It was just learning some new skills how bad could things get? "Yes, I think I could get my way out." Kriash obviously didn't think I was taking things seriously and started me off trying some simple things first. A song or two that would grow seaweed or attract fish, an exercise to figure out if I could generate gas pockets anywhere outside of my breasts... Turned out yes I could... Although Shirley was doing magnificently with her little bubble buddies... Still I had the mermaid magic fundamentals down! Then came Kriash's first real lesson in magic crafting... Why not? If my mermaid powers let me convert dihydrogen monoxide into hydrogen and oxygen... why not let it convert that water into air? My mind immediately went to "Cause there's no nitrogen and whatnot in water" which led to Kriash smacking me with her tailfin.
"Did you not feel the essence of magic when singing?" Kriash asked.
"A little..." I thought back to when I first sang my legs spell... A bit like a whisper into the essence of creation. Then again I had become a bit dull to that sensation.
"If you are to be my apprentice you need not think about reality standing in your way! Do you want to swim through the skies? Why not? You have magic and need not concern yourself with flying when you can naturally swim through the skies?"
"But we can't breath-"
"Then use your magic to breath air!"
It took awhile but my mind became a little more malleable. Although the question "Why not?" did have answers. Out of consideration for the humans around who did not want to become monsters. Or because changing things too drastically could invite unintended consequences. Which was when Kriash ended up taking me to her place at the Marianas Trench for training.
"Just make an angler light. Why not?" Kriash griped
"I don't want to look like some deep sea abomination" I responded as Kriash sighed
"I suppose vanity is a reason... Why not try for one of those bioluminescent jellyfish?" So much could be done down there that despite only being there for a week I felt like I could do anything I really wanted to do. After all right now I just wanted to go back home and live life like a normal girl for now.
Having made arrangements with the government I had walked off the plane and met with my family. I giggled and ran up and gave my parents a bear hug then gave my little (year younger) brother a pat on the head. "Man, feels good to be back on two legs!"
My little brother asked "So... you turned back human?"
"No No... Still a mermaid, but magic mumbo jumbo let me switch a tail for legs and gills for lungs."
"Is that thing with your eyes a side effect?"
I frowned a bit and asked "What do you mean the thing with my eyes?"
"You didn't see that obvious greyness Dawn?"
"...Now that I think about it... After being able to will myself looking nice I hadn't looked in a mirror in awhile..." Sensing the water in the air I started collecting it... then remembered a lot of civilians and my family was around and... it'd be a bad thing if they were to suddenly turn into mermaids or something... right? "Have a mirror?" My mom let me see my reflection in her phone and yeah... It wasn't pronounced like Master Kriash's void eyes but... my eyes were a hazy grey. It was slightly concerning but... It wasn't like I needed to go any further. "Don't worry about it. Just a little something about learning magic in the depths of the sea. If I hadn't I couldn't make myself walk like this. I have it all under control! I did right?