Dean Bruce shook his head. "No, I've been to the forest and the hill behind the school, but neither is suitable."
Mordo Chakol thought for a moment. "Why don't you ask some of the other teachers for their opinions?"
Dean Bruce considered this a good idea and decided to consult the other teachers. He went to the staff office and explained the situation to them.
The teachers all shared their suggestions. Some proposed the desert, others suggested the forest, and a few recommended a valley. After hearing their ideas, Dean Bruce still felt uncertain.
Each location had its strengths and weaknesses, making it difficult to determine which would be the most appropriate. Finally, he decided to discuss the matter further with the principal.
When Dean Bruce arrived at the principal's office, the principal was in the middle of a conversation with another teacher. Upon seeing him enter, the principal gestured for him to take a seat.
Once the teacher had left, the principal turned to Dean Bruce. "Dean, what brings you here?"
Dean Bruce said, "Principal, I still haven't found a suitable assessment location and wanted to ask for your opinion."
The principal smiled. "No need to rush. Take your time. Have you considered some more unique locations?"
"Unique locations?" Dean Bruce asked, puzzled.
The principal nodded. "For instance, ancient relics or other mysterious places."
Dean Bruce's eyes lit up. "Principal, that's a great idea. Those places would definitely provide a strong challenge. But what about the safety concerns?"
The principal replied, "We can send a team ahead to scout the area and ensure it's safe. If there are any risks, we'll set up protective measures."
Dean Bruce thought the principal's suggestion made sense and began considering potential locations. Suddenly, a place came to mind: the legendary Ghostly Valley.
According to rumors, the valley was filled with ghosts and magical traps, making it extremely dangerous. However, overcoming these challenges would be an excellent test for the students.
Dean Bruce shared his idea with the principal. The principal, after a moment of thought, said, "The Ghostly Valley is certainly challenging, but it's also very dangerous. We need to approach this carefully."
Dean Bruce suggested, "Principal, we could send a team to scout the area first. If it's deemed safe, we could use it as the assessment location."
The principal nodded. "Alright, let's do that. Prepare for the scouting mission, and we'll make a final decision once the team reports back."
Dean Bruce agreed and left the principal's office, feeling hopeful. He truly wanted the Ghostly Valley to be the assessment location.
He immediately began organizing the scouting mission. Dean Bruce reached out to a few of the more capable teachers and discussed the details of the plan with them.
The teachers all agreed that the mission was challenging but were eager to take it on. They decided to split into two groups: one would scout the outskirts of Ghostly Valley to gather initial information, while the other would remain nearby, ready to provide backup if needed.
After organizing everything, Dean Bruce waited for them to set off. He felt a little anxious himself, not knowing what Ghostly Valley truly held in store.
A few days later, the first group of teachers returned, bringing back news about Ghostly Valley. They reported that the ghosts there were incredibly powerful, the area was riddled with magical traps, and there seemed to be a mysterious force guarding the place.
The research team dove into their work, pouring over ancient texts and conducting on-site investigations in the valley, searching for a way to break the array.
After several days of effort, the team finally made some progress. They discovered that the magic array was linked to an ancient form of magic and might require specific magical artifacts to deactivate it.
When Dean Bruce received this update, he began searching for potential magical artifacts. After asking around, he eventually found a promising item in an old magic shop.
An ancient magic crystal said to possess immense power. Dean Bruce paid a hefty price for the magic crystal and hurried back to the school.
He handed the magic crystal to the research team, urging them to test its compatibility with the magic array. The team set to work, using the crystal in their experiments. After a series of attempts, the magic array finally began to respond.
The light emanating from the magic array gradually dimmed, seemingly suppressed by the magic crystal. The research team was thrilled by this breakthrough and continued their efforts until they finally succeeded in deactivating the array entirely.
When Dean Bruce heard that the magic array had been neutralized, he was elated. Without delay, he went to share the good news with the principal.
The principal was equally pleased and decided to officially designate Ghostly Valley as the assessment location. Dean Bruce immediately began preparing for the examination.
He drafted a detailed assessment plan, outlining the tasks, rules, and safety protocols. Additionally, he organized mock assessments with some teachers and students to ensure everything would run smoothly.
During the preparation phase, Dean Bruce suddenly sensed a surge of powerful magical energy. Startled, he froze for a moment—the energy felt oddly familiar, as if he had encountered it before.
Following the direction of the energy, he arrived at the school library. There, he found an ancient book emitting the strong magical aura.
Curious, Dean Bruce picked up the book and opened it. To his astonishment, it contained additional information about the magic array in Ghostly Valley. Furthermore, it mentioned a mysterious artifact said to have the power to completely control the magic array.
A thought struck Dean Bruce: if this artifact truly existed, it could be a game-changer for their assessment. He resolved to find it.
After carefully placing the book back, Dean Bruce went to discuss the matter with the principal. Upon hearing about the artifact, the principal agreed it could be of great importance.
"Dean, be cautious on this mission," the principal advised. "If you encounter any danger, retreat immediately."
Dean Bruce nodded. "Understood, Principal. I'll proceed carefully."
He began organizing a team to search for the artifact, selecting teachers and students familiar with Ghostly Valley to join him.
Before setting off, Dean Bruce addressed the team. "This mission to find the artifact is a challenging one. Stay vigilant at all times. If you find the artifact, notify me immediately."
The team members nodded in agreement, determined to give it their all.
With the group assembled, Dean Bruce led them toward Ghostly Valley. They traveled cautiously, remaining on high alert for any signs of danger.
Upon reaching the valley's entrance, a powerful wave of magical energy washed over them.
Dean Bruce tensed up, instantly recognizing the potential dangers ahead—strong magical creatures or deadly traps likely awaited them.
"Stay close behind me, and be careful," Dean Bruce warned his team.