"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster." — Friedrich Nietzsche
Time Skip: 4 Months Later
Regulus and his group were seen hunting a Dementor that had strayed into the forest.
This was the fifth month's task for the group. The mission was to assess how many Dementors had breached the forest perimeter and capture them. The group had been busy for twenty days and had already captured twelve Dementors. This was the last one of the pack.
Regulus and his group Apparated in front of the fleeing Dementor, cutting off its escape.
Almost instantly, they flashed their Patronuses.
The Dementor shrieked—a sound like metal tearing—as the concentrated positive energy hit it. It writhed in the air as if being boiled in scalding oil.
"Too dramatic," Charlus muttered.
With practised efficiency, he snapped the lid of the containment box shut, trapping the final Dementor inside. They returned to their base, moving with the silent coordination of veterans rather than the clumsy stumble of novices.
Mr Morrow was waiting for them in their cave.
He looked at the group and remembered the first time they had entered the forest. The change was significant. They had all grown and advanced not only in magic and mind but also in physique. Everyone had lost their baby fat and looked more toned—except for Regulus, who had already been fit.
Their eyes were sharp, scanning the environment subconsciously even when they were bickering or joking among themselves. Magic had blessed them, forging them into fine young wizards and witches for society.
Mr Morrow was incredibly proud of the changes, though he showed none of it on his face.
…
A Recap of the Trials
Month 1: The first task had been collecting the Melancholy Treacle of the Glumbubles, which the group had turned into an opportunity to train their Occlumency.
Month 2: The task was to collect silver eggs from an Occamy.
An Occamy is a plumed, two-legged, serpentine creature with wings, reaching up to fifteen feet in length. Its head resembles a cross between a dragon and a bird. Its unique nature is its choranaptyxic ability—it expands and shrinks to fit the available space.
They nested in caves. If a predator approached, the Occamy would expand to fill the entire cavern, crushing the intruder instantly. The silver egg—made of pure, soft silver—had to be collected in a sealed silver vessel.
It took the group five days just to locate a nest. They waited fifteen more days nearby, hoping the Occamy would leave to hunt. But it never did. So, they had to venture into the cave while the beast was inside. Fortunately, the group was now proficient in Occlumency; they suppressed their panic and emotions, rendering them "invisible" to the creature's danger sense. They retrieved the egg while it slept, mastering the art of stealth in the process.
Month 3: The task was to capture a live Tebo.
This proved to be the hardest task yet. A Tebo is an ash-coloured warthog found in Congo and Zaire. It is incredibly dangerous because it can turn invisible when threatened or charging. Its force is enough to shatter a fully grown tree.
The group struggled to find one at first, though Hestia was instrumental in locating its habitat. The Revelio Charm did not work on this species, and Homenum Revelio only worked on humans. So, the group had to hide in the trees like ninjas to track it. Emma was nearly launched into the horizon when they first tried to confront it head-on.
They retreated and practiced combat Apparition under Regulus's guidance before trying again. Regulus had advanced his Apparition technique to turn into a form resembling grey smoke—a technique often called Unsupported Flight or Wraith Form. It allowed him to remain in touch with the environment while moving. While teaching others, his 'Adept' ability helped him master the subject further.
Once proficient, they confronted the Tebo again. They didn't use brawn; they used brains. They set a trap and waited at a safe distance. When the Tebo triggered it and got its leg stuck, it turned invisible and thrashed wildly. Charlus, timing it perfectly, Apparated directly in front of the beast and cast a Stunning Spell. Even though the Tebo was invisible, its footprints in the dirt gave it away. They successfully stunned the warthog, and Emma force-fed it sedative herbs to keep it unconscious. They completed the task just before the deadline.
Month 4: This was the easiest task for them. Collect a hundred poisonous insects and extract a vial of poison deadly enough to kill a dragon.
This task must have been a nightmare for other groups, but with Hestia present, it was a breeze. She had already collected several jars filled with insects far more potent than the submission requirements. It usually takes a litre of standard poison to take a dragon down. But with Hestia's concentrated 'Gu' poison, half a vial was enough to fell a Hungarian Horntail. The task was submitted the very next day.
The group did not remain idle. They practiced their Patronuses and worked on their weaker subjects. Hestia practiced offensive spells to survive alone. Emma became more courageous, learning combat magic. Charlus sharpened his awareness of herbs and tracking.
And Regulus? He had improved in every aspect. He was now proficient in many spells that had previously only been theoretical knowledge. He hadn't failed to train with his sword and throwing daggers, either; the movements had become as instinctive as casting with a wand.
His proof of progress was a rematch with the Chimaera—the same beast that had made him helpless months ago. He didn't kill it, but he left a scar on its flank that looked painful. This act hurt its ego more than anything. It had tried to tear Regulus apart, to burn him to a crisp, but it couldn't touch him. The more it attacked, the more it got hurt. It had no choice but to retreat resentfully back into the depths of the forest.
Month 5: Capture the Dementors. Success.
…
Mr Morrow knew they had completed the task, but he still had to play the part.
"I reckon you have completed the task that you have been assigned," said Mr Morrow.
Regulus, used to his antics, didn't reply, simply continuing to clean his blade.
Charlus, however, stepped forward. "Yes, Mr Morrow. There are thirteen Dementors in these boxes."
There was a tone of maturity in his voice now. His usual playfulness was tempered with caution; he no longer divulged more information than necessary. He still joked with Emma, but with his teacher, he had become reserved.
"Very good, children! There are five more days until the next task officially begins. But I will make an exception and disclose it early so you can make appropriate preparations. This task is proven to be more difficult than all the things you have gone through collectively. So, you must be careful. If you become careless for a moment, you may lose your life."
Mr Morrow spoke with grave seriousness.
Regulus stopped sharpening his sword. He turned his head slowly towards his teacher. Charlus's face hardened. Emma and Hestia didn't panic or show nervousness; they simply waited for the briefing.
Mr Morrow looked at everyone's reaction and nodded.
"You have been hunting magical creatures these past few months. Now, it is time for you to hunt a Rogue Wizard. You have to capture him by any means necessary. Even if you have to kill him."
As the words left his mouth, a shockwave went through the group.
They had expected another magical creature encounter—perhaps a Dragon or a Nundu. But to hunt a wizard? They knew how difficult that would be. A wizard could think, plan, and adapt just like them.
Mr Morrow continued. "This rogue wizard is no less proficient in magic than myself. If I sent you alone, you would die for sure. So, this will be a joint task with another group. There are two rogue wizards in the forest. One wizard for every two groups. Eight students against one rogue."
He leaned forward, his eyes dark.
"Remember this: when confronted, rogue wizards never hesitate to use any means possible to escape. Killing children is like eating breakfast for them. So I advise you to survive this task and kill him before he kills you. The details will be sent at the start of next month, in five days."
Mr Morrow finished with no emotion in his voice, forcing the gravity of the situation upon them. The group nodded solemnly.
He took his leave to submit their results to the school. He waved his hand, and the boxes containing the Dementors vanished into thin air.
Regulus stood up and gathered everyone.
"Strategy meeting. Now."
For the group, they had learned one absolute truth in the jungle: A task is a task. No matter what they have to do—whether hunting beasts or men—they finish it by any means necessary.