After slowly approaching the receptionist, Ryan found that the person who came to pick him up was Firenze, an acquaintance. However, today, Firenze looked different from usual. He was dressed in a loose white linen robe.
"Welcome, friends of the forest." Firenze placed his hand on his chest and bowed slightly before leading Ryan to the village.
As Ryan walked into the village lane, he noticed the unique characteristics of the centaur settlement. The buildings were sturdy shacks, far larger than human standards, arranged in a circular pattern with the entrance facing inward. According to ancient Viking wizards, this reflected the centaur belief that no member was more important than another, and the circular structure symbolized their equality.
At the center of the village stood a massive stone stove. When choosing the site, the centaurs had ensured that it was positioned away from the surrounding trees. The communal stove was accessible to all centaurs, though it was typically used by women when preparing food. Additionally, it was kept burning during cold weather to provide warmth to the entire village. However, on this pleasant summer evening, the fire had been extinguished.
After leading Ryan past the furnace, Firenze brought him to the location of the centaur's rite of passage: the altar.
The altar was situated on a hill outside the village, connected by a forest path. In front of it lay a vast grass field, now crowded with centaurs. Under Firenze's guidance, Ryan took his place in the section designated for guests.
With the surrounding torches illuminating the area, Ryan took the opportunity to carefully observe the altar. Unlike the circular stepped altar he used when performing life magic, the centaur altar was an arch constructed from three unprocessed tree stumps. Behind the arch stood a large stump serving as a table for offerings, and beyond it stretched the dark expanse of the Forbidden Forest.
In life magic, the circular stepped altar symbolized the connection between life and death, bridging the heavens and the earth. In contrast, the centaur's arch represented an entrance to the natural world, signifying unrestricted growth and harmony with nature.
Since the ceremony had yet to begin, Ryan, feeling a bit bored, decided to use the feng shui techniques from Mirror for Aid to analyze the altar's energy.
To his astonishment, the altar's location possessed some of the best feng shui he had ever encountered—second only to Hogwarts. After casting several observational spells on himself, Ryan discovered that the entire altar stood in a naturally energy-dense area, where the barriers between the real world and the Emerald Dream were exceptionally thin.
It was evident that the centaurs had carefully selected this site, and Ryan found himself growing increasingly fascinated by these non-wizard intelligent beings, who had only been briefly mentioned in books.
About half an hour later, the sound of hooves echoed from the village entrance. The first centaur participating in the coming-of-age ceremony had returned. Unlike humans, centaurs reached adulthood at the age of twelve, so the arriving centaurs still bore youthful expressions.
Aunt Betty then emerged from the crowd, stepping toward the altar. She was not wearing her usual leather armor. Instead, like Firenze, she donned a white linen robe—though hers was embroidered with intricate patterns representing nature.
The first centaur to pass the adult trial approached the altar, holding a rare fluorescent evening primrose.
Firenze, standing beside Ryan, explained, "The traditional trial before a Forbidden Forest centaur's coming-of-age ceremony involves locating a designated rare plant. Unfortunately, after changes in the Forbidden Forest over forty years ago, the trial was altered to require young centaurs to kill an adult eight-eyed spider and return with its fangs.
"Thanks to your help, we have restored our cherished tradition."
At this moment, Betty took the fluorescent evening primrose from the young centaur, respectfully placed it on the offering table, and chanted an incantation. The centaur then lowered his head under the altar's arch, placing both fists on his forehead.
A few minutes later, Ryan sensed the energy gathering at the altar, intensifying until it tore through the barrier separating the real world from the Emerald Dream. The evening primrose on the offering table dissolved into green light and vanished into the Emerald Dream. In return, the same green light emerged from the Emerald Dream, enveloping the young centaur standing beneath the arch.
As the light faded, Ryan noticed that the centaur's body had grown noticeably stronger, and his overall presence seemed more in tune with nature.
"This is our coming-of-age ceremony," Firenze remarked enviously. "My cousin has just undergone natural baptism—I envy him."
"Why?" Ryan asked curiously. "Was your own natural baptism different?"
"It was," Firenze admitted. "During our time, we had to fight the eight-eyed spiders, so our offerings consisted of their fangs. Different offerings result in different types of enhancement during natural baptism. For us, the emphasis was placed on physical endurance and reflexes, which were essential for battle. But we lost some of the natural affinity that centaurs take pride in. That's why I say thank you—you have restored our true path."
"But doesn't that mean you can never develop a strong connection to nature?" Ryan asked.
"Yes," Firenze said with a sigh, "but this is the sacrifice we made. Nature has nurtured us, and we must give back in return."
Following this, two more centaurs completed their natural baptisms. Ryan assumed the ceremony had concluded when suddenly, Aunt Betty, standing at the altar, addressed him.
"Please step forward, our friend. Tonight, nature has revealed that you shall be the final recipient of natural baptism."
"Me?" Ryan asked in surprise, pointing at himself.
Betty nodded firmly. "This is nature's will, and you are twelve years old—the appropriate age for the ceremony."
The centaurs parted to make way for him, indicating the high status Betty held as a shaman.
Feeling uncertain, Ryan approached the altar. "This is a centaur coming-of-age ceremony. Is it really appropriate for a human like me to participate?"
"I'm not sure," Betty admitted. "This has never happened before. However, when I communicated with the Emerald Dream during the ceremony, I sensed that nature wished to offer you this as a token of gratitude."
Her voice carried across the gathering, and several elder centaurs nodded in agreement. Firenze explained that these elders also had the ability to communicate with the Emerald Dream and had received the same revelation.
Seeing no apparent danger, Ryan made up his mind. "Well, I'd be honored to accept nature's gift."
He stepped forward, standing beneath the altar's arch, and placed his fists on his forehead, mimicking the centaurs before him.
Aunt Betty chanted a spell, and once again, green light emerged from the Emerald Dream. Ryan felt a warm sensation as the energy enveloped him. A deep sense of tranquility washed over him, as though he had become a part of the forest itself.
When the light faded, Ryan felt different. He couldn't pinpoint exactly how, but his senses seemed sharper, and he felt more attuned to the surrounding environment.
The centaurs observed him in silent approval. Firenze smiled and said, "You have received nature's blessing, just like us."
Ryan looked at his hands, still feeling the lingering warmth of the energy. Whatever this gift was, he knew it would change him forever.
The ceremony concluded, and as Ryan left the altar, he couldn't help but wonder—what exactly had nature bestowed upon him?
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