The Shimmering Magi

Part 3

Minerva approached Neptulius, the wing of the magic academy dedicated to the study of the water element. She smoothed down her ponytail and straightened her blouse, preparing to enter a world of unknown possibilities.

As she approached the giant wooden gate that marked the entrance to Neptulius, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with a hint of apprehension. She had never heard of Draconious or the magic academy before and wasn't sure what to expect.

To her surprise, as she passed through the gate, she found herself in a tunnel made entirely of water. The walls and ceiling were made of shimmering liquid that seemed to move and flow, creating an ever-changing landscape of light and shadows. Droplets of water splashed everywhere, some of them hitting Minerva's face and making her blink.

She wasn't sure if it was safe to continue, but something compelled her to take the first step into the tunnel. As soon as she did, she felt small droplets of water falling on her, but they didn't seem to be coming from the walls or the ceiling. It was as if the water was avoiding her, somehow.

Minerva walked deeper into the tunnel, feeling the coolness of the water on her skin and the dampness in the air. The light at the end of the tunnel seemed to be getting brighter, and she could hear the sound of water splashing and flowing. She couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder as she realized that the water was controlled by magic.

As she reached the end of the tunnel, she found herself in a large room that resembled a water park more than a school of magic. Water elementals of all shapes and sizes were moving back and forth, carrying trays and searching for something. Some of them were made entirely of water, while others had human-like features.

A woman with a long blue dress approached Minerva. Her hair was silver and her eyes were a deep shade of blue. She had a kind and welcoming smile on her face. "Welcome to Neptulius," she said. "I'm Willow, and I will be your guide in this place."

Minerva looked around, trying to take it all in. The room was adorned with water decorations that seemed to be crashing against invisible objects. There were immense droplets of water that remained floating in the air, and the transparent liquids gave the place a feeling of cleanliness and tranquility.

"This is where we work tirelessly to maintain the balance of the elements," Willow said. "We are all magic adepts with an affinity for water, and we use our powers to control and manipulate the water in different ways."

Minerva felt a sense of confusion and curiosity. She had always known that she was special, but she had never been able to believe it herself. "How do you maintain the balance of the elements?" she asked.

Willow smiled. "You will learn all of this in due time. For now, the most important thing is that you understand the basics of water magic. Follow me, and I will show you around."

Minerva followed Willow through the corridors of Neptulius, feeling more and more amazed by the wonders of this place. She saw classrooms where students were learning to control the flow of water, and labs where they were experimenting with different types of magic. She saw gardens where water elementals were tending to the plants, and pools where they were playing and having fun.

Willow led Minerva to a room that was the complete opposite of the previous one. This room was entirely water-free, with plain white walls and a cement floor. The only thing that stood out in the room was a large window on one wall, letting in natural light.

Willow waited by the door for a moment before turning to Minerva. "This will be your workspace," she said. "This is where you can decorate with water currents and learn to control the flow of water. You can create whatever you want, and you can make it travel wherever you want."

Minerva was confused. "But how? I've never been able to control my water magic before."

Willow smiled again, her blue eyes twinkling. "That's why you're here. Elysium is a place where magic is present, and you just need to learn how to access it. Think back to the first time you realized you had an affinity for water magic. What did you do?"

Minerva thought back to when she first realized her powers. She had been looking at her reflection in the mirror when she accidentally made all the pipes burst following a small light that came out of her finger. She remembered the feeling of the water flowing through her veins and the sense of wonder and excitement that had filled her.

Willow nodded, as if she could read her thoughts. "That's it. You just need to remember that feeling and try to replicate it. I'll leave you alone now, but I'll be back soon to check on you."

And with that, Willow left the room, closing the door behind her. Minerva was alone, but she didn't feel scared or alone. She felt excited and eager to start experimenting with her magic.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind of any distractions. She focused on the feeling of the water flowing through her veins, and she felt a tingling sensation in her fingers. She opened her eyes and looked at her hand, and to her amazement, a small stream of water burst out of the ground.

She couldn't believe it. She had never been able to control her water magic before, but now she was doing it effortlessly. She felt a sense of joy and empowerment fill her, and she knew that this was only the beginning.

She began to experiment with her magic, creating different shapes and patterns with the water currents. She made them flow in different directions and at different speeds. She created a small waterfall that flowed from the ceiling, and she made a small lake appear on the floor.

She felt like she could do anything, and she knew that this was only the beginning of her journey. She was excited to learn more, to master her water magic, and to discover the true potential of her powers.

As she continued to work, Willow returned to the room, smiling in amazement at the beautiful display of water currents that Minerva had created. "You are truly a master of water magic," Willow said, as she placed her hand on Minerva's shoulder, "Welcome to Neptulius."