Amergin was approaching the forest, where darkness lingered. The man looked at the top of the trees and a happy smile spread across his face. Carl thought it was the smile of someone meeting a lost friend, a beloved familiar.

“Let’s sit here for a while.” Said the druid. “I need to talk to you about a special matter.”

Carl obeyed, and they sat on a fallen log from which they brushed off the snow.

“I told you I am a druid.” Said Amergin. “Druids are not made, but born, Carl. You were born with special characteristics, abilities that not everyone has. You are one, Carl, you are a druid.”

“Me? A druid?” Carl exclaimed, pointing to his chest. “You joke!”

“No, I don’t.” Replied Amergin, smiling at Carl’s expression. “You are meant to become a druid, a High Priest, the most powerful in all the worlds. But you need to be willing, so I ask again. Are you willing?”

“Yes! Yes, I accept. I accept the training. I want to become a druid, and a High Priest!” Replied the young man, with an eagerness that belied his fears.

“Then you will be tried and accepted.” He added silently. “Or not.”

“Follow me, Carl.” He continued in a loud voice.

Amergin went deeper into the woods, Carl following the druid. Farther and deeper they walked, the ground becoming steeper, climbing a low hill. Soon they came to a dark opening.

“Wait here.” Said Amergin and fearlessly walked inside the cave.

Carl had waited for some minutes when a deafening roar came from the opening; he shook in his boots. He had heard a sound like that before, the roar of an angry bear.

“Amergin!” He whispered, ready to run away.

He heard the roar again, and the voice of Amergin saying something incomprehensible. Carl waited, berating himself for his cowardice, for not surging to his friend’s help. Then he saw the man coming unscathed out of the cave. Something followed him, though, something taller than Amergin; a big figure walking in two legs. A huge white bear walked after the druid, not threatening, never attacking.

Amergin approached Carl, who trembled with fear, and watched the bear as it came. The beast stood before Carl, and Amergin spoke again in that incomprehensible language. The beast roared again, with such intensity that snow fell from the trees, and Carl felt the ground shake. The huge maw glittered with saliva, the fangs dripping, the tongue almost purple. Carl knew it was strong and big enough to crack his head, and shuddered.

“Behold the Great Bear, who guards the Wheel of Life. He will judge you, testing your will and your faculties, do not fear. Bare your chest to him and be brave!” Explained Amergin, and stepped back, leaving Carl alone before the huge beast.

The bear came nearer and Carl could smell it, the wet earth, the dampness in the animal’s fur, the rotten fish miasma from the animal’s paws and mouth. He felt its heat, so near was the animal. Then, it lowered its head, coming nose to nose with Carl and looked into Carl’s eyes for a long time, then, it retreated a step and stood tall, powerful, towering over the young man. It growled again and, with a blow of its mighty claws, ripped open the young man’s chest. The claws dug deep and Carl felt the terrible pain as they scratched his bared bones. The blood surged like a fountain and fell to the snow-covered ground.

The pain was unendurable, and though the young man wanted to face his killer with courage, his strength ebbed and he fell to the ground.

When he woke up, the bear was gone and Amergin knelt by his side. Carl lay far from the cave opening, his head in the druid’s hands.

“Are you well?” Asked the druid.

“Where’s the bear? Did it leave? Why did you bring me here? Did you want me dead?” And again, the question. “Are you crazy?”

“The bear is gone, Carl.” Replied Amergin. “I had to bring you to be tested by the Great Bear. He has found you acceptable; if not, you would be dead.”

“But it, he, ripped my chest open!” Cried Carl, looking down at where he thought his bare ribs would show. His chest was healed, though five parallel wounds marked where the bear had clawed him.

“I am healed? How? How many days…?” He asked, sitting up, and touching his chest in awe.

“Only some minutes have passed since the bear struck, dear friend. I healed you.” Replied Amergin.

Only now did Carl realize the druid’s face was covered in sweat, and that his hands trembled.

“I was almost sure you were the one.” Said Amergin, understanding Carl’s look. “Still, I trembled for the result if I weren’t. Thank the Goddess I was right.”

He shook, perhaps under the memory of past pains, and continued.

“You must never let anyone see these marks.” Said Amergin, helping Carl to his feet and putting the shirt, sweater and coat back together over the naked chest. “Never!”

“But why? Why have you done this?” Exclaimed Carl, still looking at his chest in awe.

“The Goddess has marked you as one of hers; now you can be trained to become the greatest druid ever. You will receive a new name when the time comes, for now, remain Carl.” Amergin became silent.

They walked back the way they had come, Carl glancing sideways at his strange companion. The man must possess incredible knowledge, or magic, to cure his terrible wound in matter of minutes.

They walked farther and were almost out of the forest when Carl spoke again.

“Can’t you tell me what you hide in there?” He said, pointing to a small bag.

Amergin saw a fallen log, and to this he directed his steps. Carl followed.

They sat, and opening the strange bag, Amergin brought out a red stone, as big as a robin’s egg. It shone with inner light. Amergin placed it in his palm and showed it to Carl.

“It’s a ruby!” He cried. “A huge ruby, maybe worth thousands!”

“This stone is worth much more than a precious gem, dear friend, not a ruby but your own blood.”

“My blood! But that’s a stone!”

“By the magic of the Great Bear, and by my powers, it is now a stone, your stone. I will tell you later, perhaps months later, how it will serve you and the world.