Chapter 83
Albert approached the centaur host slowly and discovered that the one who had come to escort him was an acquaintance of Firenze. Firenze, however, looked different from usual today—he was wearing a loose robe of white linen.
"Greetings, friend of the forest." After speaking, Firenze placed his hand on his chest, bowed slightly, and then led Albert toward the village.
Upon entering, Albert discovered that the centaur village was quite unique. The buildings were essentially large stable-like huts, far bigger than any human standard.
The huts were arranged in a ring, with their entrances facing inward. Albert thought this was due to the centaurs' belief that no member of their kind was more important than another. The circular layout was a clear symbol of this equality.
At the center of the ring stood a massive stone hearth, visible because the centaurs had cleared trees from that part of the village. This was a communal hearth, which anyone could use at any time—though it was usually the women who cooked there. In cold weather, the hearth would be continuously supplied with firewood to keep it burning, ensuring the entire village had a steady source of heat no matter how harsh the winter.
On this pleasant summer evening, however, the fire in the hearth was out. After leading Albert around it, Firenze brought him to the place where the centaurs held their coming-of-age ceremonies: the altar.
The altar stood on a hill outside the village, connected to it by a forest path. A wide grassy clearing lay before it, and now many centaurs were gathered there. Under Firenze's guidance, Albert circled the gathering and came to the guest area at the side of the clearing.
From here, he took the chance to examine the altar in the light of the surrounding torches. Unlike the stepped circular altar Albert knew from the magic of life, this altar was a simple table made of three roughly hewn logs. Behind it loomed the dark forest.
In the magic of life Albert was familiar with, the stepped circular altar represented the cyclical passage between life and death, connecting the earth and the sky. By contrast, the arch above the centaurs' altar symbolized entry into the natural world—vast, unbounded, and free.
Since the ceremony wouldn't start for another half an hour, Albert used the time to study the altar in detail.
The more he looked, the more astonished he became. This was perhaps the finest altar he had ever seen—second only to Hogwarts itself. After casting several observation charms on himself, he discovered that the entire altar stood within a concentrated zone of natural magical energy, and the barrier between the real world and the Emerald Dream was particularly thin here.
It seemed the centaurs had chosen the location with great care. Albert was becoming more and more intrigued by these intelligent, non-wizarding creatures who had suddenly stepped into his story.
After about half an hour, the sound of hooves came from the village entrance—the first young centaur to take part in the coming-of-age ceremony had returned. Unlike humans, centaurs came of age at twelve, so it was no surprise to see one galloping back with the exuberance of a child.
At that moment, Aunt Betty stepped from the crowd and stood by the altar. Today she wore no leather armor; instead, she too had donned a white linen dress. Unlike Firenze's plain robe, however, hers was embroidered with patterns representing the natural world.
The first youth to pass the trial approached the altar, holding a rare fluorescent evening primrose.
Firenze, standing beside Albert, explained:
"In the past, the traditional adult trial for our Forbidden Forest tribe was to find a specific rare plant. Unfortunately, the forest changed more than forty years ago, and our trial became a test of killing a fully grown Acromantula and bringing back its fangs. This time, thanks to your help, we have been able to restore our precious tradition."
Aunt Betty took the glowing primrose from the young centaur and placed it reverently upon the wooden altar table. She then chanted an incantation. The youth lowered his head beneath the altar's arch and pressed his fist to his forehead.
Moments later, Albert felt the altar's accumulated power grow stronger and stronger until the barrier between the real world and the Emerald Dream was torn open. The primrose dissolved into a green speck of light and vanished into the Emerald Dream. A similar green radiance flowed back from the Dream and bathed the young centaur beneath the arch.
When the light faded, Albert was surprised to see that the youth's body seemed stronger, his overall presence more in tune with nature.
"This is our coming-of-age ceremony," Firenze said wistfully. "That's my cousin—he's just been naturally baptized."
"Why? Was your natural baptism different from this?" Albert asked curiously.
"It was," Firenze admitted. "When we were at war with the Acromantulas, our offerings were their fangs. Different offerings bring different forms of empowerment in the natural baptism. Ours focused on physical fitness and combat reflexes, but we lost some of the natural affinity that our kind prides itself on."
"But natural baptism happens only once in a lifetime, doesn't it? Does that mean you can never gain that natural affinity?"
"Yes. It's a sacrifice we had to make," Firenze said simply. "We have to survive—and sometimes, we must do what's needed for the tribe."
Two more young centaurs received their natural baptisms afterward.
Albert thought the ceremony was over, but Aunt Betty suddenly turned to him from the altar.
"Please come forward, my friend. Tonight, nature has told me that you are the last to receive the natural baptism."
"Me?" Albert pointed to himself in shock.
Betty nodded firmly. "It is the will of nature. You are twelve this year—the age of the baptism."
The centaurs parted to make a path toward the altar. Betty, as shaman, clearly held great authority among them. Albert walked toward the altar somewhat anxiously and asked, "This is the centaur coming-of-age ceremony… is it really appropriate for me to take part alone?"
"I don't know," Betty admitted. "Such a thing has never happened before. But during the Emerald Dream's vision just now, I felt nature wished to use this as a way to thank you."
Her voice was not low, and many older centaurs nodded upon hearing her words. From Firenze's earlier explanation, Albert knew the centaurs could access the Emerald Dream—clearly, they too had received the same message.
It didn't seem like there would be any harm in accepting.
"Well then," Albert said with a smile, "I'd be glad to receive nature's gift."
To be continued …