Divination: Year One, Lesson Three

Sophia sat cross-legged atop her desk, chin resting in one palm as she waited for her first years. At each of their seats was a crystal ball. Magus stood among them, peering idly at his reflection.

Flora walked into the class, and just like last time, she was the only one there apart form Professor Wyse. Crystal gazing, hmmm.
'Hello Professor, how're you today?' she greeted her.

Sophia smiled at Flora in greeting. "Hello, Miss Evans. I"m very well, today. And yourself?"

The woman glanced at the clock and frowned. "It would seem it is just you and I, again," she said, getting down from her perch to stand on the floor. "Let'ts start, then, shall we? What do you know about scrying?"

Scrying! Have I heard that before? Flora raked her brain. Wait, there's crystal balls lying around, so...
'Isn't that related to crystal-gazing or water-gazing,Professor?'

"Correct, Miss Evans," Sophia confirmed. "Scrying has been used by many cultures as a means of divining the past, present or future.

"As you mentioned, the most common means of scrying is, in fact, crystal-gazing, though it can be done using any smooth surface, such as the surface of a bowl of water, or glass. Some do, however, use fire or even smoke. Now, scrying is used in many different cultures and belief systems, furthermore, it is not limited to a single tradition or idealogy.

"Scrying is perform while in the midst of a trance, in which the reader or gazer puts all other thoughts aside and focuses on simply seeing," the woman explained. "Why do you suppose, however, that scrying can prove to be one of the most faulty means of divination?"