Bonfire and Dance Steps

As Sylutia and her companions approached the square, the immense bonfire stretched their shadows across the ground. Even from more than ten meters away, its crimson glow made her feel its surging heat.

Around the square, several drummers beat on animal-hide drums. They were very old, with deep-set eyes and wrinkled skin bathed in the firelight, yet at that moment they seemed to possess a certain indescribable presence.

An ancient song rang out beside the bonfire. Whenever the drums beat, the people circling the fire lifted their feet and stamped them down. At times, they turned the circle clockwise; at others, they turned it counterclockwise. The circle formed by their crossed arms also expanded and contracted.

The song and the dance, the drumbeats and the flames, came together in a wondrous harmony, stirring something from a distant age. It was as if their ancestors, people from several eras past, had gathered around bonfires in just this way, humming songs to celebrate harvests and peace, and drive away the cold and fear of the night.

Without realizing it, the three of them set down their fish and stood outside the circle of fire, entranced.

At some point, someone came over and took Sylutia and her companions by the hand, leading them into the dance around the bonfire. Only then did the three realize that quite a few other students had joined in, and that Scholar Heide was across the fire, waving and nodding to them to reassure them.

The flames swelled with the drumbeats, and sparks drifted up into the night sky. The surging heat spread, bathing everyone gathered around the bonfire.

The chill inside them was dispelled, and their weary bodies brimmed with energy once more. Even the old injuries they had accumulated over the years grew warm and slowly healed without their noticing.

No one taught them what to do. They simply relaxed, followed the arms linked with theirs, and stepped to the rhythm until their movements gradually fell into sync.

Another chorus of humming rose. The melody was simple, like the rhythm of their own pulses and the natural unfolding of instinct.

Grains of ripe wheat were scattered into the bonfire. Sparks spread through the air, joining together into flames that leapt skyward and brought another wave of heat.

Drawn in by the bonfire and the dance, Sylutia gradually lost herself in the moment, joining everyone in composing this ancient, enduring song. Only when her legs had grown weak did the dance around the bonfire finally begin to wind down.

[Ancient Ritual: Bonfire and Dance Steps](Beast Fang · Blood Law · Blazing Sun)

"In the Seventh Era, King of Ancient Barbarism Mureto led the Ancestors across the Star-Bound Wilderness. After nearly twelve years on the road and countless hardships, they reached Midsummer Land and established humanity's first home there. To commemorate that long expedition and the peaceful harvest that followed, people danced around bonfires and listened to the elders hum the ancient Song of the Ancestors."

-Requirements: Though this ritual is lenient in its requirements, it still calls for three basic elements: rhythmic animal-hide drums (Beast Fang), people dancing in a circle (Blood Law), and a great blazing bonfire (Blazing Sun). If you know the legendary story of King of Ancient Barbarism Mureto's twelve-year journey, the closer the arrangements match the tale, the more powerful the ritual's effects.

-Record: Once the ritual begins, it naturally adjusts the pulse rhythms of those circling the bonfire until they gradually fall into sync. When the drumbeats, dance steps, and flames achieve a harmonious rhythm, the ritual takes effect. Because this legend originated with King of Ancient Barbarism Mureto, nonhuman races cannot participate, or they will disrupt the ritual. The drums must be made from animal hide, or they will also disrupt the ritual. During Rising Wind Season, bonfires naturally carry a faint Aspect Power of "Blazing Sun," so no additional preparations are needed. In other seasons, an item imbued with the Aspect Power of "Blazing Sun" is required to adjust the fire.

-Effect: Dispels the cold and fear of the night, harmonizes pulse rhythms, and soothes old injuries. (Can suppress the corrosive effects of the Aspect Powers of "Winter Slumber" and "Nightmare," calm the mind, and ease old injuries.)

That night, after the dance around the bonfire ended, the students and local villagers enjoyed the feast that had been prepared. There was meat roasted over the fire, freshly baked stuffed pastries, and a little ale.

Even Iona, who was usually the least sociable of them all, sat and ate with everyone that night. After the gathering ended, they all returned to their lodgings, drowsy but relaxed, and went to bed.

After an exceptionally good night's sleep, everyone woke the next day refreshed, feeling better than they ever had before.

Was this the power of a ritual? It was so wondrous that words could not explain it.

When Sylutia woke that morning, she recalled the previous night and still found it hard to believe.

After a simple breakfast of barley porridge, Scholar Heide led the students to a grove of Chinese tallow trees not far from the village.

As they strolled beneath the trees, whose branches were laden with tiny, pale-yellow blossoms, they caught a faint floral fragrance. Sparse fallen leaves and shrubs dotted the forest floor.

They passed through the grove and reached a clearing in the forest. There, Scholar Heide had everyone sit on the ground and began today's lesson.

"Listen to the birdsong and feel the stillness of nature." He raised a hand first, asking everyone to quiet their minds for a moment.

Only then did the erudite scholar slowly begin to describe what had happened the previous night.

"Last night, you all took part in a rare bonfire gathering. I imagine many of you noticed something about it. The gathering was more than just its infectious warmth and delicious food." He spoke slowly.

"Perhaps you have heard tales of ancient times, or stories passed down through the world, in one way or another."

"Many of these tales are not fiction, but true history. Some legends are even a form of power in themselves, and as more people learn of them—and as their influence grows greater and more far-reaching—their effects become more pronounced."

"A 'ritual' is the reenactment of a legend."

"Once you understand that, you have taken your first step toward mastering the various 'rituals.' Learning how to reenact a legend, however, is a far more advanced and complex art."

"Unlike the abilities practiced by Transcendents, the effects of a 'ritual' do not depend on one's own 'Aspect Power rank.' They depend on how completely the ritual is carried out and how closely it matches the legend."

"This means that even an ordinary person can bring about powerful effects and change the course of events through a 'ritual,' so long as they reenact a legend perfectly."

"What you experienced last night was the ancient ritual 'Bonfire and Dance Steps,' passed down from the Seventh Era. It recounts the deeds of King of Ancient Barbarism Mureto. Similar rituals include 'Red Pear Melody,' 'Rainbow Fish Fossil,' and 'End of Scars,' among others."

"These rituals are still too profound and difficult for you to understand, and they involve many legends and historical events. Today, you need only learn the ancient ritual 'Bonfire and Dance Steps.'"

"If any of you, like me, are especially drawn to the truths and legends buried in history, and wish to spend your lives studying these arts and spreading knowledge, then in the future you may go to Candle Keep and seek the path of the 'Secret Speech' Aspect Power."

Never before had the students listened to Scholar Heide's lessons with such rapt attention. The legends he recounted set their imaginations alight, making their hearts yearn for distant lands and times.

Aspect Power [Secret Speech]: (History lies within proverbs; the past forges the future.)