Chapter 235: The Ghost of the Past
Firenze pointed to a red star directly above Sean.
"In the past decade, there have been signs that the wizarding world is merely passing through a brief period of peace between two wars. Mars, the bringer of war, shines brightly above us, suggesting that the fight must break out again soon. As for how soon, Centaurs may attempt to predict it by burning certain herbs and leaves, and by observing the smoke and flames..."
It was a most peculiar lesson. Under Firenze's guidance, Sean ignited sage and mallowsweet.
Firenze instructed him to observe the acrid smoke, looking for certain shapes and omens within. Although the signs he described were incredibly subtle and hard to detect, he didn't seem to mind at all.
He told Sean that humans were generally not very good at this sort of thing and that even Centaurs took years to acquire the ability.
[You have practiced Divination magic to the Novice standard. Proficiency +1]
Divination magic?
This was the first time Sean had encountered this type of magic.
"You saw the outline?!"
The previously indifferent Firenze suddenly walked over, his hooves making a clip-clop sound on the ground.
[You have gained the affinity of the Centaur (Firenze) to the Adept standard. Proficiency +10]
"Yes, Mr. Firenze. It looks like the shape of a volcano. What does that mean?"
Sean answered honestly, then asked his question.
"Even among wizards, you are the gifted one. The volcano shape signifies an eruption at a deeper level."
Firenze then had Sean observe other planets, but unfortunately, for a long time afterward, Sean couldn't make sense of the strange shapes.
Before leaving, Firenze had no books to give Sean—Centaur knowledge was passed down almost entirely by word of mouth.
So that's why they form herds? Sean thought.
Finally, Firenze told him that sometimes even Centaurs could misinterpret signs, so it was foolish to put too much faith in such things.
The Centaur told him to remember that nothing was foolproof, not even Centaur knowledge.
Sean returned, bringing Fang and a notebook filled with scribbles about outlines, burning angles, and flame forms.
Centaurs truly could use Astronomy magic, and they could even teach it to him.
At the same time, Sean roughly understood that Astronomy magic could only predict major events about to happen in the wizarding world, not trivial matters.
For instance, the petty misfortunes mentioned in the book in his hand had nothing to do with planetary movements.
Exams were drawing closer by the day, and Firenze had accepted Sean addressing him as "Teacher."
Although Firenze believed that wizards and Centaurs should be equal, Sean felt that as the one receiving knowledge, he should show greater respect.
That night, Sean returned from the Forbidden Forest an hour before curfew and naturally made his way to the Hospital Wing.
Professor Quirrell had been taking a potent restorative potion for the past few days. The side effect was steam pouring from his ears, and it caused him to sleep for a full day at a time.
Unfortunately, in his eagerness to recover faster, he was drinking a bottle almost every day.
This forced Sean to put certain matters on hold.
Such as the matter of an agent.
There was still no sign of his Fairy Tale Biscuit series being sold. In reality, Sean had only been back from the symposium for a little over a week, but inquiries from the event were already enough to fill the Room of Hope.
Those master alchemists knew how long it took to create high-level alchemical objects—Sean needed two days for a Bowtruckle Biscuit, three for a Hippogriff, one for a Kneazle, and a full week for a Fire Dragon Biscuit.
Yet they still expected Sean to conjure some out of thin air.
Under the moonlight, Sean pushed open the doors of the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey had grown accustomed to the young wizard's visits.
This little fellow was quiet, never noisy, coming and going gently, and even casting a Muffliato charm when he spoke.
If all Hogwarts students visiting patients were like this, she wouldn't be so irritable.
"I can't do it, Mr. Green. You know Quirrell is just a pathetic wretch..."
Quirrell had recovered significantly, but ever since Sean proposed his idea, the Professor had refused to accept it.
He was still immersed in the time of his enslavement by Voldemort, facing Sean with the demeanor of a humble and pitiful servant.
"I want you to do this. I trust you."
The wind blew in from the window, ruffling Sean's black hair. His green eyes revealed a firm sense of choice.
Quirrell froze, staring blankly into those bright green pupils, which reflected the newly reborn Quirrell.
Quirrell... in his youth, he had been so insecure, desperate to prove himself. After being enslaved by Voldemort, his last shred of self-esteem had been consumed.
Now, he still desperately craved recognition, which was why he was so afraid of taking responsibility. He was afraid of failure, afraid of disappointing the person before him.
The curtains of the Hospital Wing fluttered in the wind as Sean's voice spoke slowly:
"The past is a ghost, Professor. Ethereal and weightless. So, when the sun rises tomorrow, forget about yesterday."
When silence returned to the Hospital Wing, Professor Quirrell broke down and wept.
After a rare clear day in April, the weather fell back into a pattern of lingering gloom and rain, much like Sean's current progress in Astronomy magic.
He had once thought he might have some talent in Astronomy, but in reality, after a week, he had only discerned two outlines.
Even so, Firenze praised him multiple times.
The Centaur teacher always taught Sean for an hour in the Forbidden Forest, and today was no exception.
The night sky was relatively clear. Sean walked quickly down the sloping lawn toward the Forbidden Forest on the opposite side of the grounds, the grass rippling beneath his feet. Not far into the forest lay the clearing, where the dark trees swayed in the distance.
"Teacher Firenze."
Sean placed his open left hand over his heart and bowed slightly. The Centaur teacher lowered his head in return.
This was Centaur etiquette, usually used within the herd when elder Centaurs passed knowledge to the young.
However, Sean's learning method was still lacking compared to young Centaurs, as Centaur knowledge was passed down orally, and different Centaurs held different pieces of knowledge.
Young Centaurs were usually taught by multiple wise elders of the herd.
Not far away, deeper in the forest, Sean could see some young foals running from their lessons to circle around him.
They examined him curiously, galloping around the clearing until the adult Centaurs came to retrieve them.
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