Allen patiently tried to communicate with Gaia. Although he had unquestionably saved the unicorn's life, it was clear that Gaia still held a strong, inherent suspicion of his presence, keeping large, wary eyes fixed on him.
Allen understood this deeply, having researched unicorns extensively in the library. These magnificent creatures were prized for their immense magical power and were therefore highly coveted—and terribly exploited—by wizards.
The unicorn was a breathtakingly beautiful animal, found predominantly in the forests of Northern Europe. Adults possessed shimmering silver-white coats, while foals were a striking golden yellow.
Unicorn horns, blood, and tail hair all contained potent magical properties: the horns possessed powerful anti-venom properties (knives with unicorn horn handles were said to detect poison in food); the tail hairs were used in the making of some of the finest wands; and the blood could prolong life indefinitely. (However, a grave warning was attached to this knowledge: do not kill a unicorn for this purpose, or you will be cursed to a half-life.)
Its temperament was fiercely contrary to its docile appearance; it was capable of fighting dragons. It generally shunned human contact, and if approached, it showed a distinct preference for witches over wizards. Moreover, it ran at unbelievable speeds, making it notoriously difficult to capture.
If Allen hadn't just saved her from certain death, Gaia would have galloped away long ago instead of examining Allen with those huge, liquid-dark, gleaming eyes—eyes that held both immense caution and undeniable curiosity.
"Hello there. My name is Alan Harris. Your name is Gaia, correct? How are you feeling now? Is there anything else I can do for you?" Allen smiled and spoke gently, attempting the unique, fluting sounds of the unicorn language. The difficult pronunciation made his expression look a little unnatural.
Allen thought he had saved Gaia's life and the mission was complete, but the system notification sound still hadn't chimed, indicating he needed to pay attention to the remaining task requirements.
Allen had already realized that, for the past year, he had rarely failed to charm an individual; people were simply easily drawn to such a handsome and kind young man.
But Allen's attempt to persuade the unicorn Gaia was clearly failing this time. After all, unicorns and humans had vastly different criteria for 'handsomeness'. Gaia was visibly startled that Allen could even speak the unicorn language.
At this moment, the unicorn's famed aversion to male wizards was blatantly obvious. If a beautiful young witch could speak her language, she would have undoubtedly been treated with instant kindness and affection.
But now, a male wizard's failure to immediately gain Gaia's complete trust only heightened her suspicion of Allen's intentions.
"Thank you for saving me, Mr. Harris. What I don't understand is how a man like you can possibly speak our unicorn language?" Gaia lowered her head gracefully, looking stunningly ethereal.
Allen instantly understood the unicorn's internal conflict. "I hold no ill will towards the unicorn race. My learning of several languages was entirely accidental. If you no longer require my service, please allow me to depart."
Allen was a master of the retreat-and-attract tactic, a skill he'd honed over years. This strategy was likely perfected by any teenage boy who had ever navigated romance, and it almost always proved effective. His words, a perfect blend of truth and subtle insincerity, combined with his earnest expression and handsome smile, immediately caused Gaia to rush to persuade him to stay.
"Please wait, Mr. Harris. I think Firenze is right. You are a trustworthy and honourable gentleman. My family will certainly be overjoyed to host the wizard who saved their daughter's life." Gaia suddenly felt a wave of guilt for having questioned the man who had just saved her.
"Mr. Alan Harris, forgive me for interrupting, but from your words and actions just now, I believe you to be a wizard of great wisdom, experience, and exceptional skill." A mournful voice sounded from behind Allen. Clearly, Allen's performance had impressed not only Gaia but also Ronan, the perpetually sorrowful young centaur.
"Ronan, how can you so easily believe the honeyed words of men? We swore we would never defy the will of the heavens. The unicorn's fate is destiny and cannot be altered!" Bane stamped his hooves angrily on the damp grass.
"Bane, have you truly been observing the celestial events closely? Yes, Mars is incredibly bright tonight, but Jupiter is in direct motion and its light is steadily outshining that of Mars!" Ronan was uneasy, but he stubbornly stood by his astronomical observation.
"Indeed, Bane, your vision is clouded by rage, and your mind is too obscured to perceive the will of the heavens clearly. But I see, I see the hope for us centaurs; we are one step closer to fulfilling our destiny." The voice belonged to Firenze, who was galloping back toward them.
"Excuse me, Alan, I have heard much about you from Fleg and Harry. I am now absolutely certain that you are the wizard both the centaurs and the unicorns have been awaiting." Firenze bent his front legs in a gesture of profound respect toward Allen. Ronan, standing nearby, was utterly astonished, while Bane looked positively incandescent with fury!
"Do as you wish, Firenze. I will inform the chieftain. You just wait and see!" Words were useless now. In Bane's eyes, Firenze had completely lost his mind.
"I will fight alongside the humans if necessary, regardless of your opinion," Firenze declared, raising his head like a brave, fearless warrior, his mane trembling slightly in the cool night wind.
Bane said nothing further and stormed away, galloping into the darkness. Ronan cast a deep, complex look at Allen, then followed silently behind his comrade.
Firenze turned to Gaia and asked gently, "Gaia, how are your wounds?"
"I am well. The medicine Alan gave me was highly effective. I feel my strength has returned considerably," Gaia chirped, jumping up and down joyfully, her movements graceful and fluid.
"Then we must act. The sooner this matter is resolved, the better," Firenze said with clear enthusiasm.
At Firenze's eager invitation, Allen climbed onto his back. Gaia lightly leaped ahead, making it impossible to tell that she had been on the verge of death just minutes before.
"Firenze, what does it mean that Mars is bright, and Jupiter is direct?" Allen asked, indulging his habit of seeking answers when something wasn't clear.
"Mars symbolizes war and chaos, while Jupiter is the star of wisdom and good fortune." Firenze's explanation was concise, lacking detailed astrological interpretation, but Allen understood the general implication instantly. The war undoubtedly referred to the conflict initiated by Voldemort. Jupiter, judging by Firenze's deferential demeanor, was most likely related to Allen himself.
"Alan, the territory ahead belongs to the unicorn race, so I cannot go further. You will have to continue the rest of the journey alone. But after you complete the unicorn's request, please do come to the Centaur encampment. I will wait for you here."
Gaia nodded her thanks to Firenze and motioned for Allen to follow. They crossed a narrow stream, navigated countless bushes and trees of varying heights, and eventually arrived at a flat stone platform inlaid with colourful pebbles arranged in the shape of a five-pointed star.
"Alan, please stand in the very centre." Allen complied instantly. "You may feel a slight sensation of discomfort; please be careful." Before Allen could react, Gaia muttered an incantation in a strange, hauntingly beautiful voice. The stone platform emitted a dazzling light, which condensed into a circular membrane of light in the air, then swiftly descended, enveloping Allen's entire body.