The next day, in the morning.
Kael had just finished breakfast when Professor McGonagall called him away. This time, the spectators were much closer to the action, gathered right in front of the castle gates, circling around the Black Lake.
By 9:50 a.m., ten minutes before the start of the competition, the seats were already packed with eager viewers.
Even though it was still freezing outside, everyone seemed unfazed, waving their flags excitedly and waiting expectantly for the tournament to begin.
The five judges were already in place. After a month's absence, Dumbledore once again appeared at Hogwarts.
He looked a bit worn out, as if he hadn't slept in ages, but his eyes were still bright, and he looked genuinely thrilled.
As Kael passed by, he happened to overhear Dumbledore telling Professor McGonagall a joke.
But Professor McGonagall just stared nervously at the Black Lake in front of her and at Kael beside her, unable to laugh at all.
When the time was almost up, Ludo Bagman, acting as the commentator, came out, pointed his wand at his throat, and said, "Sonus Maximus!"
Instantly, his voice thundered through the area around Black Lake, like a storm.
"The champions are all here and the competition is about to start, so I think it's necessary to give everyone some details.
This round tests wisdom and judgment. The champions must first head into the Forbidden Forest and find three keys. Then, they need to use these keys to rescue their most precious treasures trapped in the Black Lake."
"I'm sure the champions already know this, so I won't repeat myself."
"The only thing I want to remind you of is to use your stones well. Each stone can be exchanged with the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest for a clue to a key. Three stones, three keys. Whether you can quickly uncover the information hidden in these clues will be the deciding factor for victory."
"There's one more thing…" He paused, glancing around, then looked toward the judges' table. After Chris gave him a nod, he continued:
"We've made some minor changes to the scoring criteria for the second challenge and divided the scores roughly into categories."
If you finish within one hour, you'll get at least eight points.
Within two hours, it's five to eight points.
Anything over two hours earns you fewer than five points."
"So I must remind every champion: time is crucial, and you must make the correct decisions."
Kael, Fleur, and Krum all listened carefully to his words.
Ten o'clock was fast approaching.
Bagman checked the time and said, "Alright, as soon as I blow the whistle, you can start. I'll count to three."
"One… Two… Three!"
The shrill whistle echoed through the cold air, and the stands exploded in cheers and applause.
Kael didn't hesitate, running straight toward the Forbidden Forest ahead.
In front of the Forbidden Forest, three centaurs were already waiting, saving everyone quite a bit of time.
The three contestants each naturally chose the centaur closest to them.
Coincidentally—or maybe not—Kael's centaur was Firenze, the one he knew best, whom he had met just recently.
Kael didn't say anything, simply handed over a stone.
"I need the clue to the key."
After taking the stone, Firenze began humming a chant and softly said, "The thing you seek hides in the eye of the Hydra. When the hour hand moves ten times, and the Hydra sways five, you will see it…"
Kael frowned and pondered for a moment.
The hour hand might mean direction—ten o'clock direction. The Hydra moves five times… probably distance.
"That direction…"
Firenze's voice quietly came again, his tail pointed off to the side, deliberately lowering his voice: "Walk five miles forward and you'll find it."
Five miles?
Kael hadn't expected the centaur to give him a hint. He nodded slightly once he realized, but Firenze had already returned to the Forbidden Forest.
Kael didn't dwell on it. He drew his wand.
"Firebolt, come!"
He waited a few minutes, but nothing happened around him.
First, Kael knew his spell was definitely correct, so the answer was obvious—the challenge either didn't test the champions' flying abilities, or to make things harder, the judges had simply banned broomsticks for this event.
No other way—since Kael didn't know if the keys all the champions needed were the same, he could only run quickly into the Forbidden Forest.
The Forbidden Forest was filled with towering trees, and the only trail was winding and hard to navigate.
After about ten minutes, Kael abruptly stopped and frowned, something felt off.
The surroundings were way too quiet.
He'd been in the Forbidden Forest before—not just once—so he knew even near the edge, you could always hear animals, insects, and birds.
But he'd walked for ten minutes now, and aside from his own footsteps, he hadn't heard a single other sound… that practically never happened.
Unless, someone had used special magic to enlarge the place—just like the Quidditch Pitch in the first challenge.
Another odd thing: the distance.
Five miles sounds like nothing. Even without a broomstick, with the help of charms, it should only take ten minutes.
But that's only in normal conditions. Here, with trees everywhere and no straight path, the time should at least double—twenty minutes.
Finding one key takes twenty minutes, and there are three keys, plus solving the centaurs' riddles and the time needed at Black Lake—it's impossible to finish in an hour, no matter how you look at it.
But the judges wouldn't make an impossible time limit for no reason.
There had to be something he hadn't thought of.
Kael quickly recalled what Bagman had said earlier…
This challenge tested wisdom and judgment… If wisdom is about solving the riddles, then what is judgment…?
Kael kept walking and frowning in thought, and in a haze, he heard Bagman's voice echoing:
"Twenty minutes have passed, champions must hurry."
No…
Kael suddenly stopped. Without any hesitation, he turned and ran back.
He was a wizard. Why did he have to find the keys? Only by saving the time spent in the Forbidden Forest could he possibly finish in an hour.
That's it—judgment! At least, that's what Kael thought, and he was willing to risk it.
On the way back, Kael bumped into Fleur. She obviously wondered why Kael was running back.
"Listen…" Kael said quickly, "I think we don't need to find any keys. It's a waste of time; it's impossible to finish in an hour. I'm heading straight for Black Lake."
"What?" Fleur was incredulous. "But the rules say you can only if you find the keys…"
"Don't forget, we're wizards," Kael interrupted her.
Fleur still hesitated.
Kael didn't say anything else; after all, this was just his theory—no one could be sure if he was right.
He kept running, and finally burst out of the Forbidden Forest after ten more minutes.
"Oh, a champion has already come out…" Bagman shouted loudly, "Has he gotten the key?"
At the judges' table, Dumbledore and Chris unconsciously smiled, while Karkaroff and Maxime's expressions soured.
Kael ignored Bagman. When he saw the judges' expressions change, it only made him more certain that his guess was right—he hadn't even gotten to the first key's location, just turned back halfway, using up half an hour.
If he had tried to get all three keys, an hour would never be enough.
Kael didn't hesitate. He strode right to the edge of Black Lake.
There were lots of ways to move underwater—like with Gillyweed, which he happened to own, bought at the herb shop in Diagon Alley and kept in his trunk. He'd even got it out last night.
But Kael decided not to use it.
Gillyweed lasts exactly an hour, but half that time was already gone—it'd be a waste.
Kael took out his wand and conjured a giant bubble around his head, then dove straight into Black Lake.
The Bubble-Head Charm—not as agile as Gillyweed for underwater activity, but still a solid option.
Once again, the stands erupted in loud cheers and applause.
The spectators didn't have to worry about details. They just knew Fleur and Krum hadn't come out—Kael was ahead of everyone…