Cornflower Witch

Chapter 35 Songs and Dances by the Fire
As Hilti and her companions approached the plaza, the massive bonfire stretched their shadows across the ground, and even from a distance of more than ten meters, the crimson flames still radiated intense heat to her.

Around the square, several drummers were playing animal skin drums. They were quite old, and their deep-set eyes and wrinkled skin, bathed in the firelight, gave them a strange and evocative quality.

Ancient songs rang out around the campfire, and whenever the drumbeats struck, the people surrounding the campfire would lift their feet and stomp down, sometimes turning the circle clockwise and sometimes counterclockwise, and the circle formed by their crossed arms would sometimes expand and sometimes shrink.

The songs and dances, the drumbeats and the flames, resonated in a wonderful harmony, bringing a sense of timelessness, as if their ancestors, people from countless ages ago, had gathered around the campfire to sing, celebrating the harvest and peace, and dispelling the chill and fear of the night.

And so, without realizing it, the three of them put down the fish and stood outside the circle of the campfire, immersed in its warmth.

Before they knew it, someone came over, took the hands of Hilti and the others, and led them to join the dance around the campfire. Only then did the three of them realize that there were already quite a few other students participating. Scholar Hyde was also on the other side of the campfire, waving and nodding to the three of them to reassure them.

The firelight expanded with the beat of the drums, and the scattered sparks drifted into the night sky. The surging heat spread, bathing everyone gathered around the campfire.

The chill in my body was dispelled, and my tired body was full of energy again. The old wounds accumulated in the past also felt warm and slowly healed without me even noticing.

Without any instruction, I simply relaxed my body and followed the arms that were being held by those around me, and my body moved in rhythm with the steps, gradually becoming synchronized.

Another chorus of humming followed, the melody simple, like the natural expansion of one's own pulse and instincts.

The harvested wheat grains were scattered into the campfire, and sparks spread out, eventually forming a towering flame that brought a new wave of heat.

Inspired by the bonfire and the dance steps, Hilti gradually became immersed in it, composing this ancient and timeless melody with everyone until her legs were sore and weak, at which point the dance by the bonfire gradually came to an end.

[Ancient Ritual, Bonfire and Dance] (Beast Fang, Blood Law, Blazing Sun)
'In the Seventh Age, the barbarian king Muretor led his people across the vast wilderness of the stars, a journey of nearly twelve years, enduring countless hardships, to reach the Land of Midsummer, where they established humanity's first home. To commemorate that long expedition and the peaceful harvest, people danced around the campfire, listening to the elders hum the ancient songs of their forefathers.'
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Conditions: Although the requirements for this ritual are lenient, it still requires the three most basic elements: the synchronized beat of animal skin drums (animal teeth), the crowd surrounding the dance steps (blood rhythm), and the burning grand bonfire (blazing sun). If you are familiar with the legendary journey of the ancient king 'Muretor' over twelve years, the more synchronized the various arrangements are with the legend of that time, the stronger the ritual effect will be.
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Summary: After the ritual is performed, it will spontaneously adjust itself, gradually synchronizing the pulses of those surrounding the bonfire. When the drumbeats, dance steps, and flames achieve a harmonious rhythm, the ritual will take effect. Because this legend comes from the ancient king 'Muretor,' non-human races are not allowed to participate, otherwise the ritual will be disrupted. The drum must be made of animal hide, otherwise the ritual will also be disrupted. During the Ascending Wind season, the bonfire will naturally carry a slight 'blazing sun' quality, requiring no additional setup. In other wind seasons, items with the 'blazing sun' quality are needed to adjust it.
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Effects: Dispels the chill and fear of the night, harmonizes the pulse, and soothes old wounds. (Can suppress the corrosive influence of the 'Hibernation' and 'Nightmare' aspects, calm the mind, and alleviate old injuries.)

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At night, after the dance around the campfire, the students enjoyed a meal prepared by the local villagers, including pieces of meat roasted over the campfire, freshly made bread and pies, and a small amount of ale.

Even Iona, who was usually the least sociable, sat down and ate with everyone that night. After the party ended, everyone, feeling sleepy but relaxed, returned to their respective residences to rest.

After a very good night's sleep, everyone woke up the next day feeling refreshed and in better condition than ever before.

Is this the power of ritual, so magical and inexplicable?

When she woke up in the morning, Hiltia recalled the events of the previous night and still found them somewhat unbelievable.

In the early morning, after a simple meal of wheat porridge, Maester Hyde led his students to a grove of goldenrain trees not far from the village. Strolling under the trees with their delicate, pale yellow blossoms, the group smelled a faint fragrance of flowers and trees, and the ground in the grove was covered with sparse fallen leaves and shrubs.

After passing through the woods, they arrived at a clearing in the forest. There, the Hyde students had everyone sit down on the ground and began to teach the day's lesson.

"Listen to the birdsong and feel the tranquility of nature." He first raised his hand, asking everyone to calm down for a moment.

Only then did the learned scholar slowly recount the events of the previous night.

“Last night, you all experienced a rare bonfire party. I think many of you should have noticed something: this party was more than just the overflowing enthusiasm and delicious food,” he said slowly.

"Perhaps you have heard of those ancient legends, stories that have been passed down around the world, and so on, through various means."

"Many of these legends are not fictions, but real historical events. In fact, the legends themselves are a kind of power, and this power becomes more and more significant as more and more people become aware of them and as they bring about a huge and far-reaching impact."

"The so-called 'ritual' is the reproduction of the legend."

"When you understand this sentence, you will have entered the field of mastering various 'rituals', but how to reproduce legends is a more profound and complex skill."

“Unlike the abilities cultivated by extraordinary individuals, the effects of ‘rituals’ do not depend on one’s own ‘sexual phase level,’ but rather on the degree of completion of the ritual and its conformity with the legend.”

"This means that even an ordinary person, as long as he perfectly recreates a certain legend and completes the 'ritual,' can use the 'ritual' to bring about huge effects and change the situation."

“What you experienced last night was the ancient ritual ‘Bonfire and Dance’ passed down from the Seventh Age. It is a summary of the deeds of the ancient king Muretor. Similar rituals include ‘Red Pear Fruit Music’, ‘Fish Rainbow Fossil’, and ‘The End of the Scar’, etc.”

“These rituals are too profound and difficult for you to understand at present, and they involve many legends and histories. Today, you only need to learn the ancient ritual of ‘bonfire and dance’.”

"If any of you are like me, yearning for the truth and legends of history, and dedicating your lives to studying these arts and spreading knowledge, then you may go to 'Candle Castle' to seek the path of the 'Secret Words' nature."

Never before had a lecture by Maestro Hyde been so captivating for the students. The legends he recounted sparked a myriad of thoughts and longings in the students.

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[Secret Words]: (History is hidden in proverbs; the past shapes the future)
(End of this chapter)