Chapter 263 - Lighting up (1/2)

The snow on the ground began to melt quickly, and some places were no longer covered by the white snow.

In the Flaming Horns tribe, everyone was happy. Some were pleased by their success of planting the seeds, and some were glad because they found their lifelong partners. More importantly, they were looking forward to the forthcoming ritual ceremony.

Strength and sense of belonging were what the wanderers had been eager for.

For wanderers, becoming totem warriors had just been a distant dream, but now their dream was going to come true.

In the early morning, the warriors of the Flaming Horns tribe went to draw totem patterns on the faces of the wanderers who would become members of the tribe. This was a necessary part of the ceremony. Even those who would not awaken or who were the wanderers of other tribes had to be painted with the totem patterns on their faces. The latter would also be considered as the members of the tribe, for they were the relatives of tribe members.

Only those who attended the ritual ceremony became the members of the Flaming Horns tribe. Those who were not from the Flaming Horns tribe could not awaken, but could gain some strength from the fire seed. Even though they would not be as strong as the totem warriors, they could at least get stronger. That was still better.

It was the first time for the wanderers in taking part in such a ceremony. They were so excited that they wanted to touch the paintings on their faces. But they didn’t dare to do so, for fear that they would ruin them. It seemed that the paintings were a living creature.

Everyone had spent the whole winter preparing for the ceremony. Even when it was the coldest, they were not willing to wear animal skin coats, in order to preserve their coats. The ritual coats were also very important, which could show their good manner.

Shao Xuan was asked to go out in the early morning. This year he was told many details about the ceremony, like the ritual dancers, by the Shaman and the chief. In this way, they could make sure that everything would go on well.

When the Shaman came out, he glanced at Shao Xuan a few times. Though he did not show his emotions on the face, he felt disappointed.

It hadn’t changed. The ball on the bone ornament was as dim as before.

As Shao Xuan looked at the Shaman, he knew what he was thinking. He felt helpless, for he had no way to make it light up. Maybe it was because the first shaman looked down on him. After all, according to the records about the elders in the animal skin rolls, an elder must be at least as old as Ta, on the contrast, he was too young.

It was twilight.

All the people of the Flaming Horns tribe, including the original members, the wanderers and the relatives of wanderers, were brought to the place where the ceremony would be held. People who may awaken were also brought around the fire pit. There were a large number of people and they surrounded the fire pit in several circles. The youngest were the closest to the fire pit. The younger you were, the closer you got to it. Of course, those who made a significant contribution to the tribe, like those good at planting, raising animals and making pottery, could make a step forward to move closer to the fire pit.

Many people were aware that the closer they got to the fire pit, the more power they may get. However, no one opposed this arrangement. Even though some disliked it, they had to follow it.

Last time they had lit the fire seed, and today, it was the first ritual ceremony.

In the fire pit, a flame the size of a palm rose immediately. The first Flame of the three Flames of the fire pit, Soaring Flame, appeared.

As the Soaring Flame appeared, the totem also appeared!

With the appearance of the totem, the totem patterns also appeared on each totem warrior’s body. They were devoutly looking at the fire pit.

Flames were rising above the fire pit, higher than usual. It seemed that they would cover everything around. The two-horns totem was even much bigger than usual. Everything in the surrounding area looked as red as fire.

The Shaman was standing near the fire pit. He raised his arms, faced the fire pit, and read the spell which no one understood but felt excited about. As the Shaman was saying the spell, the tribal music resounded, which was created by bones, stones, and animal skin drums. The rhythm was fast and sometimes slow. The ritual dancers wearing horns began to dance to the music around the fire pit.

The second Flame, Flying Flame. Much denser than previous years. Part of the flames spread out of the fire pit, and extended in the air. They didn’t land. Six hot lines extended from the fire pit.

Shao Xuan concentrated on dancing, but suddenly he felt something strange. The totem in his mind was moving very violently, and the “shell” which wrapped the totem up became bright.

This was unusual.