Chapter 4: The Price to Pay

Yara listened to the council members as they discussed the details of the plan to use forbidden magic to defeat the dark spirit. She felt a sense of unease as she realized the gravity of the situation. The council was willing to allow the use of the most dangerous magic to defeat the dark spirit, but at a heavy price.

The council members began to debate what the price should be, and Yara could see that they were taking the decision very seriously. Finally, the head of the council spoke up.

"The price will be the sacrifice of one of your most treasured possessions. It could be an object, a person, or even a memory. The sacrifice must be willingly given and cannot be taken by force."

Yara felt a chill run down her spine as she heard this. She knew that the price was steep, but the thought of sacrificing something she held dear was almost too much to bear. She looked around at the other mages, wondering what they were thinking.

As if sensing her thoughts, one of the council members spoke directly to Yara. "Think carefully, young mage. This is not a decision to be taken lightly. The use of forbidden magic is dangerous, and the price that must be paid is steep. You must be absolutely certain that it is worth it before you agree to the council's terms."

Yara took a deep breath and thought about all that was at stake. If they didn't defeat the dark spirit, it could wreak havoc on the world beyond the battlefield. But the thought of sacrificing something precious to her was a heavy burden to bear.

She closed her eyes and thought about her family, her friends, and everything she held dear. Then she opened her eyes and looked at her spirit, who was watching her with a look of determination.

"I'll do it," Yara said firmly. "I'll pay the price to use forbidden magic and defeat the dark spirit."

The council members nodded, and Yara felt a sense of relief and dread wash over her. She didn't know what she would have to sacrifice, but she knew that it would be something that would hurt deeply.

The council members gave the mages time to prepare themselves, and Yara spent the next few days meditating and gathering her strength. She spoke with her spirit, who promised to stay by her side no matter what.

Finally, the day arrived when they would use forbidden magic to defeat the dark spirit. Yara and her spirit stood at the edge of the battlefield, waiting for the signal to begin.

The council member gave the signal, and Yara closed her eyes and began to chant the ancient words of the forbidden spell. She felt a surge of power as the spell took hold, and she opened her eyes to see the dark spirit beginning to weaken.

But as the dark spirit dissipated into nothingness, Yara felt a sudden pain in her chest. She looked down to see that her necklace, the one her mother had given her before she died, was glowing with a strange light.

She knew then that her sacrifice had been her most treasured possession, the necklace that had been a constant reminder of her mother's love. She felt tears prick her eyes as she clutched the necklace to her chest, grateful that she had been able to defeat the dark spirit but heartbroken at the price she had paid.