Firenzo, Ronan, and the other six centaurs stood solemnly before the massive stone wall, their gaze fixed on patterns that Allen found utterly incomprehensible. It was as if the carved wall itself were the most captivating object in existence, and nothing else could possibly break their concentration.
Although Magorian had granted Allen complete freedom to wander their ancestral grounds, Allen knew it was wisest not to test the boundaries of their trust. Seeing Allen's intensely curious expression, Magorian paused his own study for a moment and said, "Allen, if it pleases you, I would be honoured to accompany you on a brief walk through the castle."
"I could not ask for more, esteemed Centaur Chief," Allen accepted immediately. It was far better to learn more directly from him than to risk stumbling into trouble.
They passed through the large stone chamber and continued along the paved, subterranean path. Magorian's hooves echoed with a hollow rhythm through the empty castle corridors. Allen closely examined the inscriptions and designs covering the walls. He discerned that most of the patterns depicted various stories relating to the Centaur history and the stars.
With his limited astronomical knowledge, he could pick out a few scattered patterns of celestial body movements, but he had absolutely no idea what the complex combinations of orbital paths represented. As for the intricate script, Allen was completely baffled; he suspected it was an ancient, perhaps proprietary, magical language.
Allen, possessing the system of academic genius, might have felt momentary ignorance, but this did not stop him from deeply memorizing every unfamiliar character and pattern. As his horizons rapidly broadened, the more he understood how vast his potential knowledge base still needed to become.
"Allen, the time is nearly upon us. We must return and make the final preparations for the ceremony." Lost in the deep absorption of these foreign symbols and stories, Allen hadn't noticed Magorian stop or change direction. But now, he awoke from his trance-like state, feeling as though he were emerging from a profound, knowledge-filled dream.
He stumbled out of the castle and back into the Forbidden Forest. The late-night moonlight, liquid and silver, cast an ethereal glow over the trees and branches. The night air was crisp and cool, carrying the faint, sweet scent of night-blooming flowers. This refreshing coolness helped to settle the storm of patterns and words in Allen's mind, gradually easing his strained nerves.
"What a beautiful, tranquil night this is!" Magorian remarked, his tone relaxed and appreciative.
Indeed, there was not the slightest breath of wind in this vast, deserted valley. Only the centaurs, some resting, others lying down, gazed contentedly at the radiant brilliance of the starry sky. Allen instinctively looked for the six chosen centaurs—Firenzo, Ronan, and the others—but they had vanished without a trace.
The full, bright moon hung high above, washing the entire valley in a pure, white light. The landscape was clearly visible, save for the dense curtain of forest in the distance where the calm moonlight and deep tree shadows intertwined. The valley floor was starkly different from what Allen had observed during the day.
The soft meadow in the centre had been replaced by a flat, dark surface, now painted entirely with silverstone dust in the intricate patterns Allen had just seen etched in the castle. These patterns formed a large circle, but the complex lines grew deeper and more obscure as they spiralled inward. Drawn in the silverstone dust, these lines shimmered brilliantly under the moonlight.
In the very heart of the circular pattern stood a rugged, austere wooden platform, constructed by the centaurs from thick, massive logs. Atop the platform, three simple logs, entwined with various sacred vines, stretched upward toward the night sky.
Magorian gracefully leaped onto the wooden platform, raised his front hooves, and stamped them three times. Immediately, a powerful, echoing whinny reverberated from the surrounding darkness. This sound seemed to be a unique, specialized form of centaur communication.
Soon after, a large herd of centaurs, arriving as if in a thunderous charge, appeared in the valley. They varied in colour and size, but uniformly, their manes gleamed spectacularly under the moonlight. They stood silently in the valley, their gazes fixed entirely on their Chief, Magorian, upon the high platform.
"My people, we are gathered here tonight to deepen our understanding of the secrets held within the stars," Magorian announced, his voice carrying clearly across the silent valley.
"Our generous friend Allen has entrusted us with the Moonstone. Although it currently labours under the influence of a potent curse, we believe implicitly that it will swiftly return to its original, blessed state after the baptism of our sacred Chiron Ritual." Magorian's words were laced with infectious confidence and courage.
As soon as he finished speaking, the centaurs, who had been standing in absolute silence, immediately broke into a low murmur of excitement and restlessness. They were all clearly eager for the news concerning the Moonstone and keen to contribute their energy to the tribe's advancement.
"Silence! Now, please take your preordained positions according to your constellation," Magorian commanded, his voice cutting through the noise. The centaurs responded instantly, moving swiftly to their designated spots around the perimeter of the ritual circle.
"Now, the Ceremony of Chiron shall commence!" Magorian raised both his front paws and stamped them hard upon the wooden platform, repeating the action six times. Six loud, authoritative beats echoed through the valley, immediately followed by the distinct, nearing clatter of hooves.
Firenzo and the other six chosen centaurs, their heads held high, leaped from the shadows of the undergrowth and galloped onto the platform. Their manes shone brilliantly in the moonlight, radiating an air of fierce, ancient nobility.
"Brave Warriors of Chiron, your time to serve the stars has come. The boundless starry sky itself will assist your efforts. Now, take your positions!" Magorian instructed with solemn reverence.
Firenzo, Ronan, and the others immediately formed a protective circle around the wooden platform, positioning themselves over six specific spiral patterns traced in the silver dust. Allen noticed that each of the six selected Chiron Warriors possessed a distinctly different coloured mane, likely corresponding to a particular astrological influence.
A profound silence descended once more. Suddenly, Allen thought he heard a low, subtle, wondrous melody beginning to rise from the very earth of the valley. It was no hallucination; it was a gentle, rhythmic ticking sound, like the faintest human tap dance.
Allen vigorously shook his head, trying to focus his hearing. The music intensified, growing into a harsh yet utterly mesmerizing rhythm. Allen finally snapped out of his trance and looked at Firenzo and the other centaurs.
At first, they were merely tapping their knees, bending their legs slightly in an almost imperceptible movement. But then the rhythmic strikes grew stronger, the powerful hooves pounding with increasing force, and their forelegs lifted higher and higher with each beat…
The music created by this escalating, powerful symphony of clopping hooves swelled into a majestic, awe-inspiring sound that dominated the silent night.