Hardships

"Yes. By all logic, I should have died."

"You're what? 21? A young woman such as you should know that things aren't always as they seem. Magic bends the laws of logic. It is beyond logic, even."

"That doesn't answer my question though."

Tissaia turned around to face Serena.

"You're powerful. I've said from the beginning that you have the potential to be just as or even more powerful than Yennefer of Vengerberg."

Serena's eyes widened. She had heard about the famous Yennefer of Vengerberg. She was at the Battle of Sodden and had gone MIA afterwards. It was rumored she was dead.

"Why am I here?"

"You are here because I chose for you to be here."

"But I'm the enemy."

Tissaia sighed and said, "The others do not know, nor do they need to. Have I treated you any differently because of your origins?"

"Well..."

"You know what I mean, cupcake."

Serena's lips drew into a thin line. She shook her head.

"No, you haven't."

"Then, I do not care about your past. I care about your future."

"Why?"

"Because you may be just the mage we need."

Serena looked at Tissaia doubtfully. The Rectoress sighed.

"You were able to do what you did because you channeled the chaos. You had control and balance. Do you realize that when you channeled the lightning, the storms quieted down. You used the chaos of the storm to your advantage."

Serena wrung her hands. "Am I really that powerful?"

"You can be, cupcake."

Serena nodded slowly and left Tissaia's office. She returned to her room and curled up into a ball.

I'm going to make you proud, Mother, she thought.

A week later, Tissaia led the girls out into the bridge to the Tor Lara. She had them lean out over the ledge.

"Do you see those waves crashing against the rocks?"

The girls nodded.

"Stand up on the ledge, girls."

They all did, trusting Tissaia completely.

"Asha, jump."

She whipped her head around towards the Rectoress.

"What?"

"Jump. Control to the chaos of the waves and calm them down before your body is crashed into the rocky shore."

Asha shook.

Tissaia knew full well Asha feared drowning. This was her forcing the girl to conquer her fear.

"Rectoress, Asha fears drowning," Uma said.

"And that's why she's going first. This is about conquering your fears. If you Ascend, you will have to serve a royal court. Who knows what you'll have to face at court. You cannot show fear."

Asha was as pale as a sheet. Her body visibly shook.

"Well?"

Asha took a deep breath, swallowed, and launched herself off of the bridge. The others watched as the waves started to calm down, but Asha was falling faster than the waves were slowing down. Her body plunged into the water, and the waves pushed her over toward the rocks.

The other girls started calling out Asha's name, but Tissaia knew it was a lost cause. The girl's body would be broken by the time anyone got down there.

"Cupcake, you're up."

Serena turned and stared at the Rectoress in horror.

"We all have to jump?"

Tissaia nodded. "Are you afraid, cupcake?"

Serena shook her head, but she was lying.

"Is Asha...?"

"Yes."

Serena bit her lip and turned back around.

"Hardships, cupcake, will always be a part of one's life. You must learn how to rise above them."

Serena took a deep breath, and jumped. She felt herself falling, but concentrated on calming the waves. She used the chaos of the whipping wind, which sped up her descent, but by the time she hit the water, the water barely lapped at the rocks.

Her mother thought it was important she learn how to swim, therefore, she had been made to swim in the River Alba.

So, Serena swam to the rocky shore and collected Asha's body. She climbed up onto the rocks and pulled Asha up with her. Then, her eyes flicked up to the bridge.

The other girls were cheering, and even Tissaia had a faint smile on her lips.

Serena climbed up further and took Asha with her. Once they were to dry rocks and out of the water's reach, Serena let go of the waves. She made her way back up to Aretuza carefully, pulling Asha all the way.

Back on the bridge, the other girls ran towards her. They looked at Asha's body.

"Poor Asha," Uma said.

"She was so scared, yet so brave to have jumped," Ilfri said.

"Yeah, but that's what got her killed," Nera said. "Her fear."

"Indeed," Tissaia said. "She let her fear overwhelm her. Asha couldn't control the chaos."

The girls hadn't noticed the Rectoress come up behind them. Tissaia looked straight at Serena.

"Well done, cupcake. Take Asha inside and get yourself dried off. Then, remain in your room and wait for a knock."

Serena looked at Tissaia.

"Yes, Rectoress."

She did as she was told and inside the academy, handed Asha over to a maid. Then, she went and bathed, getting the salty water of the North Sea out of her skin and hair. After drying off, Serena returned to her room.

I wonder how the others did, she thought. If they passed or if they wound up like poor Asha.

Around midnight, Serena heard the familiar heel clicks of Tissaia as she walked along their hall. She got up and crept to the door.

There was a knock and then, "Ilfri, get up."

Heel clicks.

A knock.

"Kali, wake up."

Heel clicks passed her door, and Serena got confused.

"Did I not pass or something?" she asked herself quietly.

Then, another knock.

"Iva, get up."

Then, heel clicks until they faded away. Serena was scared.

Have I failed? she thought.

She curled up on her bed and closed her eyes. But sleep did not come to her.

"She didn't choose Nera, Uma, or I. Why?"