The Goblet of Fire stood beside Erwin, flames licking at its rim. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, a faint smile playing on his lips as he addressed the four schools gathered in the clearing.
"Hello, everyone," Erwin began, his voice carrying clearly across the arena. "I will now announce the details of the final test."
Every eye locked onto him. The contestants leaned in, not wanting to miss a single word. Erwin gestured to the device beside him. The camera adjusted its focus.
"The rules for the third test are simple," Erwin said. "Win the Goblet of Fire."
A murmur went through the crowd.
"You've all seen reports about this trophy since you arrived," Erwin continued. "Competing for the Cup is tradition, but this time, the rules have evolved. You should remember the stone pillars you activated earlier in the tournament."
He gestured to the massive jade dragon sculpture nearby. "The Goblet is connected to those pillars. There are nine pillars in total, each corresponding to one you've activated. Your task is to locate the pillar you unlocked and pass its trial to extract it from the dragon statue."
Erwin paused, letting the weight of the task sink in.
"However, the trials are contested. The faster you move and the more trials you pass, the more pillars you can retrieve. Once you hold all nine, you can claim the Goblet of Fire. Doing so grants your school a massive bonus—ten points!"
He consulted a parchment. "Based on your previous scores, the current standings are: Britain has 23 points, Hogwarts has 22, Beauxbatons has 18, and Durmstrang has 15. If Durmstrang were to claim the Cup, they would earn ten points, bringing their total to twenty-five. That wouldn't guarantee victory, but the fight itself matters."
Erwin's expression turned serious. "I must warn you: these trials are difficult. Extremely difficult. Therefore, if you cannot pass them alone, you are permitted to work together in this final round. You've endured many trials already, so let this be a reminder: this round tests your strength, but it teaches you something more valuable."
He looked over the students. "In the past, the Tournament might have been about fierce rivalry between schools. Now, it's a friendly competition. Remember why you're here. You're opponents on the field, but you can become friends off it."
"Friendship first, competition second," Erwin declared. "No one, no matter how powerful a wizard, can reach the end alone. The final test begins tomorrow. You may leave the Changbai Mountains today to get proper rest. Tonight, the Cavendish family will host a sumptuous dinner and grand banquet for all contestants and spectators! Consider it a gift from my family."
As Erwin finished speaking, the scene ended abruptly. Thunderous applause erupted from the stands. Dumbledore and Grindelwald exchanged a glance, smiles touching their lips.
"Interesting," Grindelwald murmured. "Erwin never ceases to surprise me. He's right, you know. No one reaches the end alone—not even you and I."
"Sometimes," Dumbledore agreed, his eyes twinkling, "loyalty is more important than victory. Erwin has truly elevated this tournament."
In the mountains, the contestants began departing, led by Cavendish staff. The Beauxbatons girls chatted excitedly—finally, they could rest properly. The Durmstrang students, who'd thought their chances were gone, felt their fighting spirit rekindled. They still had a shot at glory.
Once they cleared the mountain pass, Charlotte hurried to Erwin's tent. She stood at attention, looking grim.
"I'm sorry, sir," she said. "I've disappointed you."
Erwin sat calmly, sipping his tea. He set the cup down and chuckled softly.
"Charlotte," he said, "what you need now isn't to apologize to me. It's to analyze the situation. Analyze where you went wrong. Why did you fail twice? Specifically, where did you slip up in the second round's stone pillar activation?"
He leaned forward slightly. "I've told you before: failure isn't terrifying. You will fail, and so will everyone else. Even I fail. What is truly terrible is failing and not knowing why. You cannot fall twice in the same place. That is my requirement for you."
Erwin's tone softened, but his eyes remained sharp. "You're young; you have room to try and make mistakes. The championship isn't life-or-death, so you have space for error. But if you bring the same mistakes into a real battle—a true struggle for survival—then if you die, you're truly dead."
"So, Charlotte. Understand how you failed. Learn how to avoid it again. You have many strengths: you learn quickly, you're ruthless when necessary, and you're obedient. You follow orders without hesitation."
He paused, letting the silence hang. "However, you made a grave mistake. Even though you studied Muggle knowledge at my command, deep down, you looked down on it. You studied it, but you never considered using it. That is your greatest flaw. Even after witnessing the power of Muggle applications firsthand, you never truly internalized it."
Erwin stood and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Facing Sunny Finch, you only lost your ability to resist. But what if you faced a lethal enemy? You would die."
Charlotte lowered her head, etching every word into her memory.
"Death needs meaning," Erwin said firmly. "Understand what you lack, and never lose your life due to negligence."
"I understand, sir," Charlotte replied, voice tight. "I won't make that mistake again."
Erwin nodded, satisfied. "Good. You're intelligent; you understand my meaning. Overall, I'm quite satisfied with your performance. Leading Hogwarts this far, closing the gap with Britain despite a disadvantage in points, and unifying the team in such a short time... it's impressive. I can confidently say you're ready to lead the Acolytes after graduation."
"I won't let you down, sir," Charlotte promised.
"Rest now," Erwin commanded. "Remember, the Goblet of Fire must remain at Hogwarts. Prepare well for the final test. This is your last chance."