of a human that they changed to be with, the changed one can get the lost and forgotten fins back." I translated for them.

"Levias would never agree!" Laiken exclaimed, "She's too kind and pure!  You have to know that.  I'd give you the blood if you need that, but she won't agree." Laiken reasoned with me.

I smiled sadly, he was right.

"I don't care at this point.  She'll thank me later." I told him definitely.  "However this is one of the spells I can't do with my magic.  I need something else..."

Laiken looked a bit confused, "What do you mean something else?  I never understood magic but most of the time it was harmless pranks."

"Some spells require something of the individual to give up.  Something that holds great value.  Like an eye.  A heart would do.  Even a limb.  Something that is important.  Your tongue... Something like that," I laughed a bit bitterly.

They both stared and widen their eyes.

Laiken was about to say something but Lysandria shook her head, "Okay.  What about this." She asked me almost if fear.  In her hands were her own hair.  "I always treasured it."

I smiled, "That will work.  Now you," I turned to Laiken, "Your arm or something where your veins are at."

And then I stabbed him with my nails.

He cried out in pain at once.  His face was wrinkled as he yelled.  He eyebrows were only furrowed.  I offered him a smile.  But it had to ve deep enough for blood to flow from.

I watched as his blood trinkled down from his arm and into my palm. 

"Sorry about that." Then I blew on my other hand at the direct of Lysandria.  Her hair below her upper neck had fallen.

With what I need in hand, I whispered those ancient words, "Keth oñzœ Utäh MojüDa Sutzéjī Hotåpfū Kæ Ündêti!" I exclaimed while my eyes turned only red and my features turning darker and more hideous.

Then in my hand a knife was formed.  A knife to kill a human.

"I'd do anything for her even if I must die." I turned to them, "You must understand what might happen, right?" I smiled sadly, "So in her place I will kill him, she will live and I will collect his blood to give her.  But those humans might kill me for doing so and that's the price I'll pay to save Levy." 

Laiken then stared at me and nodded.  "I understand now.  You love her don't you.  You love her so much that you'd do anything to save her."

I widen my eyes and staggered back at his words.

"W-what!?" I shook my head, "W-what are you talking about!  I'm an Ardizevepa!  Have you gone mad?". My face paled at the very moment.

"I'm not crazy and you know I'm right.  At first I thought you were just close friends, that were always touchy, but it's way more than that." Laiken told me and I wanted nothing more than to run away.

But I couldn't yet.

"You're wrong.  Levias is a mermaid and she loves or whatever she wants to call it that human despite everything he's done and treat her."

"And you're jealous." He states again, "You always have been.  But you want her happiness so you did everything for her."

I felt an overwhelming emotion pour through me.

"Shut up!  You're wrong!  I just care for her.  We're just close, that's it!" I exclaimed, trying to convince them and almost myself at this rate.

I can't love someone who's gonna disappear from this world forever.

"But I'm right and you know that."  He told me gently, "Go.  I trust you.  And just for the record if all else do fails, you are always welcomed back home."

Lysandria who has been quite for awhile smiled.  She pulled out a mirror and looked at her hair that was once long, flowy, and beautiful -- now short that barely went down her neck.

"I hope father won't have a fit when he sees this or.. or even my betrothed." Lysandria looked down, "But I know it is for the best cause I could ever put it to use."

Laiken stared back at Lysandria, "Only the best cause."

"...Right or not there's nothing I can do about it." I finally responded, giving out the truth.

Laiken smiled, "I'll await your return."

But...

That was the last time I ever spoke to him.

It was the last time I saw him.

I was too ashamed to ever see him again.

...

When I came forward, Levy noticed I had left.  I hid the dangerous object in my hand behind me.

She looked at me as if to say where did I go.

"By the sea.  Rumor has it they are looking for you.  You're disappearance caused quite the scandal." I told her.

She widen her eyes in disbelief.

'Why?  They never cared about me or what I liked or wanted.  Father only had me off to some education to look better as a whole and almost everyone hated you.'

I shrugged, "I spoke to Laiken and Lysandria.  I told them what was happening and they understood."

She widen her eyes.  Her eyes got red and any other being would have been crying, but her eyes held no tears.

So I cried for her and put my face up to hers as I allowed my tears to fall down on her cheeks.

I whispered one word "Sorry."

Then a few more, "I have failed you."

She shook her head,
'You never failed me.  I failed myself.  You're the greatest Ardizevepa I could ever ask for.  You are closest to me and there's not another I'd rather replace you with.'

I wrapped my arms around her, "I just hope you will be able to forgive me."

I told her.

At that point of time, she thought I was talking about this entire situation I got her in, but it was more than that.

It was for what I planned to do.

And for that, I'm sorry Levy.
If the dead could see, I wonder if you can sense my sorrows.

//Legend here,

This chapter is sad.  And I'm not actually feeling depressed or sorrowful right now so how in the Abyss as Alehkzir says, did I write it?

Also I made it where Lysandria gave up most of her hair except the top part.  And it just looks like a pixie cut now.  And the reason I decided to make it where Lysandria just gave up her hair is because she is just her half sister.

That is why Laiken only gave up his blood.

Okay Legend tuning out//