As Will pondered, he noticed a crystal doorway nearby, shimmering silver-blue. DePty looked toward it too. It seemed to lead to the Map Chamber.
Will followed DePty through the crystal doorway while remaining hidden in the shadows. He emerged in a silver-blue hall.
The hall was circular, with a high vaulted ceiling. Several enormous stone doors were set into its walls, each carved with different symbols. Will recognized a few of them from the book he had read.
Professor Fig was already waiting there. DePty exchanged a few words with him, and Will learned that the professor had returned to Hogwarts by Apparition.
Will had learned how to stay behind the scenes and make his presence as inconspicuous as possible. He quietly surveyed the hall. How did those two find this place?
Two figures appeared on the wall: Percival and Charles Rookwood.
"It seems someone has completed the first trial," Rookwood said.
"Welcome back," Percival said. "We've waited a long time. It isn't quite time for your trials yet, especially since you haven't even brought the book. But after speaking with Charles, I decided that too much time had passed. Some parts of the process might not go as planned. After all, you can see Ancient Magic, just as I can."
"Thank you, Professor Rackham." DePty bowed.
"Now, we're doing this to ensure this power lives on. As I was saying, Ancient Magic cannot be passed down through books or words. It must be passed down through trials." Percival's voice turned solemn.
"So we established several trials, each hidden in a particular place. You must find them. At the end of each trial, you'll receive an artifact. Once you've collected them all, you'll learn where the final inheritance lies."
DePty fell silent, seemingly taking it all in.
Professor Fig stepped