Chapter 275: The Elder Centaur

The centaurs formed a circle and surrounded the five.

Around them, Ivan saw a variety of centaurs dressed in various colors, most of them very strong, arrows and long bows slung over their shoulders.

In the center was a silver-gray centaur.

He was apparently very old, about a hundred years old, with deep wrinkles on his face and a whitish beard that almost reached the ground.

He was the eldest of the centaurs, the oldest and wisest centaur in the tribe.

As Ivan watched him, he also looked at him closely.

His eyes were very light colored, and he could only see white shrouds when he looked from afar.

Magorian approached and bowed his head, showing none of his previous irritable temperament.

In a respectful manner, he informed the old man about Ivan and his group. Ivan heard him tell them that the four human foals wanted to be recognized by the centaurs and then they would try to get the magic item that had been kept in the sacred temple in the center of the colony.

Although he was very displeased with the humans, he did not deliberately discredit them, nor did he try to sabotage them. All he said were facts.

The centaur elder nodded and made a gesture that he knew the matter, and Magorian withdrew to the side. The old centaur stepped forward. He did not speak, and watched Ivan closely for a while. Then he looked up at the night sky as if he were observing the trajectories of the planets.

Just as Ivan felt that the old man would stay like that forever, the latter suddenly took out of the bag he was carrying an unidentified black herbal powder.

Ivan did not see when he made it possible, but suddenly red flames rose before the old man.

He slowly threw the powder into the rising flames, and the color of the flames immediately changed from red to a fantastic dark blue, accompanied by a lot of smoke.

"Centaurs can prophesy by burning various herbs and leaves, and watching the smoke and fire." Hermione whispered, "I've seen it in the book, and the principle is probably similar to the crystal ball we saw."

"Except for the lines on the table, I've never seen any of that ball." Ron muttered, eyeing the Centaur suspiciously.

Harry nodded and agreed with Ron.

Perhaps Professor Trelawney had left quite an impression on him.

Until now, he thought prophesying such things was misleading.

Unlike the three of them, Ivan saw something different from the blue flame through the way Dumbledore taught him. He sensed a strange wave of magic, a trace of magic hidden in the smoke, coming towards him.

He hurried to turn and hoped to dodge.

The old centaur looked back at Ivan, who smelled the burning leaves as the smoke came straight from the breeze. Unlike the usual spells, the eccentric smoke magic did not hurt him. It just swirled around Ivan and floated beside him.

Like stargazing, this type of divination was particular to centaurs.

No wonder this magic was very advanced. Besides the elder, Ivan had never seen any other centaur using it.

Normally they observe the stars in the night sky and draw an omen of destiny. This time, however, the centaurs did not, and waited for the elder to make his prophecy. They were alert, circling Ivan and the others, as if they were petting animals at the zoo, watching the five silently in the distance.

Most of the centaurs were looking at Harry and whispering, like many wizards who met him for the first time.

Only a few centaurs who knew Sirius nodded at him and immediately moved their eyes away, pretending not to know him.

Ivan had met Ronan and Bane a month ago, and they didn't even look at him.

Among the silent crowd, the atmosphere was tense. The centaurs had different faces, some with simple curiosity, some with stern scrutiny, some with inexplicable anger, but more with suspicion and distrust.

They were watching from afar, and even drew their weapons.

Sirius told them all not to lower their wands. If something happened, they wouldn't have to worry about him and leave the forest in front of him. Whatever happened, the centaurs wouldn't hurt the children.

Ivan felt Hermione approach him unconsciously. He knew she must be worried. He deftly took her small hand and reassured her with his eyes.

Due to the overwhelming tension, Hermione's palms were sweaty. She glared at the centaurs before her, and an unfamiliar fear welled up deep inside her. These centaurs looked very aggressive and frightening, as if they were going to attack at any moment.

If it weren't for Ivan, she would have no idea what to do.

As the centaurs watched from afar and whispered, Firenze, with long blonde hair, came out, and did not seem to have changed much during the last month. In this atmosphere of hesitation and distrust, his gesture was different.

Everyone looked at Firenze in surprise, amazed at his bold behavior. No one spoke; even the centaurs' whispering came to an abrupt end.

"I'm so glad to see you again after twenty years, Sirius Black!" Firenze whispered, didn't seem to notice the anomaly, and came calmly.

He shook hands with Sirius, the old friend whom he had not seen for a long time.

After greeting Sirius, he turned his attention to Harry.

"Harry Potter!" Firenze said quietly.

"Hello, Firenze, nice to meet you!" Harry shook his hand hurriedly.

"And you!" the centaur said in an unquestioning tone, tilting his white-blond head. "It was foretold that we would meet again."

His expression was calm and there was no smile on his face. No one could see through what he was thinking.

"The orbit of the planets has already signaled, and our shared destiny will not end here." Firenze nodded again to Harry. "We will meet again."

He left Harry and walked slowly toward Ivan, extending a hand.

"Same to you, I knew you'd come, Ivan Mason!" His startling blue eyes looked at Ivan unblinkingly, and he said quietly, "The night we first met, Mars, he who brought the war, shone over our heads, brighter than ever. After that, I watched carefully its trajectory. I saw you in this next war..."

"Shut up, Firenze!" Magorian ranted angrily and shouted. "We swore not to reveal what we see so easily..."