The gate leading to the bleachers rose and mom pounced to scoop me from the ground. "My little [Amazon]!" She was trembling.
Behind her, the whole tribe pushed each other to get a vantage point to stare at me. The monster of a horse-man, our Chieftain, pushed the sea of equine people aside to reach me.
"A true [Warrior] of the tribe. None of the trial takers this time took on EIGHT al-Mi'raj. It is a truly impressive feat for this little one, not even a year old to kill as much," he gushed with fatherly pride. Then he spoke to the tribe, "And what ferocity! What fearlessness! At one moment I thought she would bite the monsters back."
The centaurs celebrated with a raucous and boisterous display of tribal unity. A few of the adolescent trial-takers, especially the ones that failed, gave me the stink-eye.
"However!" The chieftain shouted. "The difficulty of this trial was too high! But I am sure Queltphion is wise and fair! He knew our tiny filly was up to the task!"
Talk about veiled threats. For all the sinewy muscle that guy sported on his well-tanned skin, he knew how to toss a veiled threat. The gnolls that messed up with the totem poles flinched and found something else to fix down below. I too wouldn't want to deal with the runaway train of physical punishment an angry centaur chieftain could be. Then just because I mentally praised him, he took me from my mother's arms and tossed me up in the air like a paperweight.
Dammit.
To add insult to injury, I was taken over by the System.
> [Temporary Activation start]
Oh, that's how they'll disguise their boons. As several trial takers undergo this, there shouldn't be much scrutiny to these award ceremonies from the Gods. We didn't even get a full Status sheet. I tried to access my Status but the System was in passive mode. I could only read the messages and peek at my HP because it wasn't full.
> HP 59,678 / 70,412 (53 HP/s)
Those freaking al-Mi'raj and the bruises I picked up from the trial dealt me more than ten thousand HP of damage. Any other level zero would be dead. No wonder why my mother was shrieking like she was possessed. But at least my [Moonbound Regeneration] was doing its job.
> For completing the Trial of the Abode of War, you are rewarded.
>
> You defeated the Trial at the highest difficulty possible.
>
>
>
> For brutally killing all the enemies in your Trial, Rabhorktaar offers you a bounty.
>
> You are granted the Occupational Title [Defender]. This title grants +5 to Endurance and +10 Base HP
>
> Your user privilege level has increased by 1. Your current privilege level is 3. All hidden traits are revealed.
>
> You gained the Perk: Third Profession (ultra-rare): You can have a third Profession.
>
> You gained the Perk: Soul Guide(unique): Souls purified by you can be sent straight to a chosen deity. This grants the divine power inherent to the soul's previous incarnation to the deity.
>
>
>
> Queltphion, god of Soldiers, War, and Balance has noticed your worth.
>
> You gained the Achievement title: [Disciple of War]. This title grants 10 Proficiency with all weapons.
>
> Stolen story; please report.
>
> Your base species received an upgrade.
>
> You have higher quality options for your base Class. Please choose one as your initial Class. After your true activation, you'll select your other paths.
>
>
>
> * Warrior (common): A basic combatant. Has good physical abilities
> * Barbarian (uncommon): A savage combatant. Has excellent physical abilities.
> * Acrobat (uncommon): A combatant that relies on speed and agility.
> * Knight: A valiant combatant and defender that excels at mounted combat.
> * Centaur Barbarian (rare): A savage nomad of the plains. Has superb physical abilities.
> * Savage Striker (rare): A frontline combatant that revels in heavy blows at the expense of defense.
> * Dervish (rare): A fast combatant that delivers dozens of attacks in the time their enemies strike once.
> * Berserker (rare): A combatant that abandons all rationality to deliver powerful attacks.
> * Centaur Knight (very rare): A combatant that uses their unique anatomy to fight as a two-in-one cavalry unit.
> * Wild Warlord (very rare): One that leads barbarians by example, from the frontline.
> * Trapbreaker Bulwark (very rare): A tough warrior that defeats traps by ignoring their effects.
> * Centaur Berserker (ultra rare): A savage avenger of the plains people, they embrace their rage to destroy all in their path.
> * Centaur Paladin (ultra rare): A magical man-at-arms and a knight all in one. They are sworn to protect their tribe.
Well, I knew I liked Attribute Points very much. I made my choice from the [ultra-rare] ones. Anyone knows the saying. When in Rome...
> When you come of age, you'll be known as a [Centaur Berserker].
That promised to be loads of fun.
While that bounty seemed lackluster at a first glance, I really didn't need more power. But now I had to call Rabhorktaar "Santa Claus" because he gave me exactly what I wanted for Christmas. Even though I didn't know I wanted that until I read the Perk description.
> [Temporary Activation end]
It was fun while it lasted. Enantinos caught me back in his giant hands. "See? She is smiling. This is the toughest filly I've ever seen."
Well, it seemed like time to play baby again. I started to cry and call for my mommy. She took me from the chieftain's arms and the big centaur went to have a "friendly talk" with the elderly priestess.
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"What was that? The child almost died!" He shouted with a lot of spittle at the old centauress. If this was an anime, her mane would've fluttered and the flaps of her stola would've flown back, revealing the giant raisins underneath.
Unfazed by the rude display of barbaric intimidation, she answered, "The System itself never believed her to be in trouble. She didn't undergo an [Emergency Activation]."
The chieftain wasn't convinced. "That proves nothing! Nobody knows the criteria for an [Emergency Activation] and many a fool died trying to trigger one themselves!" He roared back.
"I can assure you she never went below sixty percent HP, chieftain Enantinos. Lord Queltphion offered her a challenge worthy of her might. Even the acolytes underneath were acting on the Lord's strict orders."
He grunted. She pushed forward. "Cherish the worthy accomplishments of your warrior, chieftain. Do not decry it as unfair in the home of the God of Balance!"
I wondered what was the relationship between these two. Because they talked more with their body language than their words. And she was the first one to make the chieftain move a hoof backward.
"I understand. We should now proceed to the branding ceremony!" He shouted and the centaurs behind me cheered.
Oops. Branding ceremony? Is this when I get a mark on my flank that shows what I am meant to be? Is there a song?
Just kidding. No other centaur had a mark in their flanks and they wouldn't allow it either. The branding for those that beat the trial was carved in their hooves with divine magic. The priestess came to my rescue.
"Not for her. She earned a title. She will be known as [Disciple of War]."
Enantinos raised a hairy slug of an eyebrow. "A title?" He stared at me. I flinched and hid my face as any child would do. Give me an academy award already! "I don't see any."
"She had to pick the title and you know the supplicants can't adjust their Status. We'll have to wait until the System activates for her."
The old lady nodded then shooed the chieftain. "Now, it is late. Your tribe should return to their camp as your young are all done with their trials. I expect to see you again soon."
It felt more like the monastery didn't want to give the tribe another free meal. But the centaurs were already bothered by being inside walls for a long spell. We left and climbed down the hill, using a side trail that would put us away from the thick of the trading encampment down there. Another tribe, this time of bear-people was climbing up the hill from the other side.
The trials at the Abode of War happened every day. I had to take my hat off for Queltphion. It was quite the scheme to harvest faith from the plains tribes.
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We didn't pack. Of course not, Centaurs carried their personal belongings on their backs. Their human torso's backs, we weren't beasts of burden.
The tribe took off to the southeast. I heard we were going to the Persimmon peninsula, a place where most centaur tribes roamed. The young men were excited about that but I couldn't know why as the youngest ones were separated in a group away from the "adults". That should be enough of a clue as to what was coming up next, but I didn't put two and two together.
Passing the trials and getting the brand on their hooves was a mark of adulthood, even for those that didn't receive access to the System. In the eyes of my people, I would be an adult too at the tender age of nine years if I could receive the damn divine enchantment.
However, my mom was happy I didn't get the brand. Relieved even. I would only understand why a year later. Another bizarre centaur ritual.