The assessment officially began, with students cautiously advancing into the depths of the valley in small groups. The fog grew denser as they moved forward, obscuring their vision, while the growls of magical creatures drew nearer. The oppressive atmosphere made the entire test far more nerve-wracking.
One group of students suddenly encountered a massive magical bear. The creature radiated a powerful magical aura, its eyes fixed on the students as it let out a deep, menacing growl. It seemed to be warning them to stay away. The students froze in fear, unsure of what to do. Then, one of them remembered the spell Dean Bruce had taught them. Summoning their courage, they loudly recited:"Stars are winking bright, The moon shines in the night, Magic sparks in hand, Danger takes its flight."
To their astonishment, as soon as the spell was spoken, tiny points of light began to shimmer in the surrounding fog. The lights slowly coalesced at their fingertips, forming faint protective shields around them. The magical bear paused, its gaze wary, seemingly reluctant to attack.
"Wow, it actually worked!" one student exclaimed, equal parts surprised and delighted.
Meanwhile, other groups encountered their own challenges. Some found themselves ensnared by sentient vines, while others triggered magical traps. Desperation led many to try reciting Dean Bruce's spell, and, surprisingly, the incantation consistently produced some level of effect. In several cases, it helped them escape danger.
Outside the valley, Dean Bruce observed these events, his eyes wide with disbelief. Internally, he was in turmoil. "How is this possible? I just made that spell up! Could it really have some kind of magic? Or is there something unique about this valley that's activating it?"
The headmaster, equally stunned, turned to Dean Bruce. "Dean, where exactly did you learn this spell? It seems you've been holding out on us—you've got more talent than you let on."
The young mage, however, appeared deep in thought. "Perhaps this valley possesses a unique magical resonance. It might respond to certain phrases or invocations, much like the runes and mechanisms we encountered in the library."
As everyone was marveling at the spell's unexpected effects, a sudden surge of magical energy rippled through the depths of the valley. The wave was so intense that it disrupted the balance of magic in the area, causing some of the previously subdued magical creatures to grow restless and aggressive again.
"This isn't good," Dean Bruce said, his expression turning serious. "Something far more dangerous might be emerging. We need to check it out."
Dean Bruce, the headmaster, and the young mage hurried toward the source of the magical disturbance. At the center of the valley, they saw a massive black vortex swirling ominously. Within the vortex, a shadowy figure loomed, radiating a powerful and malevolent aura.
"What is that thing? It doesn't look like it'll be easy to deal with," the headmaster muttered, frowning deeply.
The young mage gripped their wand tightly. "Whatever it is, we can't let it disrupt the assessment or harm the students."
Dean Bruce stared at the vortex, unease gnawing at him, but he forced himself to stay resolute. "Let's go!" he shouted.
The three of them charged toward the black vortex, bracing themselves for the challenge ahead. Meanwhile, the students participating in the assessment also sensed the overwhelming threat. Banding together, they prepared to face the unknown danger as a united front.
As Dean Bruce and his companions approached the vortex, the figure within let out a piercing, chilling laugh. "You really think you can stop me?" the voice taunted. "This has all been part of my plan. This valley, the artifact, the assessment—they will all belong to me!"
Dean Bruce shouted back, "Who are you? Why are you trying to ruin our assessment?"
Leading by example, he poured his own magic into the artifact. The headmaster and the young mage quickly followed suit, and soon the students extended their hands as well, sending streams of their magic toward the artifact.
As it absorbed the combined magic, the artifact's light grew brighter and brighter, pushing back against the vortex's dark energy. The vortex trembled violently, its form flickering as if it were on the verge of collapse.
"We're almost there! Keep going!" the young mage yelled excitedly.
United in their efforts, the group poured everything they had into the artifact. Its light became blindingly radiant, completely overwhelming the vortex. With a thunderous boom, the black vortex shattered into fragments, and the shadowy figure within was hurled out, crashing heavily to the ground.
As the smoke cleared, the group finally got a good look at the figure. It was a mage clad in a black robe, his face twisted in an expression of anger and frustration.
The black-robed mage struggled to his feet, glaring at them venomously. "You... you'll regret this! This isn't over!" he spat, before transforming into a cloud of dark smoke in an attempt to escape.
"Oh no, you don't!" Dean Bruce wasn't about to let him go that easily. With a flick of his hand, he cast a binding spell, aiming to trap the fleeing mage.
However, the black-robed mage still had some strength left. He managed to break free of the binding magic, though his escape was short-lived as the headmaster swiftly followed up with a powerful sealing spell, completely immobilizing him.
"Hmph, let's see you try running now," the headmaster said coldly. "Now, talk. Who are you, and why did you come here to disrupt our assessment?"
The black-robed mage let out a disdainful snort, refusing to answer. He stood silently, his defiant expression showing he wasn't intimidated.
Just then, a few students cautiously approached. One of them, staring curiously at the captured mage, asked, "Professor, this guy doesn't look like a good person at all. What are we going to do with him?"
Dean Bruce opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, he felt another surge of magical energy ripple through the valley. His heart sank. "Not again! What now? This assessment is turning into a complete disaster!"
Everyone else tensed up as well, turning toward the source of the disturbance. From one side of the valley, several more figures emerged, their movements slow and deliberate. As they came into view, it became clear they were all dressed in black robes, identical to the captured mage.
"Oh, great. Reinforcements. What's next? A full-on brawl?" Dean Bruce muttered, trying to sound tough, though inwardly, he was already worried. "One was bad enough—now there's a whole group of them. Can we handle this?"
The newcomers stopped a short distance away. One of them, who appeared to be the leader, let out a chilling laugh. "Hahaha! You think we came here just to disrupt your little assessment? No, no. The artifact hidden in this valley will be ours today. That's what we came for."
The headmaster's face darkened as he stepped forward, his voice booming. "Who are you people? How dare you cause trouble at our school's assessment site in broad daylight? Are you not afraid of retribution from the magical community?"
The leader of the black-robed group scoffed dismissively. "Retribution? Once we have the artifact, no one in the magical world will be able to touch us. If you know what's good for you, hand it over now. Cancel this pathetic assessment, and perhaps we'll let you live."
The young mage stepped up defiantly, his eyes blazing with anger. "In your dreams! We worked tirelessly to find this artifact. Why should we hand it over to the likes of you? If you want it, come and take it yourself!"