The next morning, Briar woke up with sore muscles and an even sorer ego. Her attempts at air and fire magic had been… well, eventful, but they’d also left her feeling drained. Elemental magic was no joke. She was beginning to wonder how witches who specialized in it managed to stay in one piece.

As she stretched and climbed out of bed, she heard the familiar sound of Myrtle’s cheerful voice drifting through the window. Groaning, Briar pulled on her clothes and trudged outside, where Myrtle was already waiting, as energetic as ever.

"Morning!" Myrtle called, waving from the garden bench. "Ready for another day of magical mayhem?"

Briar rubbed her temples. "You’re way too excited about this."

Myrtle grinned. "Hey, we’re making progress! Yesterday, you mastered air and dabbled in fire. Today? Water magic."

Briar raised an eyebrow. "Water magic?"

Myrtle nodded eagerly. "Yep! You’re already connected to the earth and the other elements, so water should be a breeze. No pun intended."

Briar sighed, though she couldn’t help but feel a small flicker of curiosity. Water magic sounded less dangerous than fire, at least. And after yesterday’s fire fiasco, she could use something a little calmer.

"Fine," Briar said with a resigned sigh. "But we’re taking it slow, okay? I’m not flooding the village."

Myrtle grinned. "Deal!"

They made their way to the clearing, where the small creek that ran through the forest babbled softly in the background. Briar stared at the gently flowing water, trying to steady her nerves. Water magic wasn’t supposed to be as unpredictable as fire or air, but with her luck, anything was possible.

"Alright," Myrtle said, clapping her hands together. "Let’s start small. Just like with the other elements, you want to connect with the water. Feel it, like you do with the earth. Then, when you’re ready, try to move it."

Briar nodded, taking a deep breath as she knelt by the edge of the creek. She closed her eyes, letting the soft sound of the water fill her senses. It was peaceful, rhythmic—completely different from the wild, chaotic energy of air or fire. Slowly, Briar reached out with her magic, feeling for the connection to the water.

At first, she felt nothing. The water continued to flow past her, undisturbed. But as she focused harder, she began to sense the faint pulse of magic within the stream. It was subtle, gentle, like the ebb and flow of a tide. Briar concentrated, willing the water to respond.

To her surprise, the water rippled.

Briar’s eyes snapped open in shock. The small section of the stream in front of her was moving—not with the natural current, but because of her magic. A tiny wave rolled over the surface, splashing gently against the rocks.

"You did it!" Myrtle exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. "That’s amazing, Briar!"

Briar’s heart raced with excitement. Water magic! She had done it. The connection felt easier, more natural than fire or air. It flowed, like the water itself, and for the first time in days, Briar felt like she was actually in control.

Encouraged by her success, Briar pushed a little harder. She focused on the stream, willing the water to move more. The ripple grew into a larger wave, and before long, a small whirlpool formed in the center of the creek, swirling gently in place.

"That’s incredible!" Myrtle shouted, her voice full of excitement. "You’re a natural!"

Briar beamed, her confidence growing with each passing second. This was it—this was the magic she had been waiting for. It wasn’t wild or chaotic; it was calm, steady, and powerful. She could control it. She could shape it.

But as Briar pushed her magic further, the whirlpool began to grow. It spun faster, pulling more and more water into its center until the creek started to rise. Alarmed, Briar tried to pull back, but the water didn’t stop. The whirlpool grew larger, faster, and soon, the water was spilling over the edges of the creek, flooding the surrounding area.

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"Briar!" Myrtle shouted, her eyes wide with alarm. "You’ve got to stop it!"

"I’m trying!" Briar yelled, her heart pounding as she struggled to regain control. But the water had a mind of its own. The whirlpool churned violently, sending waves crashing against the banks of the creek. Water sloshed over the rocks, spilling into the clearing and soaking the ground beneath their feet.

"Okay, okay," Briar muttered to herself, trying to stay calm. "You can do this. Just… pull the magic back."

She took a deep breath, focusing all her energy on the water. She could feel the magic surging through her, but this time, she didn’t try to force it. Instead, she let it flow, just like the water itself. Slowly, carefully, she willed the whirlpool to calm, drawing the energy back into herself.

To her relief, the water began to slow. The whirlpool shrank, the waves receding as the creek returned to its normal flow. Within moments, the water was once again trickling peacefully through the forest, leaving only the soggy ground as evidence of Briar’s brief magical misfire.

Myrtle let out a long breath, her hands on her hips. "Well, that was… intense."

Briar, her clothes soaked and her heart still racing, collapsed onto a nearby rock, groaning. "I thought water magic was supposed to be easier!"

"It is," Myrtle said, trying not to laugh. "For people who don’t accidentally summon a flood."

Briar shot her a glare, though she couldn’t help but chuckle. "You’re not helping."

"Hey, you’re doing great!" Myrtle said, plopping down next to her. "You just need to work on not… flooding everything."

Briar sighed, wiping the water from her face. "At least I didn’t set anything on fire this time."

"Progress!" Myrtle said brightly, clapping her hands. "But seriously, Briar, you’re getting better. You’re learning. This is just part of the process."

"I guess," Briar muttered, glancing down at the soaked ground. "I just… I thought I’d be better at this by now. Every time I try something new, it goes wrong."

"That’s how magic works," Myrtle said, her voice softening. "No one’s perfect, especially not when they’re learning something as big as elemental magic. You’re doing amazing, Briar. And the fact that you’re willing to keep trying, even when it goes wrong—that’s what makes you a great witch."

Briar blinked, surprised by the sincerity in Myrtle’s voice. She looked over at her friend, who was smiling at her with such genuine encouragement that Briar felt a lump rise in her throat. Myrtle was right. Even though things had gone wrong—a lot wrong—Briar hadn’t given up. She had kept trying, kept pushing herself to learn more. And that, she realized, was worth something.

"Thanks, Myrtle," Briar said quietly, smiling. "I don’t think I could do this without you."

Myrtle grinned, nudging her playfully. "Oh, please. You’d be just fine. I’m just here to make things more interesting."

Briar chuckled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. Despite all the magical mishaps, she was grateful to have Myrtle by her side. They were in this together, and no matter how chaotic things got, she knew they would figure it out.

"So," Myrtle said, standing up and offering Briar a hand. "Ready to try again? I think we’ve got time for one more round of water magic before we call it a day."

Briar hesitated, glancing at the creek, which was now flowing peacefully again. Her magic was still buzzing inside her, full of energy and potential. She wasn’t sure she was ready for another flood, but she also knew she couldn’t let fear stop her from trying.

Taking a deep breath, Briar took Myrtle’s hand and pulled herself to her feet. "Alright. One more try."

Myrtle beamed. "That’s the spirit!"

This time, Briar approached the water with more caution. She knelt by the edge of the creek, her hands hovering just above the surface. She closed her eyes, letting her magic flow gently, coaxing the water to move. But this time, she kept it small, focused. Instead of trying to control the whole stream, she focused on a single ripple, watching as it danced across the surface of the water.

Slowly, the ripple grew, moving in a perfect circle. Briar smiled, her heart swelling with pride. She was doing it—really doing it. The water moved at her command, soft and steady, without spiraling out of control.

Myrtle watched with wide eyes, her face full of admiration. "That’s incredible, Briar! You’re amazing!"

Briar smiled, her confidence growing with each passing second. She had done it. She had mastered water magic—at least, for today.

As the ripple faded and the creek returned to its normal flow, Briar stood up, feeling a sense of accomplishment wash over her. She wasn’t perfect, and she still had a long way to go, but for the first time, she felt like she was truly starting to understand her magic.

"That was amazing!" Myrtle said, practically bouncing with excitement. "You’ve really got the hang of it now!"

Briar smiled, though she couldn’t help but feel a tiny flicker of doubt. She was getting better, yes, but every time she made progress, something went wrong. What if she wasn’t cut out for this? What if her magic was too unpredictable, too wild to ever be fully controlled?

But before Briar could dwell on her doubts, Myrtle clapped her on the back, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "Come on, Briar. Let’s head back to the village. We can celebrate your success with some pie."

Briar chuckled, shaking off her worries. "Pie, huh?"

"Pumpkin pie," Myrtle said with a grin. "In honor of your magical pumpkin."

Briar groaned, though she couldn’t help but laugh. "I should’ve known."

Together, they made their way back to the village, the sound of the creek fading behind them. Briar’s heart felt lighter, her worries pushed to the back of her mind as she walked beside her friend.

No matter what happened next, Briar knew one thing for sure: she wasn’t giving up. She would keep practicing, keep learning, and keep pushing herself to master her magic. And with Myrtle by her side, she was ready to face whatever magical surprises came her way.