LARA’S POV The words came ringing in my eyes. “There is a solution, my Chamlar” Luesa just announced that there is a solution to Chamlee's illness. Oh no, this is such a piece of great news, this is the news that the Chamlar has long been waiting for. This is the news that we’ve all been waiting for. Scarlet will be overjoyed to see her husband well after such a long time. She has really suffered so much all this while. I am the happiest person on earth. “T...that... that is great... Luesa... amazing” Scarlet stuttered with a teary voice. “Get on to it, Luesa. We will give you anything you demand, just anything” Rich assured. “Sorry... but I wouldn’t want any other thing apart from my already agreed payment” Luesa replied. “See that will not be a problem, Luesa, of course, you will not reject a kind gift from me. I will make sure to give you something worth it, something of great significance” Scarlet promised. But then, if there is a solution, what is the price, and what do we have to do for that? Every witch has a price. I was still in my thoughts when Luesa’s words jolted me out of my thoughts. “We will make the sacrifice tonight, before midnight” “Sacrifice...” every one of us exclaimed at almost the same time. “Y...yes” Luesa stuttered. “What sacrifice is required?” Scarlet asked in a low spirit. I felt choked. There is going to be a sacrifice even now? I hope it is not a blood sacrifice. I hope this does not end up like the case of Eval. “Only the Chamlee’s blood can be used to appease his spirit and make him live” Luesa replied. “W...what” Scarlet murmured. “Wait, let me get you. Are you saying that to save the Chamlee, you will first have to kill him and use his blood?” Landon asked. Rich grinned. “Just how crazy does this get? Will there be life in the Chamlee by the time you extract his blood to appease his spirit? If so, go ahead with the sacrifice. We are not going to stop you, so far the Chamlee will be alive after it all"Scarlet remained speechless all along. She was already breathing heavily and was stopping herself from growling. “That is what it looks like, general Rich, but that is not the case here” Luesa explained calmly. “Then what is it. That is what you just said. What do you have us believe now?” Landon yelled. “Hold on,” Scarlet ordered with a wave of her hand. “Let me get this. Luesa” she called. “Yes, my Chamlar” Luesa replied with a bow. “What sacrifice do you need to save my husband?” Scarlet asked. She was unusually calm. “My Chamlar, we require the blood of someone related to the Chamlee if we want to save the Chamlee” Luesa replied. Now I know where this is going. She is requesting exactly what Eval asked for. It is sad, but it is the truth. “The Chamlee has no relative. I am his wife” Scarlet replied. She was almost choking. “Yes, I know, my Chamlar” Luesa replied. “Then how dare you toil with my emotions” Scarlet growled angrily. She finally let go of the emotions she has been holding inside. “I am not done, my... my Cham... lar” Luesa was already trembling. Scarlet growled and gnashed her teeth as she stared at Luesa. I was already afraid that she might pounce on her, but I have no pity for the witch. Luesa continued to explain in fear. “Y... you have his child, my Chamlar” Hearing this, Scarlet became calm and looked Luesa straight in the eyes. “The Chamlee has ordered that no harm must come to his child. Or is it possible to go on with the sacrifice without his approval?” Scarlet asked. I was stunned. Is she for real, when has my friend become so unreasonable? “My Chamlar...” Rich and Landon exclaimed. They were as bewildered as myself. “Speak, Luesa” Scarlet barked. “My Chamlar, only the Chamlee can approve of the sacrifice” Luesa replied. At the sound of this, Rich, Landon, and I breathed in relief. Of course, our reaction was done discreetly, we would not want it to appear as if we wished something bad for the Chamlee, but we love the child as much as we love the baby and so we wouldn’t want to give up one for the other. Scarlet sighed and bit her lower lips. “What other way is there to save the Chamlee now?” she asked calmly. “There can still be another way, another sacrifice” Luesa mumbled. “That should be it then. Tell me, what do I require to sacrifice to save my husband?” Scarlet inquired. “For the Chamlee, five lives would have to give way” Luesa replied. Scarlet thought about what Luesa had just said for a moment before speaking. “And what lives are those?” she asked. “Just any life, my Chamlee. They must be sacrificed tonight and the blood squeezed out from their heart would be used to cleanse the soul of the Chamlee, while that from their liver would be used to appease his spirit” Luease replied. “And what is the assurance of the efficacy of this sacrifice?” Scarlet asked. “My Chamlar” Landon exclaimed. “Think about it, my Chamlar” Rich added furiously. “Shut up now, you two, I didn’t ask for any of you to speak” Scarlet yelled. Is it just me or has Scarlet finally gone insane? What is the meaning of all of these? Okay, I don’t want to sound unsympathetic, but is she the first person to lose a husband? At least from what I gathered, the former Chamlee, died even when the present Chamlee was still in the womb. Now, why must there be human sacrifices for this? “It is going to be either a hundred percent success...” Luesa paused. “Or” Scarlet inquired. “Or, my Chamlar, a hundred percent failure” “Failure” Scarlet mumbled. “Yes, my Chamlar. Its success would fully depend on whether the spirit of the Chamlee accepts the sacrifices. For this, I would recommend that only those that agree to it must be sacrificed. Once that is the case, the Chamlee’s spirit must definitely accept them” Luesa explained. She may be clear, but she makes no sense to me. What she just said will never make any sense to me.“And these five persons can be from anywhere, right, they can even be from this land?” Atoor finally spoke. “Yes, elder Atoor” Luesa replied. “Then, that is no problem. We are ever ready to sacrifice ourselves for the life of our Chamlee” Atoor replied and Luesa smiled. Even after atoor has spoken, we all remained calm, waiting to hear the final decision of Scarlet. Sadly, after the events of these past few weeks, we don't expect much from her anymore. “That will never happen,” Scarlet said, taking everyone by surprise. “What...” Atoor exclaimed. “I will sacrifice no one to save the Chamlee” Scarlet reaffirmed. Now, this was beginning to sound more like the Scarlet I have always known. The Scarlet that I grew up with will never hurt another for her gain or pleasure. The Scarlet that I know will rather die than get another to be willfully hurt by her. I know the people of Pixolands, at least now they are my people too. It will not take up to two minutes for a thousand of them to line up and volunteer to give up their lives for their Chamlee. They will even kill themselves with their own hands if it comes to that. At least I have seen that play out in my presence. “But... but... this is all you’ve ever wanted. You are even ready to let go of your unborn child. If you are ready to make such a great sacrifice, why can't we?” Atoor was flabbergasted. “The Chamlee will never accept that” Scarlet retorted. “I only have control over two lives, mine, and the baby in my womb. And should the baby be born, then I would cease to have any power over his life” “Chamlar...” Atoor called. “Unless she is bringing eternal life to my Chamlar, I am ready to kill no one. leave now, Luesa, Pixolands got no use for you” saying this, Scarlet turned and walked back to her chambers.