Cecilia plunged into the water, the cold of the pond striking her like a thousand needles.
The shock stole her breath, but she forced her body to move, her limbs slicing through the dark water in steady strokes.
Her spell kept the pressure from crushing her lungs, yet even so, she could feel the icy grip of the depths pressing in on all sides.
With a quick gesture, she cast a low fire spell in her palm.
The spell flickered like a red ember under the surface, refusing to die even as the cold water lapped against it.
It gave her a small sphere of light, barely enough to see a few meters ahead, but it was better than nothing.
The pond was deeper than she'd thought.
The surface faded above her, and soon only her faint firelight remained.
She swam lower, the pressure of the water growing heavier with each meter she descended.
The bottom came into view at last, revealing a thick carpet of mud and weeds waving gently in the underwater current.
