章節 1021: Spring Equinox Ⅳ

See the expression of the elderly shaman, Rowan promptly continued to explain, "Dittany for healing and restoration, Moly to counter enchantments and curses, Niffler's Fancy to create attraction and efficacy, Squill for good fortune and health, Flitterbloom for growth and adaptation, and lastly an apple seed, a symbol of life and death, but far more importantly the hardiest of trees that can bear a fruit in any climate."

"Thoughtful intent," Aldonius pensively murmured, before raising his oak-colored eyes to meet midnight-indigo eyes. "Very well, Prince, I will aid thee with thine request. However only this once. I will not go against the will of the heavens."

Pursing his lips further, Aldonius pointedly emphasized, "Child of the Founders, whether the seed blessing is fruitful or not will depend on the will of the heavens."

Seeing the Child of the Founders remain resolute in her decision, Aldonius glances at the seeds in his palm one last time. He swirls them in his hand feeling the juxtaposition of the seeds. Despite the seed's different elemental representations, their elements harmonized. Perchance, there would be a possibility of success.

Sensing the time nearing, Aldonius briskly barks, "Midnight fast approaches and the Eostar shall soon come to an end! We shall not tarry any further!"

Despite the haste, the elderly shaman carefully wraps the seeds up again, before climbing to his feet on four hooves. With practiced ease, Aldonius hurries over to his drawers and impatiently begins to pull out a ceremonial knife, six colored crystals, and purified salt. He carefully places the items in an old worn, discolored satchel, before slinging it over his shoulder.

The ritual crafts had been used for the tribe's own ritual ceremony just after midnight during the morning of the Eostar. The tribe had celebrated into the early morning hours of the Eostar, before returning to their homes to rest. Unlike humans, they did not believe that evening of the Eostar held the greatest power for rituals. It was at the end of the night when the moon would set and thereby the lunar power would begin to wane. (Admittedly, the same could be argued the other way too.)

Having gathered all the needed preparations, Aldonius impatiently asks, "Have you six pots to place the seeds within?"

"Yes, they are in my pocket," Rowan answered, before hastily responding after seeing the elderly shaman's dark expression. "But I can unshrink them."

One of Aldonius's hoofs stomps against the floor as if in protest, but the elderly shaman motions for the Child of the Founders to hurry after him. The seed blessing must happen exactly before midnight and not a second before or after. The time rapidly drew near, and they had much to prepare before that time.

The elderly shaman emerges from the tent and glances around. "Firenze," Aldonius called out to the next shaman, his apprentice.

Firenze's pale sapphire-colored eyes pull away from the heavens. "Is it time, Shaman?" He asked rising from the grass onto four hooves to full height.

Aldonius hides his pride at the response of the next shaman in training. "Draw the cardinal runes in a circle," he instructed handing over the pouch of pure salt crystals.

Sensing that it was another test, Firenze accepts the pouch of purified salt, before glancing about. He trots in a circle until he senses the proper spot. With care, he begins to draw ancient runes on the ground that interconnect much like a pentagon circle.

The thin chest of the elderly shaman proudly puffs up at observing the great skill of his apprentice. Aldonius turns to glance back at the young witch and says, "Prince, carefully place the earth-filled pots exactly on the rune marks without disturbing the circle."

Rowan murmured a reply, before removing the shrunken pots one by one. She carefully unshrinks them first, before placing each pot one by one directly on each of the cardinal runes. She paused only slightly for a moment having noticed that there are two rune markings in the center of the pentagon representing the spirit. Typically, there was only one spirit rune, but then again, a spirit is not just limited to one singularity. And if the shaman thought it was fine then seed blessing should theoretically still be successful.

Closing his eyes, Aldonius begins to softly hum under his breath. The longer he hummed the more the air grew still, the wind ceased to blow, the grass ceased to rustle, and a pool of water grew still. It was as if a void of absolute silence had fallen down to reside upon them. Not even the sounds of the nearby centaur tribe members are heard. It was as if the world stood still.

The voice of the elderly shaman gathers strength and grows louder. Almost singing, Aldonius opens his oak-colored eyes and clearly chants, "The reign of winter ends and another begins. The ruler that is spring brings all that is warmth and light. I call upon the first mother, Gaia, the first mother of life. I call upon the North, the South, the East, and the West! Hearken my cry, be with us this nightfall!"

The air begins to fill with an unseen presence causing the hair on Rowan's neck to stand on edge. It wasn't like the magic of old that was sentient; Rowan was familiar with the feeling having felt it once before. It was something similar and yet completely different. Although if she had to put a name to the magic, it felt, wild and primal, a primordial existence before even man existed. Wild magic to be exact.

It is a magic that modern wizardkind did not practice including those that still practiced the old ways of magic. No, this type of magic had not been used by wizardkind even eons before wizardkind gave up the old ways to use wands. No, this was something that wizardkind did not naturally possess, this was a power that belonged solely to those descended from magical creatures, the living descendants of the Spirits.

Feeling the wild magic gather Aldonius steps forward and delicately places an unlit candle into the earth-filled pot. He presses it firmly down sufficient to be held firm by the dirt, but sufficient for the wax not to damage the seed that is to be placed therein the pot. He makes an indentation with his hand and scoops out the dirt to either side of the small indent,

Once he is satisfied, the elderly shaman carefully reaches into his pouch and removes the carefully folded silk encasing housing the six seeds. With great care, Aldonius delicately uncovers the six seeds and intently studies them. His oak-colored eyes are naturally drawn to one seed above the rest. Trusting in his instincts, he selects the first seed, Dittany.

Bending down, Aldonius carefully places the Dittany seed in the small indent, before gently covering the seed with the dirt that had been previously scooped to the side. Reaching into his pouch with one hand, he blindly reaches inside and selects the crystal that draws him closer. Firmly holding the unseen crystal in hand, he brings it out into the light.

A dark blue colored crystal gleams under the light of the full moon. The crystal appeared as dark as ocean water, a fitting color for a Lapis Lazuli crystal representing water. With a steady hand, Aldonius directly places the dark blue crystal directly over the dirt-covered seed.

With a small grunt, Aldonius straightens up and feels his muscles and knees groan in protest. He was getting much too old for this. However, it was still not his time and would not be for some time. But when his time came he would be ready to journey into the Great Beyond.