Ceremony

Two months had passed since the incident with the leprechauns. Today, the dense forest stirred with the soft rustle of leaves as dawn approached. In the heart of the woodland, a cozy den nestled beneath the sheltering boughs of an ancient oak tree.

Inside a large, dark cave, a mother bear, with fur the color of dusk, lay nestled with her four cubs, each as playful and curious as the next. Another presence in the den stirred with the first light of day. Wrapped snugly in a patchwork quilt made of moss and leaves, a human child slept soundly, cradled in the warmth of the mother bear's embrace.

As the sun cast its golden rays through the canopy above, the mother bear stirred, her gentle rumble waking her cubs one by one. They tumbled out of the den with sleepy yawns and playful nips, eager to explore the world. But the human child remained nestled against the mother bear's side, her small form rising and falling with each steady breath. Today was a special day of awakening and naming for the bear children.

"Mama, are we going to take him?" a cub asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Yes, he is also part of our group, so we will be taking him with us," the mother bear replied, a warm smile spreading across her face.

"Yay!" all the cubs shouted together.

Most magical creatures born in the forest are named after the god of nature herself. This event is carried out by the people or magical beasts who serve under the god. The given name is said to provide a life’s purpose, the will to fight under any circumstances. It resonates with purpose, destiny, and the eternal dance of the seasons. This naming ritual is not a mere formality but a pact between the creature and the divine. For within that name lies the seed of courage, the sapling of resilience, and the ancient roots that anchor them to their purpose.

Outside the den, the forest seemed to hold its breath in anticipation. Birds chirped softly from their perches, and a gentle breeze whispered through the leaves. It was time.

With her five cubs, Gracillia, the mother bear, exited the den and moved toward the center of the forest. Today, the climate felt different. The sun shone brighter than ever, and even the plants and beasts seemed more vibrant. In this forest, the rule was simple: the strong survive, and the weak perish.

Soon, they arrived at the center of a large tree. Its branches covered almost 100 kilometers of land, wrapped in wild vines. All the branches' vines emerged from a single place, forming an entrance. It was like an invitation to the space within.

Gracillia and the children entered the vine-covered door, greeted by a wall of fog. Suddenly, a flicker of light appeared, leading them to the ceremony’s location.

As the fog cleared, the child sitting on the bear began moving his hand, trying to speak at the sight of the scene before him. All the young animals were present, but the most striking feature was a statue of a goddess behind the crowd on an altar. She held weapons in her hands, and her stone eyes were closed, giving her a peaceful expression that depicted the stability of the forest.

In front of him stood a great lion with two legs standing, and red hair with black fur.

“Children of the forest,” the lion began, his voice resonating through the ancient oaks, “we gather beneath the boughs of this venerable oak, where roots intertwine with memory. Today, we stand at the threshold of destiny—a moment that echoes across time.”

He paused, allowing the weight of his words to settle. The air shimmered with anticipation.

“Naming is no mere formality,” the lion continued. “It is the heartbeat of our existence—the rhythm that binds us to the land, the seasons, and each other. When we name a creature, we invoke the very essence of creation. We breathe life into syllables, and those syllables become roots that anchor us to purpose.”

As he finished speaking, he moved near the tree and closed his eyes. Suddenly, large vines broke near the trees, forming glowing flowers and building a platform over which glowing letters emerged.

A bear cub moved near the tree platform. A name appeared, written in an unreadable language:

ɒʞɒʜT - Thaka

ȶʀʊȶɦɛʀ - Truther

- Cani

ꫝꫀ᥇ꪖ - Theba

Now it was the human baby's turn, but before Gracillia could take him near the platform, many voices emerged.

"Should it be all right to include a human in our ceremony?" many beasts asked, raising their voices at the sight of the human child.

"If that is what the goddess of nature wants, then we have no say in that," the lion replied, signaling Gracillia to bring the boy near the platform, which glowed.

"ᗩᏒᎥᏁ - ARIN"

Seeing the name, the lion said, "Your name shall be a bridge—a thread woven between worlds. Protect both beasts and humans alike. For within your name lies courage, resilience, and the promise of eternity."

"From today, your name shall be Arin, who has the strength of a mountain," the lion declared.

Gracillia then placed her paw on Arin's head, which glowed as she said, "This is my gift to you, my child, the blessing of bears and knowledge of the beast language."

As the ceremony ended, every beast slowly started to leave. The forest gradually returned to its usual rhythm, with creatures dispersing back into the forest. Some time later, Gracillia stood in front of a beast that hissed menacingly.

"Why are you here?" Gracillia asked, her expression angry.

"I have taken quite a liking to your children, especially that human. So if you do not mind, I would like to have my meal," the beast hissed, its gaze fixed on Arin.

Gracillia stood firm, her eyes narrowing "He is under my protection." she growled, her protective instincts flaring.

The beast recoiled slightly, sensing the aura of Gracillia. "We shall see," it hissed

............

{A/N: Don't forget to join the discord server for the images of the characters. Now we will upload daily. }