All The Magic We Made (Sebastian Sallow x Fem!OC)

Call Me The Last Airbender Or Something

You'd think the rest of the puzzle would be pretty straightforward from there, right? Correlate each element with each torch. I thought so, too---until I attempted to cast fire in the torch with the upright triangle: the fire torch. The spell, once again, bounced back and disappeared into nothing. 

I pace the ground, tapping my wand on my crossed arms as I consider where I could have went wrong. Why wouldn't fire go with the fire torch? 

Maybe it's opposites. Opposite of fire: water.

I cast the water spell I learned from Charms, Auguamenti. I haven't quite mastered that spell yet, but I manage to get a couple of drops of water to fall into the dusty torch.

Nothing.

BROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I plop down on the ground in frustration, sitting crosslegged in the darkness as I blow my hair out of my face. How is any of this supposed to make sense? I'm too vexed to even be concerned about the possibility of a lone spider crawling up my ass.

I wish I was sorted into Ravenclaw. Maybe then I'd be able to figure this out. Man, those guys are so cool. I should definitely try to interact with them more when I get back to school. If I ever get out of this cave.

No, this is stupid. Even if I was sorted in Ravenclaw, that won't make me any smarter. My potential is the same, my capability is the same, regardless of what house I'm a part of. Houses don't define people, their characteristics define their house. And didn't I have an aptitude for all houses?

With a hefty sigh, I push myself up to my feet. I shut my eyes, starting to think hard about this puzzle. All the four main elements are connected in some way, right? Is that not why they're so often presented in a circle, almost like they create a cycle together? 

Air. What do I think of first when I think of air? Wind. Oxygen.

Fire needs oxygen. Wind blows and fire rises.

Then what? Then fire. Fire is warmth, fire is home. But fire also destroys. Fire burns and takes and scorches the land. The land.

Which brings us to earth, right? Earth is the land. Earth is the ground we walk on, the dirt under our feet and under our nails. Earth grows life, it sustains us. But it needs to be sustained, too. After all, it can't grow life on it's own. It needs water.

Which means...water and air. Rain is water, and rainstorms come from the air. 

Yeah, I kind of bullshitted on that last one. But there's no other possible answer I can think of at the moment, so I better hope and pray that my bullshit has substance.

Wind stirs the flames. Flames dry the land. Earth drinks the rain. Water soothes the storm. All four elements, one leading to the next, in a full circle. Just like in that textbook.

It couldn't hurt to give it a try.

Lighting my wand one more time, I approach the fire torch again. My first thought is, how do I cast a spell to summon wind? I haven't learned that in my classes yet.

My second thought is, are you an idiot? Blow on it.

Barely two months and I'm already losing my muggle roots, damn.

I begin blowing furiously on the unlit fire torch, as hard as I can for as long as I can. I jump back when dancing tendrils of flame burst forth from the bottom of the torch, nearly burning my nose off. They flicker hungrily in the darkness, the embers pulsing a glow around them in the beat of my own heart.

I can't help but let out a laugh of elation, relief tumbling from my chest. Wow, I did it, I solved it, it worked. 

The soft glow from the lone torch isn't quite enough light for me to see the fine details, so I keep my wand lit to find the torch with the telling upside-down-triangle-with-a-horizontal-line. The earth torch. When I reach it on the other side of the caveroom, I cast Incendio with a whisper and a flick of my wand.

Once again, flames spring forth, but not for long before the flames curl in on themselves, darkening more and more until they crumble into rich brown soil right before my eyes.

This is so cool.

Same drill for the next: I find the upside down triangle symbol of water, crouch to grab a handful of dirt from the ground, and unceremoniously plop it into the base of the torch. The soil begins to bubble like dark, swampy water. When the bubbles disappear, all that is left is a torchful of crystal clear water, clean enough to drink. Not that I'm gonna take my chances.

Finally, I reach up on my tiptoes and scoop up some water in my palms, walking it over to the final torch: the air torch. I watch as the water dribbles through my fingers into the torch base. As quickly as the drops touch the torch, the liquid vaporizes into the air and morphs into a contained gust, swirling in place like flames of wind. 

Almost immediately after all four torches had been attended to, a rumble echoes through the cave. A cluster of branches that was disguising an opening leading further into the cave promptly disintegrates into ashes, falling into a heap on the ground.

Behind the opening is another, smaller room. But this one has one singular object, collecting dust on a table in the centre. A small chest, long and thin. There isn't any lock or puzzle on it---thank God, I'd jump off a tall building---so I'm able to just open it with no issues. Which feels suspicious and not real but whatever.

Carefully, I lift the lid of the chest delicately, afraid that it would crumple in my hands. And it feels like it will, too. How old is this thing? How many hands have lifted it? How many treasures has it held?

Inside the chest is a scroll of parchment, yellowing and crinkled at the corners. Unrolling it, I find that the surface has been scrawled on with fading ink. My eyes flick over the words as I begin to read.

My dearest Anne,

Well done! You solved my puzzle. I knew you were a kindred spirit and the only one with whom I could truly share my adventures. Meet me at the edge of the Forbidden Forest as soon as you can and I will show you the map I mentioned. There is no telling where it will lead us. I found it on pages Peeves ripped from a secret book---and no one else seems to be able to find. I haven't any idea what lies ahead, but I am glad to know I shall share my future with you.

This is only the beginning.

Love, Richard

P.S. I am terribly glad you found this, as I would have gone on alone if you haven't. And what fun would that be?

A tear drops onto the parchment, and I quickly wipe my eyes dry. My mother always did tell me that I cry far too easily. But how could I not, after reading this beautiful letter of hope and promises written moments before tragedy? This is proof that he truly did care for Anne, that this wasn't some sort of prank gone wrong. And Anne never found it.

Which means Anne was very likely not involved at all.