HPMRS 120: The ceremony!

After slowly approaching the Centaur, Ryan found that the person who came to pick him up was an acquaintance Firenze. It's just that Firenze today is different from usual, he is wearing a loose white flax robe.

"Welcome, friend of the forest." After saying that Firenze put his hand on his chest and bowed slightly, and then led Ryan to the village.

When he walked into the village, Ryan found that the village of the Centaur was very distinctive. The buildings in the village are structurally stable sheds, the size of which far exceeds human standards.

The buildings are arranged circularly with the entrance facing inward. Ancient Viking wizards believed that this was because the people believed that each of them was not more important than the other, and the circular architectural structure was an obvious manifestation of this equality.

There is a huge stone stove in the center of the circle. Its location can be easily seen as the Centaurs choose the site and kept it away from the trees around the village. This stove is public, anyone can use it at any time, but generally, it is only used for preparing food. In addition, when it is cold, the stove will be continuously added with fuelwood to maintain the fire, ensuring that the entire village can get a lasting heat supply no matter how cold it is.

Of course, on this summer night when the temperature is right, the fire in the stove is extinguished. After Firenze led them around the fireplace, Ryan saw the place where the centaurs held their coming-of-age ceremony: the altar.

The altar is on the hill outside the village and is linked to the village by a forest path. There is a large grass field in front of the altar, and many Centaur are now densely packed on the grass. Under the guidance of Firenze, Ryan went around in a circle to the place on the side of the grass that was reserved for the guests.

At this time, Ryan took the opportunity to observe the altar carefully with the surrounding torches. The Centaur's altar is different from the round stepped altar of the ancient Vikings. Their altar is an arch built from three basically unprocessed tree stumps. Behind the arch is a large tree stump as a table for holding offerings. Behind the table is the dark forbidden forest.

It is said that in life magic, the circular staircase altar represents the power of communicating with the living and the dead that are wandering between heaven and earth. Then, the arch in the Centaur's natural magic means the entrance to the natural realm, which nature blesses without restriction.

Because there was still some time before the ceremony, Ryan on a whim he began to observe the feng shui of the altar using the Feng Shui technique in the Taoist scriptures of Maoshan.

The more Ryan observed, the more surprising it became, because the location of the altar is one of the best feng shui he has ever seen, and it can even be said to be second only to Hogwarts. After exerting several observation magics, he found that the entire altar was in a natural energy-intensive area, and the barrier between the real world and the Emerald Dreamland world at the altar was very weak.

It seems that this place is also carefully chosen by the Centaurs. Ryan is becoming more and more interested in the non-wizard intelligent creatures that have been overlooked in the cannon.

After waiting for about half an hour, there was the sound of horseshoes from the entrance of the village, and the first Centaur to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony had returned. Centaurs are different from human beings. As per centaur's culture and tradition, they grow up at the age of 12, so you can see the Centaurs with childish faces running in.

At this time, Betty walked out of the crowd and stood on the edge of the altar. Today, she did not wear the leather armor she usually wears. Second, she also wore a white flax robe. The only difference is that Betty's robe is embroidered with various patterns that represent nature.

The first Centaur to pass the adult trial has come to the altar, holding a rare fluorescent evening primrose in his hand.

Firenze, who stood aside, said to Ryan: "Our trial before the adult ceremony of the Forbidden Forest Centaur tribe is to find a designated rare plant. Unfortunately, since the forbidden forest has changed more than 40 years ago, The content of the trial had previously become to independently kill an adult eight-eyed giant spider and bring back its fangs. Thanks for your help this time, we can finally go back and practice our true tradition."

At this time, Betty took the fluorescent evening primrose handed by the pony or you may call him an adolescent centaur, placed it on the stump altar table respectfully, and then chanted a spell. The Centaur also lowered his head under the arch of the altar, then clenched his fists on his forehead.

After a few minutes, Ryan felt that the power gathered on the altar was getting stronger and stronger, and finally tore open the barrier that separated the real world from the Emerald Dreamland. The evening primrose on the altarpiece turned into a green light spot and disappeared in the Emerald Dreamland, and the same green light shot from the Emerald Dreamland on the young centaur under the arch.

When the green light disappeared, Ryan was surprised to find that the young centaur's body seemed to be stronger, and the overall temperament was more harmonious with nature.

"This is our coming-of-age ceremony. Now it was my cousin who got baptized by nature. I envy him. Firenze said with some envy clearly evident in his eyes.

"Why, wasn't your baptism similar to this one?" Ryan asked curiously.

"It's really different. Because we were fighting with the eight-eyed spider at that time, our offerings were all the fangs of the eight-eyed spider. Different offerings have different directions of strengthening when they receive natural baptism. Our emphasis on strengthening was placed on the physique and responsiveness related to the battle. This makes us have some flaws in the natural affinity that the Centaur are proud of. So I say thank you for allowing us to regain the glory."

"But this kind of natural baptism can only be done once for a creature in its lifetime. Doesn't this mean that you can never achieve natural affinity in this life?"

"Yes, but this is also the sacrifice we had to make. Nature has nurtured us, and we should do something for her." Firenze said with emotion.

After that, two other young centaurs who had grown up this year also received natural baptism. Ryan thought that today's ceremony was over, but Betty, who was standing on the altar, suddenly said to Ryan: "Please come up, our friend, nature tells me tonight that you are the last person to be baptized by nature today."

"Me?" Ryan pointed to himself in surprise. Betty nodded firmly: "This is nature's will, and you are also 12 years old this year, which is the prime age to receive natural baptism."

The centaurs gave way to the altar. It seems that Betty, as a shaman, has a very high status among the centaurs. Ryan walked to the altar with anxiety and then asked: "This is a Centaur's coming-of-age ceremony. Is it really appropriate for me to participate as a human?"

"I don't know," Betty said with some confusion. "After all, there has never been such a thing before, but when I just communicated the Emerald Dreamland in the ceremony, I felt that nature wanted to give you this as a thank you gift."

Betty's voice was loud, and several older Centaur in the audience nodded when they heard it. According to Firenze's previous introduction, these Centaur are all able to communicate with the Emerald Dreamland, and it seems that they have also received this inspiration.

It didn't seem like it was harmful, and Ryan made up his mind when he thought of this. "Well, I am very happy to accept the gift of nature."