#22 Wisdom Comes

Kassia opened the door and was stunned to discover the exact same pond she had braved just the other day. Some of her sense of wonder disappeared at being faced with the same task. She put her hands on her hips and glared at the room. This again? Why couldn't she have a nice charms task or something like that?

At least she knew what to do. Kassia resolutely removed her outer layers and placed her hair in a shower cap. She did check the plaque just in case something was different, but even the buckets were the same colour as before. Kassia wondered if she would go for the same bucket again.

She dipped her toes into the warm water before fully submerging herself. Taking a huge gasp, Kassia pulled her way back down the kelp towards the bed of stones on the bottom. Actually, it was nice to deal with a threat she was used to. Snatching up a stone, she began to float back up to the surface.

Kassia felt it was much colder this time around. That should have been foreshadowing enough, but she focussed on getting back to the air above her and not on what was beneath. But just as the light above came deceptively close, Kassia felt a hand around her ankle.

Her body jerked reflexively, and she looked down. Bubbles escaped her mouth. It was very much not a piece of kelp holding her. She pulled out her wand, lungs screaming for air. But still, desperation forced her to behave as needed. She pointed her wand at the shadowy creature who had grabbed her.

"Stupefy!"

Nothing happened. More bubbles poured out of Kassia's mouth. She remembered the warning on the plaque- no magic could be used. She was enraged. No magic in herbology, potions, now here- what the hell was the point of being a witch then? Wasn't this sort of situation exactly what magic was for?

Something else bubbled up in Kassia then, and she was almost gleeful. It was rare she got to let the constant anger out of her. Reaching down with her dominant hand, she grasped two icy fingers in her hands. Then she pulled them back in the opposite direction they were supposed to bend, hoping she could hear the sickening snap and crunch of bone.

Kassia would have glowered at the retreating figure if she'd had the air to do it. She wasn't going to cry and scream like a little girl. But she was just desperate to reach the surface now, and kicked violently. She broke through the water with a choking gasp, lungs burning. She hauled herself out onto the stone floor and lay there for a moment, breathing hard.

The stone remained clutched in Kassia's left hand. She wearily sat up once she had regained her composure. She glanced back at the two buckets, not remembering which one she chose last time. Not that it mattered. She pulled off her hair cap, and threw the stone into the white bucket.