How to [Not] Make a Siren Cry
I sprinted through the school corridors, my bobbed hair bouncing with each stride. I was late (again), because I’d turned my alarm clock into a frog for waking me up, and then spent all morning trying to catch the little creature to turn it off.
Bursting into the classroom, I panted,
«S-sorry!… I'm late!»
The teacher sighed, long accustomed to my tardiness.
«Morning, Üĺa. Take your seat.»
As I came to my desk, Ĺena, my best friend, looked at me with a gentle smile. She had wavy chestnut hair cascading down her shoulders, and big tea-colored eyes that glowed with boundless kindness.
Because of her beauty, when I first met her, I thought she was a magess. All mages and magesses are good-looking, because of the way magic works. But as I found out later, Ĺena had no magic power, and because of my too hasty assumptions, she now knew I was a witch. Luckily for me, she could keep a secret.
When I slid into my seat next to Ĺena, she leaned over and asked,
«Üĺa, do you have a swimsuit for the swim class tomorrow?»
«Yea, I do,» I nodded, remembering the old one-piece I had stashed away in my closet. «But it's a bit worn out.»
Ĺena pursed her lips, her expression concerned.
«You should get a new and pretty one, you know,» she advised.
All our classmates were excited about the upcoming swim class. Ĺena and I were no exception. Besides, the boys seemed especially thrilled at the prospect of visiting the pool. I overheard one say: "Can't wait to see Ĺena in a swimsuit! She'll look stunning!". So, she perhaps wanted to buy a new swimsuit for herself, but as I loved everything new too, I didn't mind tagging along.
During the break, Taras, another friend of mine, approached with a grin.
«Hey, Üĺa! Wanna go bike riding after school?» he asked.
Before I could reply, Ĺena chimed in,
«We're going to buy new swimsuits. But you can join if you want.»
Taras's eyes sparkled with mischief.
«Sounds fun! I'm in!»
That evening, after spending quite a long time at the mall, Ĺena and I came to my house to take another look at the new swimsuits we'd bought together. Taras helped us choose them, so they were a bit too revealing, but very beautiful. I was excited to wear mine. A tube top sport bikini with a low waist bottom, both fashionable and functional. The vibrant colors and sporty design made it perfect for showing off my energetic nature.
As I tried it on, a sudden thought came to my mind. I shared it with Ĺena right away.
«Can you imagine if I were as beautiful as you?! Everyone would admire me too!» I laughed, twirling around to give her the full view.
Ĺena smiled softly,
«You are beautiful, Üĺa. And everybody does love you.»
Well, of course she wouldn't get it. However, I couldn't shake the idea of being admired by everyone, just like Ĺena. Wouldn't it be fun to experience that kind of attention?
Once Ĺena went home, I searched through my spellbook, looking for a potion that could grant me such beauty. I found one called [Siren's Cry] promising to make me irresistible – just what I needed.
With excitement rising in my heart, I brewed the potion, following the instructions carefully. When it was ready, turning into a glittering silver liquid, I slipped the vial into my bag, planning to wow everyone with my new beauty at the swim class.
The next morning at school, the anticipation for the swim class reached its climax. In the girls' locker room, we all changed into our swimsuits, and I couldn't help but admire Ĺena in her new attire. Her delicate string bikini, adorned with lace, perfectly accentuated her slender yet curvy figure. Her full breasts and long, graceful legs were the center of attention, and she radiated a quiet confidence that made her truly captivating.
As the girls around us kept showering her with compliments,
«Ĺena, that swimsuit looks amazing on you! You have such a beautiful figure.»
I felt my heart race with excitement. This was the moment I had been waiting for. I pulled the vial of [Siren's Cry] from my bag and, with a deep breath, drank it in one swig. A tingling sensation spread through my body, and I could feel something change.
Almost instantly, the girls in the locker room shifted their attention towards me, their eyes widening in amazement. They began to praise my beauty, marveling at how breathtaking I looked.
«Wow, Üĺa! You look absolutely stunning!»
I basked in their admiration, feeling more beautiful than ever before. However, Ĺena didn’t seem to notice my change.
«You’re very beautiful, Üĺa,» she said, smiling at me. «As always.»
Her comment puzzled me, but I had no time to bother. Instead, I smiled back and continued to enjoy the attention from everyone else, feeling radiant and confident in my transformed appearance.
As we entered the swimming pool, I noticed the boys couldn't take their eyes off me. It felt empowering and exciting to be the center of attention. The only exception was Taras, who didn't seem to notice any difference in my appearance.
«Hey, Üĺa! Looking great today, just like always,» he said, casually waving at me.
«Thanks, Taras,» I replied, trying to hide my disappointment that my change hadn't affected him. But I didn't let that bother me too much. Instead, I decided to make the most of the situation and soak up the admiration from the others.
I strutted around the pool, enjoying the boys' gazes and compliments. One of them even tried to impress me with an elaborate diving trick, which only ended with an embarrassing belly flop. The girls and I couldn't help but giggle.
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«Wow, Üĺa! You look fantastic,» another boy stammered, his face turning a shade of red to match his swim trunks.
I grinned and struck a playful pose, teasing,
«O, thank you! I feel fantastic, too!»
Throughout the swim class, I continued to enjoy the attention, savoring every compliment and admiring glance.
Basking in the praises, I decided to take full advantage of my newfound popularity. With a playful grin, I called out to the boys,
«Hey, can someone bring me an ice cream?»
They scrambled to fetch one, tripping over themselves in their eagerness to please me.
«And a Coke too, please!» I added, delighted as they raced to fulfill my requests.
Feeling on top of the world, I had an idea.
«Why don't you guys serenade me with that popular song everyone's been singing lately?» I asked, and without hesitation, the boys began to sing, their voices harmonizing in a chorus just for me.
I reveled in the beauty, the admiration, and the power that came with my transformation. It was intoxicating. As I enjoyed my treats, I decided it was time to show off my swimming skills. I had always been quite the swimmer, and couldn't wait to impress my fans.
Taking a deep breath, I dove into the pool. But as soon as I started swimming, something strange happened. My swimming pace accelerated beyond what I thought was possible, but my legs… they felt weird. When I surfaced, I looked down and saw in shock that my legs had transformed into a shimmering fish-like tail.
I was a mermaid!
Unable to contain my surprise, I squealed,
«We-e?!…»
The sound echoed through the pool area, and suddenly my classmates faced me, their eyes vacant and expressionless. They began to shuffle towards me like zombies, seemingly drawn to the sound of my voice.
Fear and panic surged through me as I realized I was unable to escape the pool with this tail. Desperation set in, and I cried out to my classmates, but they didn't react. Instead, they continued their zombie-like advance, their eyes empty and glazed, mouths slack, and limbs moving in a slow, eerie march, irresistibly drawn by my voice. I struggled, trying to heave myself out of the water, but it was no use. I was trapped.
Just as I started to lose hope, Taras appeared at the edge of the pool. He looked determined, his eyes fixed on mine. Without hesitation, he reached out and grasped my hand. With a strong pull, he hoisted me out of the water and effortlessly scooped me up in his arms, cradling me like a princess.
«Taras!» I gasped, relieved to see him.
«Let's get you out of here,» he said, his voice steady.
We made our escape, Taras sprinting away from the horde of senseless classmates. Their blank faces and outstretched arms hauntingly reaching for me as we passed. We finally took refuge in the sports equipment storeroom, where Taras gently set me down among the stacks of mats and balls.
Catching his breath, Taras asked,
«What's going on, Üĺa?»
I knew I couldn't hide the truth any longer.
«… I… used a potion that backfired…» I admitted, shame washing over my face. «… I'm a witch, Taras.»
Taras was still processing my confession when the storeroom door creaked open, and Ĺena slipped in, carrying my spellbook and the bottom part of my bikini, which I had lost in the pool during my mermaid transformation. My cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and relief, my tailfin flapping excitedly on the floor.
«Ĺena!» I exclaimed. «How did you find us?»
She rolled her eyes.
«It was obvious you'd be here. That brainwashed mob can't find you only because they can't think straight.»
She handed me the items she brought.
«Here. I thought you might need these.»
Together with Ĺena and Taras, I scanned the spellbook, trying to find a way to revert the potion effect. I tried different spells, from a specific aquatic transformation reversal to the general curse breaking, but none of them worked.
Out of ideas, Taras suggested,
«In fairytales, a kiss sometimes breaks a curse. Maybe we could try that?»
For lack of other options, they took turns kissing me. Ĺena's lips were soft and gentle, while Taras's were firm and assertive. Their kisses made my head spin, but my mermaid tail remained stubbornly in place.
Taras scratched his head and wondered aloud,
«Should we try kissing her tail?»
Ĺena shot him a stern look.
«Don't get carried away, Taras.»
I felt defeated.
«Nothing works… Why does it always happen to me?!»
As despair settled in, I could no longer hold back the tears that welled up in my eyes. I sobbed, feeling overwhelmed. My body shook with each sob, and the fear of never returning to normal gripped me. Also, the potion had not only turned me into a mermaid but had also trapped my classmates in a state of mindless infatuation. I had wanted to be admired, but not like this!
I buried my face in my hands, the weight of my actions and the consequences crushing down on me. It felt like an abyss had opened beneath me, threatening to swallow me whole. My own foolish desire for beauty and attention had led me to this disaster, and I was unsure if I could ever find a way to set things right.
Ĺena and Taras did their best to console me.
«Üĺa, we still like you no matter what,» Ĺena reassured me, hugging me and patting my head, her voice gentle.
Taras hugged us both with his strong arms.
«We'll find a way to fix this, I promise,» he said and then added. «And your tail is really beautiful, by the way.»
Despite my tears, I couldn't help but smile at their words. They were trying so hard to make me feel better, it touched my heart. They stood by me when I needed them most, and I couldn't ask for better friends.
«Thank you, guys,» I choked out between sobs. «Thank you for not giving up on me.»
As I sat there, still terrified at the possibility of staying a mermaid forever, I felt a warmth in my heart. Despite the predicament I was in, I couldn't deny how fortunate I was to have such wonderful friends by my side. I suddenly understood, I didn't care what the others were thinking, as long as I had these two and they loved me.
With this stroke of realization, with tears rolling down my cheeks, I whispered softly, more to myself than anyone else,
«I don't want to be beautiful anymore. I just want to be me.»
And suddenly, as if by a miracle, I felt a tingling sensation in my tail. I watched in amazement as it began to glow and then turned back into my legs with a flash. And before I knew it, I was back to my normal self.
Overjoyed, I leaped up and spun around, flaunting my cute, lovely legs I missed so much to my friends, chuckling and giggling.
«I'm me again! I have my legs back!»
Ĺena rolled her eyes at me,
«Üĺa! Care to put your panties on first?»
«What?… Wa-a!!!» I exclaimed, blushing furiously.
I hastily hid behind her and slipped on the bikini bottom she handed me.
«Not funny!» I pouted at smirking Taras.
«It is,» he retorted, trying to suppress his laughter.
Ĺena chuckled too, and I couldn't help but join my friends in laughing.
As we returned to the pool, we found that everything was back to normal. The classmates, now released from my curse, were swimming and playing as if nothing had happened. They didn't seem to remember the bizarre events that had transpired, which was a relief.
Although I was back to my old self, I noticed my classmates still cast admiring glances my way. The attention made me feel a little happy, but I knew now that it didn't matter as I had my friends with me.
I turned to Ĺena and Taras, grinning from ear to ear.
«Hey, guys! Let's race to the other end of the pool!»
Taras smirked and replied,
«You're on, Üĺa!»
Ĺena chimed in,
«Count me in too! But, Üĺa, promise no magic cheating this time.»
«O… Okay… Em-m, I promise…»
«Why are you hiding your hands? You're not crossing your fingers there, are you?»
«N-no… Of course not!»
As the three of us dove into the water, I couldn't help but feel a sense of joy and contentment. It wasn't the beauty that made me happy, but the love and support of my friends. With them by my side, I knew I could face any challenge life threw at me. And that was more valuable than anything a potion could ever give.