OW ~ PTS 101 Introduction to Potions

Selena finished the last few lines on her notes and gathered her materials once Professor Helmintio Moritz, had wrapped up his short and brusque lecture. Contrary to the verdant instructors belief, she felt that all knowledge was worth having. Not to mention having a good base for starting a subject as immersive as Potionmaking was a very good idea. She had heard around that he was quite abrasive, but incredibly well versed in the art, and merely expected exceptional work from his students. She certainly intended on doing her best, but felt a bit of worry if she fell short of his expectations; she had plenty of emotional abusers back in the court.

Nevertheless, she already had a thought on what kind of potion she was going to research, a transformation draft, off of which she hoped to make a variation of, in the future. When her skills were more than just ideas in her head. But it was time to head to the library. Offering a respectful nod to her Professor as she departed, Selena couldn't keep the spring out of her step as she crossed the threshold of the door, exiting the domain of the dragon. Learning new things was one of her greatest joys and with the start of the summer semester, she could make use of her time productively.

Bag bouncing on her shoulder, she absorbed her surroundings as she moved over the grounds, wondering on the future and who she might meet before 'graduating' from this darkly compelling place of knowledge. She already liked being here, she was very happy with her new roommate, Princess Melusine, and now it was time to go to work. In fact, she wondered if later on, she might ask for some thoughts from her new friend about the potion she hoped to make.

It didn't take long before she reached the library, heading toward the potionmaking section, gazing longingly at the stairs which led to the higher areas of magic for advanced students. That was for a future time.

Shaking her head to clear it, Selena began looking for a suitable place to get started, eventually finding a small cubicle very near where she wanted to be. Plopping down her backpack, she began to move among the soaring bookshelves, beginning to visually scan titles and pluck those which she thought would start her on the road to learning about a water-breathing potion. After gathering a myriad of books, as well as a promising scroll she found in its own little cubby on a high shelf, she deposited them on her table and began to read.

Starting with brewing containers, she meticulously made her way through each ingredient of the water-breathing potion, taking notes on possible alternatives which might aid in creating her variation. It was late in the evening, when the shadowy form of the library keeper appeared to shoo her away so the library could close for the night. Rising, she bowed respectfully to the spirit, “Forgive me for not putting my materials away before now. I will try not to let it happen again.”

It silently waved her off again and she left, anxious for the dawning of the next day, leaving a single candle to be extinguished...

*~*~*

Sitting on the edge of the library fountain, Selena looked down at the bottle in her hands, nervous, even though it would be a controlled experiment. Through the thin glass of the clear bottle, a glittering blue-green fluid sparkled in the warm sun, a strange single bubble floating within it. This was the culmination of two days of careful brewing and now was the moment of truth. Popping off the cork and putting it aside, she tilted her head back and poured the vial into her mouth.

It was like drinking the way the ocean smelled. The tinge of salt and something more, something she didn't have a name for filling her mouth and mind. When her head began to tingle, she ran gentle fingertips over the area to find a series of slits behind her ears, hidden by her platinum tresses. Not waiting to think about it, she threw herself into the warm water, unconsciously closing her eyes and holding her breath.

Slowly, the warm ebb and flow around her, the soft drone and hum, made Selena open her eyes, the beautiful streaming light of the sun filling her vision. Glimmering through the clear waters of the fountain, rays parting in a curtain of layered light, her mind was dazzled, mouth opening and chest expanding in a moment of awe.

The fullness of the water filled her, the viscosity moving not only over nose, sinus, and throat; but over gill filaments & lamella, delicately held in place by a supple skeleton.

It worked!

*~*~*

Author note(s): My apologies on the rush ending! I know it's terrible, but real life really gets in the way when you're older than 30... Here is the link I used for basic gill anatomy terms esi.stanford.edu/respiration/r…

BTW, my internet will be going out around Labor day, so, if possible, may I get assignments ahead of time? Thank you for your consideration.
Word count: 788