Effortlessly putting up a shield charm for some kind of protection, Vlad took the opportunity to look around. He saw the lowish wall and the stalk, and so headed straight for it, keeping his shield up and warding off those evil bulbs. He was tired but the attention he paid to his magic was the utmost.

Whilst he waited for the stalk to get to an appropriate height, Vlad checked his surroundings for anything he might need. Then he'd climb. Yup.

Nothing much to see here, except the streaks of light as the flaming bulbs continue their assault.

The vine continues to grow, but is high enough to climb.

Vlad waited until he was pretty sure that no bubls were on course to knock him down (just in case he lost concentration on the shield charm) as he climbed the vine quickly but carefully, aiming just to get to the top of the wall and then check what was next in store for him.

The climb is arduous, but without obstacle.

If beanstalks were elevators, this would be your floor. Climb the stalk any higher and there would be no ground to set your feet on. Tread carefully, however, as the path quickly narrows and there are no walls. Instead, perilous drop-offs await on both sides should one slip.

Soon, you come to another fork. From where you stand, the only different you can notice is that one path looks wider, at least as far as you can see, that is. Nothing else betrays what may lie ahead. Which way? Left and narrow or right and wide?

Okay, so this wasn't at all dangerous.

Hmm.

As for the fork, Vlad was unsure what to do. He thought too much. This could be a bluff or it could be a double bluff... or triple... or quadruple... or...

No. He couldn't think like this. In the end, Vlad made it as simple as possible. This was the triwizard tournament. There would be something to deal with either way; may as way make it as easy on himself as he could for now. And if this was wrong, what was stopping him from turning back?

Plus, he had MAGIC. That was the main factor.

Face expressionless, Vlad chose his path; right and wide.

The path was wider, for sure, but as you travel further down it, the incline grows steeper and the path slick with water. Watch your footing. It's a long way down.

As you proceed forward, the path becomes more difficult to navigate until your path is completely blocked by a number of greenish yellowish plants. At first they seem like normal plants, until you get closer and see that they’re covered in a number of big, yellow thorns. In fact, as you venture even CLOSER, the plant shoots one of the thorns in your direction! Thankfully it misses, the thorn flying over the edge into the abyss, but hopefully you’re good at dodging those thorns, because the only way to proceed is to defeat these plants!

Okay, so Vlad didn't have a clue what this plant was.

This evil... deadly looking... YELLOW THORNED... plant.

The young man put up another strong sheild charm whilst he tried hard to think of what to do. Fire usually killed plants, and Vlad did his best to back up before shooting 'Incendio' and one of the plants that was further away and then immediately throwing the shield charm back up.

Failing that... he'd try and attack the roots.

The fire hit one of the plants and slowly began to crawl up the plant's tendrils, but that only made it angrier. It began to shoot spikes at the champion once more, clearly showing that it was not going down THAT easily.

Who ever heard of a plant that wouldn't burn?

With a little frustration Vlad did the best with what he knew: sharp things flying =/= good.

Sooooo... he cast 'spongify' at the thorns and brought his shield back up, trying with all his might to think of something. Gosh darn it he wouldn't be beaten by a plant!

While the Cushioning Charm did cause the thorns to bounce away from you, leaving you unharmed, the plant still continues to shoot them at you. The Incendio charm has all but burnt out now...there must be another way to defeat this prickly plant!

All at once, Vlad clicked his fingers as though with sudden realisation. He let his guard down again for a split second and cast once more.

"Duro," the young man said deeply, having been taught that this was a spell that could turn anything to stone, and that would include stopping its ability to shoot stuff at him. It would just be a statue.

And when he did that, the young man would blast the troublesome plant.

While it was not the most conventional way to defeat the prickly bush, the spell did the trick, causing the plant to turn to stone instantly. But who knew how long the spell would last? Better prune this stone bush before it becomes mobile again.

Taking a kind of grim satisfaction in the way he was about to deal with this plant, and ignoring the voice in his head telling him 'immobulus' would have been better, Vlad was able to take down his shield.

"Reducto!" he bellowed, taking advantage and blasting the plant. He would have used 'reducto maxima' but he waaaaas in a cave.

The blast causes the plant to burst into tiny pieces, flying every which way. Maybe you should have left that shield up, as a few of them start pelting you in the face. Thankfully though, there isn't MUCH damage done. Just a few bumps and bruises from the stony plant bits.

Where the plant USED to sit, something shiny catches your eye. What is that?

Wincing slightly as he was pelted with shards of stone, Vlad started his inner mantra which he always recited when he was hurt: It's only pain. Only short term. Magic will fix it.

And... simple as that, Vlad was fine. He felt no pain. He couldn't have put the shield up in time anyway... yeah...

As Vlad started on, he noticed it. Now, he wasn't like most of the students at this school, where they were like OOOH SHINY and then out of it for the rest of the week... but it was dark, and that was shiny. He had to look. This was important.

Inching closer (he was not going to fall if he could help it), Vlad leaned right in to see what it was.

As you lean closer, it becomes clear to you what the shiny object is...it's a key! It's large and rather rusty, but the brilliant silver it had once been still shined in places, making it sparkle in the very VERY dim light of the cave.

You hear a rumbling and the floor beneath you shakes as the beanstalk has continued to grow and has, indeed, broken through the top of the cave. The holes are not large enough to climb out of, if you could even get good footing on the stalk. But, they are large enough to let light stream in. Slight tendrils curl off the main stalk and the light shining through reflects off something attached to one of them. It's just out of reach, unless you'd like to try to stretch and risk falling.

Elsewhere in your general vicinity, one aptly placed hole allows light to shine down illuminating a door. A door! Upon further inspection, however, a large, rusted padlock stands between you and what looks like your best exit.

As slight beams of light streamed in, Vlad squinted like someone who hadn't seen daylight in weeks. Like... what did they call those muggles? Commuter Nerds?

Like one of those.

Vlad was about to turn and grab the key he'd found, feeling a little nervous that there were now holes in the roof of the cave, indicating things could crumble. But then he saw more shininess. Vlad was tall... but not tall enough. He ignored the door for now and stretched as much as he could, his wand held at the ready to cast a spell to save him, should he fall... but with his large feet he felt very balanced. He'd just... see what this was and then grab the key and make a run for the door.

The shiny object still seems to be just out of reach. The light shining through continues to reflect off it, though, and you just might be able to retrieve it--but only if you believe in magic.

Oh. Duhhhh.

As Vlad leant forwards, he found himself holding tight to his wand as though seeking a hold on something. Then he realised.

And he face palmed.

Holding out his wand and directing it at the shiny thing, Vlad cast his spell, hoping there wasn't an anti-summoning charm on the thing. "Accio."

The summoning spell does the trick, and the shiny object shakes free of the hold the beanstalk's tendrils have on it and comes sailing towards you. It wobbles through the air like a frisbee before landing neatly at your feet...it's a mirror. It's large with a silver frame, and on the frame is a single roman numeral. III.

Vlad actually winced when the mirror went straight towards his feet, expecting it to shatter or something with impact. But no... it landed neatly and all was well. The young man picked it up and glanced at it, taking in the numeral... but he was unsure as to what purpose it would do now.

Holding the mirror ever so carefully in his large hand, Vlad went back the normal way and grabbed the key he'd seen earlier and went straight for the door. He glanced back, before putting the key into the lock. If he could, he'd twist the thing and be out.

If not, Alohomora was invented for a purpose.

The key clicks in the lock, removing the last obstacle in your path.

Behind the door is a steep, empty corridor, well lit from light streaming in from an opening at the end.

If you take a deep breath, you'll smell something you haven't since you entered the cave. Fresh air.

You're out. You're done. You're alive.

Just a little walking left.

Tucking the mirror very carefully into an inside pocket of his blazer type robes, Vlad smiled to himself. He was finished... so the mirror would have to be used soon.

The young man stepped forwards and through the corridor. Chyeah he'd survived.

As the champion exits, the door closes behind him.