"So-called resilience isn't necessarily a good thing, it could potentially make you a target for many demons. For instance, Constantine is a prime example, he bears countless costs, suffers greatly, yet can still use magic."
"As for how to learn to use spells..." Zatanna paused to recall, then said, "You really don't need to learn. The demon who lends you the power implants all the skills directly into your mind. When you're casting spells, you act instinctively. If you have enough power, you won't fail."
"So, magic is actually like borrowing debt?" Harley asked with immense disappointment.
Zatanna looked around before lowering her voice and sincerely said to Harley, "Young girl, at your age, I also had unrealistic fantasies about magic."
"But if you meet enough magicians, you will understand that this is not a blessing, but a curse. Besides offering your own organs or soul to the demons, magic will gradually devour all your luck!"
Zatanna revealed a sad expression as she said, "We are all puppets controlled by magical powers. Endlessly borrowing, endlessly repaying. The more power, the more fights, and the hatred brought about by the fights lead us to want more power. It is an endless whirlpool, no one can escape."
Harley was holding onto her last hope as she looked at Zatanna and said, "But the magician just said that you don't have to pay the price!"
"Yes, I don't need to slice my soul or offer organs like them." Zatanna ground her teeth as she said, "But that doesn't mean I don't have to pay any cost at all. My separation from my father is one embodiment of the power of the curse. We always lose something, with no ability to resist."
Tears poured from Harley's eyes. Zatanna didn't understand what she was crying about, but still held her. She heard Harley say softly, "I've had enough of this place, had enough of everything here."
"I want to leave this dirty and ugly world of ordinary people behind, away from their stupidity, greed and arrogance...
"Their deaths were entirely their just desserts because, even if we had the most intimate relationship, they only took my words as the ramblings of a madman."
Harley gradually lost all expressions, and only continued to weep, "When I show a wisdom far beyond theirs, even family love can't hide their disgust and fear of me... I don't belong here."
"When I was standing on the balcony seeing the police car delivering the news of my parents' death, I only saw crows in flocks, and bats, one group after another. If there really was an owl that could deliver a letter from far away, regardless of what was written inside, I would set off without any hesitation."
Zatanna slowly released Harley, because she saw Shiller walking over. Miss Magician took the female magician away, so only Shiller and Harley were left in front of the bookstore.
"Are you satisfied now?" Harley wiped her teary, red eyes with her sleeve, saying, "I guess I know why that guy said I wouldn't want to see you again."
"You're just about the nastiest adult in the world, shattering a beautiful dream that you had spun yourself, hurting a child's heart in this way."
When Shiller turned to look at Harley, Harley was also staring at him. Harley saw Shiller suddenly revealing a grin, still somewhat neurotic and apathetic. She heard Shiller say, "Do you know why I did this? Why I hit you where it hurts, causing you so much pain?"
"Why?" Harley asked as she looked at him.
"Because you barged into my office..." Shiller tilted his head, leaving Harley with wide-open eyes in anger. But then Shiller continued, "But it's ok, you're still young, so I forgive you."
Harley was baffled by him turning back and forth. Then, the next moment, Shiller glared at her and said, "But you put a dagger that you had touched, in the second drawer of my office desk, on the right side, where my seal ink should have been!"
For the first time, Harley had the feeling that she was beaten by someone else's mental condition. First, she rolled her eyes and held her forehead, then took a deep breath, relaxed her shoulders, and lowered her head. The intense emotional fluctuation made her feel a bit tired.
Seeing Harley's expression, Shiller revealed a grin filled with nastiness again. He patted Harley's head and said, "Did you know? Actually, among all the things I just said, one is true..."
"...What is it?"
"The owl was once real."
Harley's eyes went wide again, then she heard Shiller say, "Maybe, it's not that you lack talent or are unlucky, it's just that the owl was unprofessional and lost your letter."
"They can even lose the letters???"
"Of course, especially if their owner is an evil dragon."