Calanthir's heart raced as he asked, "it is my duty?" His tone revealing his underlying anxiety.

The tree's response was hesitant, and Calanthir's apprehension only grew. "It is," the spirit finally answered, "but we have not told you before now because we believed you were not ready."

Calanthir couldn't help but feel a twinge of annoyance at the tree's admission. Why had they kept something so important from him? However, he knew that the spirit had only wanted to protect him from harm. Despite his uncertainty, Calanthir realized he had no choice. "Should I go then? Will I be able to push it back?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

The spirit's response was not reassuring. "Perhaps...it would be better to wait. You have grown much, but this might be too big a challenge to overcome for you."

Calanthir deliberated for a long time before coming to a decision. The memory of what he had felt inside the stag made his blood boil, and he knew he couldn't allow such a thing to spread into his home. "I will go," he said resolutely.

"We thought you would say that. Wait one week, Calanthir. We had hoped to wait until you were older, but it seems we cannot delay any longer," the tree replied.

Calanthir was uncertain of what the tree meant and asked for clarification.

"It will be a ritual, Calanthir. One that will help you grow, not in stature, but in spirit. If you wish to go, it must be done, but be warned, it will be dangerous for you to undergo."

Despite the danger, Calanthir was determined to do whatever it takes to protect his home. "I will do it. Tell me what to do," he declared.

Two days later, Calanthir sat in a circle of flat stones as Ortak appeared at his side. "You ready?" Ortak asked, and Calanthir nodded. Ortak began the ritual, placing a hand on one of the stones. Light spread from the stone to the next, and one by one, the stones began to glow until they sat in a circle of gentle light. The ritual had begun.

The energy in the circle pulsed and crackled, drawing closer and closer until it invaded his body. The sensation was odd, like something creeping into his mind and rearranging his thoughts. Then, without warning, came the pain. It seared through his body, contorting him in agony. He tried to scream, but no sound escaped his lips. Everything went dark.

Lost in the darkness, he felt a sense of suffocation, as if the void was pressing down on him. But then, a spark of life caught his attention. It flickered like a tiny flame in the distance, and he felt himself drawn to it.

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He approached it with caution, like approaching a wild animal. The light was barely visible, but he could sense its presence. He reached out with trembling fingers and made contact. Suddenly, his head exploded with a burst of lights, like an electrical storm inside his skull. His senses expanded, and he felt the world around him in a way he never had before.

The old tree at the center of the circle was alive with energy, pulsing with power. He could feel its connection to the trees around it, how information flowed from one to the other. It was all too much to take in, overwhelming him with a flood of sensations.

As he grasped onto the connections, they took hold of him, engulfing him in a sea of sensations. He was no longer just an individual, but part of a greater whole. It was a dizzying experience, as he struggled to maintain his sense of self amid the overwhelming flood of information.

However, he soon realized that not all parts of himself were necessary to this new existence. Lingering beneath the surface were emotions from his past past life, like a stubborn disease. He could feel the darkness within him, the pain and sorrow that were intertwined with memories of his lost love, Beatrice.

The connections tugged at him, urging him to make a decision. He knew that if he didn't, he would lose himself entirely. So he focused on the essential parts of who he was, and let go of the others.

The first to go was the sorrow, the years of darkness that had held him captive for far too long. He didn't need to dwell on that pain anymore. The sense of loss was the next to be released, for Beatrice had moved on, and he needed to do the same. Finally, the pain that had haunted him for so long was cast away, freeing him from its torment.

It was a painful process, but he emerged on the other side feeling lighter, freer. He was no longer held captive by the weight of his past, and was ready to embrace the new world he had become a part of.

The strain lessened but it was not gone, and he still felt himself slowly being torn apart. His love for her was the last remaining part of his old life, but he refused to let it go. It was an essential part of who he was, and he would not give it up.

As he focused on that love, his determination grew stronger, burning like a fiery sun inside him. He refused to let go, and steeled himself against the pull of the darkness.

Slowly but surely, he felt his sense of self solidify, and the strain began to ebb. With one final shout of defiance, he was whole again, cleansed of the darkness that had been eating away at him for so long. For the first time in a very long time, he was at peace.

His senses expanded, and he marveled at the world around him. The old tree was alive with energy, and he could see the connections between all the trees around it.

He smiled, feeling a sense of wonder and gratitude. The darkness had been purged from him, and he felt alive again. He knew that his love for Beatrice would always be a part of him, but it would no longer hold him back. He was free to move forward, to explore this new world with fresh eyes and an open heart.