As expected of a leader of her race, Magorian easily discerned Allen's unspoken interest through the intense, undisguised longing in the young wizard's eyes. A faint, knowing smile touched the corners of Magorian's muzzle.
Although Allen was a phenomenal wizard—gentle, remarkably intelligent, and powerful—he was still young and had not yet mastered the art of concealing his true desires, particularly when faced with irresistible, esoteric knowledge.
Allen, in truth, could usually conceal his feelings, but he felt an awkwardness in directly pressing Magorian for more information. Thus, he could only let his profound intellectual desire show plainly on his face.
"It is whispered among the stars that this jewel was once utilized by Merlin, the celebrated founder and Slytherin alumnus of Hogwarts," Magorian explained, his eyes never leaving the newly formed Star Lake.
"He supposedly traveled far into the past to aid King Arthur. This jewel was actually set into King Arthur's crown, a source of immense power. In fact, before the completion of this Chiron Ritual, we centaurs could not truly predict the future with absolute certainty. Only I, by focusing through the residual energies of this jewel, could sometimes perceive a faint, momentary crack in the fabric of destiny."
Magorian turned his gaze, now shining with the light of the new lake, toward Allen. "Now, after the power of the Chiron Ritual and the infusion that created Star Lake, I have absolute faith that our innate Centaur abilities will bring us even closer to the deep currents of fate! As for any other magical powers the Moonstone may hold, those, young Allen, you must endeavor to discover for yourself!" The Chief gazed fiercely at the Star Lake, as if visualizing a vast, brighter future for his entire civilization reflected in its silvery depths.
Merlin's Stone, once embedded in King Arthur's crown, and possessing the power of foresight! Any single one of these attributes would be enough to ignite a devastating, bloody conflict across the entire wizarding world, making the purified Moonstone a treasure of immeasurable value.
But what truly snagged Allen's analytical mind was Magorian's casual mention of Merlin traveling so far back in time to assist King Arthur.
It was widely known within the Ministry's restricted records that time travel was severely restricted. A known witch, Eloise Mintab, a minor, obscure member of the Department of Mysteries, had once attempted an unauthorized experiment with a Time-Turner. She traveled from 1899 back to 1402, getting stranded there for a mere five days.
The fallout was catastrophic. It caused a "serious disruption" in the timelines of every person she encountered in the past. At least twenty-five of her descendants simply vanished from the modern world, becoming "never born."
When she finally returned to the present, her body had aged five centuries and was irreparably damaged; she perished shortly after arrival at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies. How, then, could Merlin have possibly withstood the physical, soul-rending damage of such an immensely long chronological journey?
Misinterpreting the sudden intensity and deep contemplation in Allen's expression—and fearing he might be overwhelmed by the burden of possessing such an important relic—Magorian continued, his tone softening slightly:
"Allen, I observed everything at the Chiron Ceremony with utmost clarity, and my position meant I was closest to the voice of destiny. I must confess, the gift of this jewel was accepted by us not only out of gratitude for your generosity but because our Centaur Nation desires a strong, enduring friendship with you. While our traditional stance is to remain apart from human conflict, the stars are now screaming that a great war is imminent, and no living creature, neither wizard nor beast, will remain untouched."
Magorian stepped closer, his powerful form radiating sincerity. "As the Chief of the Centaurs, I am duty-bound to consider the security of our future generations. And your friendship, Allen Harris, is precisely the kind of alliance that destiny suggests we require."
Magorian's words resonated with undeniable honesty. Allen understood perfectly: even in the original timeline he had read in his past life, centaurs—largely swayed by Firenzo—had ultimately joined the battle on Hogwarts' side against Voldemort.
Furthermore, the centaurs' desire to formally align themselves with him, influenced by his demonstrated power and his possession of the Moonstone, was a calculated move motivated by intelligent self-interest.
While Allen fully grasped Magorian's geopolitical reasoning, the thought of a potentially imminent "Great War" gnawed at him. This was not a peaceful world; his future life and the lives of those he cared about would certainly be in immense peril if he did not constantly strive to increase his power and influence.
While Harry Potter had ultimately triumphed in the original narrative, who could possibly guarantee that the Harris family would survive this new, altered timeline, despite Allen's own meticulous efforts?
"Chief Magorian, I am profoundly honoured by your trust and this generous proposal," Allen stated, his own sincerity matching the centaur's.
"I am absolutely ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Centaur Nation through any future hardship, and I sincerely hope our friendship will endure for all time." Allen hesitated no longer. In the presence of such an intelligent being, any form of feigned reluctance or hypocritical refusal would only serve to diminish his standing and invite ridicule.
Magorian understood instantly. "Then we are truly allied, Allen. The ancestral jewel of Merlin is now safely guarded within the most sacred sanctuary of our Centaur heritage. Please, follow me!"
Allen followed Magorian back into the labyrinthine castle once more. Unlike their previous visit, however, Magorian subtly barred Allen from entering the main stone chamber where the Chiron Ritual patterns were recorded, ensuring the centaur's most precious magical secrets remained guarded.
Magorian gracefully leaped and landed in the exact center of the chamber floor, then began hopping rhythmically. The precise thud-thud of his hooves, combined with the echoing acoustics of the empty stone room, created a peculiar, mesmerizing melody. Allen could feel his own blood pressure and heart rate subtly beginning to violently sync with the strange, percussive music.
Finally, Magorian soared into the air, launching himself directly toward a specific, unmarked spot on the stone wall where the staff image had been previously. Allen involuntarily gasped, but his intellect reassured him that Magorian would never engage in a truly foolish or reckless action.
Indeed, the instant Magorian's massive head made contact with the stone wall, the entire section of the wall vanished, dissolving as if covered by a shimmering, thin veil of water. As Magorian sprang through the opening, he managed a quick, significant glance back at Allen, who immediately understood the unspoken command: he was expected to follow.
"It looks exactly like the method for getting onto Platform Nine and Three-Quarters," Allen thought, struck by the simplicity and brilliance of the idea. What a masterful deception. Anyone entering this chamber would be utterly focused on the dazzling, complex patterns of the Chiron Ritual carved into the main walls, never suspecting a secret passage hidden within the apparently solid rock.
Allen held immense admiration for the founder of this sacred place, but his movements were anything but slow. He walked deliberately toward the vanishing point and stepped through the thin, veil-like stone. In that brief instant, he felt an agonizing jolt, as if he had plunged into icy water; a bone-chilling, soul-deep cold enveloped his entire body.
But the moment Allen stepped fully into the secret, dark room beyond, the coldness he had just experienced vanished, instantly receding from him like a forgotten nightmare.
Upon entering this hidden chamber, the most striking feature was a colossal, lifelike statue of a centaur. With short, slightly curly golden hair piled loosely on its head and a thick, beautiful golden beard covering its face, the figure radiated an aura of extreme majesty and imposing power.
In contrast to its mighty, powerful physique, the statue wore a surprisingly gentle expression, featuring a subtle smile and a clear gleam of profound wisdom reflected in its eyes and forehead. Draped in a red cloak, the statue sat with its forelegs slightly bent and pointing toward a low stone platform directly below it.
Magorian stood before this platform, having immediately dropped to his forelegs in a gesture of deep, unreserved respect toward the centaur image.
Several enchanted oil lamps burned around the stone chamber, casting a dim, yellowish light that, while certainly dark, imbued the room with a profound sense of ancient peace and sanctuary. Allen noticed the walls were adorned with various artifacts: Centaur armor, ornate helmets, massive bows and arrows, curved scimitars, and powerful spears.
Although Allen had not yet been formally introduced to the identity of the centaur depicted, out of respect for the centaurs' traditions and his friendship with Magorian, he straightened his clothes, stepped forward slowly, and offered a deep, respectful bow to the statue.
"This is Chiron, the most revered ancestor of our Centaur Nation, the very glory of our race. The Chiron Ritual was passed down to us directly from him," Magorian explained, his voice filled with reverence. He was clearly pleased by Allen's spontaneous show of respect and immediately revealed the statue's identity.
It was him! The name 'Chiron Ritual' had sounded vaguely familiar to Allen when he first heard it, and upon seeing the statue, he recognized the legendary centaur instantly.
Chiron's abilities were legendary, even among his own people; folklore suggested he was nearly omnipotent and truly omniscient. He was said to have lived in quiet seclusion in the cave of Mount Pelion, where he taught unique martial arts, medicine, and prophecy.
It was believed that any student of his who mastered even a single skill could become one of the strongest mortals in the world.
Figures like Jason, Hercules, Orpheus, and nearly every major hero of ancient Greek mythology were numbered among his disciples. Chiron is rightly considered the ancestor and patron of Greek heroes, and his followers were collectively known as the "Pyrrhinus Heroes." The constellation Sagittarius is named in his enduring honour.