In between practice, Ryan asks Betty why she offered to teach him these things. This can't be blamed for Lane being suspicious, after seeing the level of general blockade of knowledge in the wizarding world, Lane simply doesn't believe that there is a free lunch.

After hearing Ryan's question, Betty said solemnly: "Because we need more comrades-in-arms, follow me and you'll know why." ”

After saying that, Betty led Ryan to the bottom of a giant tree and waved her hand, and the giant tree stretched out a branch to form a circular platform. Two people walked onto the platform, and the platform slowly rose to the top of the tree.

After reaching the top of the tree, Betty pointed in one direction and said, "Since this place is called Emerald Dream, then there are bad nightmares." And we, the centaur tribe, live in the Forbidden Forest, and we have a very important mission to eliminate the existence of nightmares. ”

Ryan looked at the place Betty was pointing and saw that the woods in that place were very different from the rest. The woods elsewhere are verdant and full of life. And that woods was dark and dead.

"That's?" Ryan asked, pointing to the unusual woodland.

"This story has to start from the beginning, from the society of our horse people. Betty began to tell the story of the Forest of Death.

"We centaurs are the only intelligent creatures that live in this forbidden forest, and since ancient times, we have maintained the natural balance of the forest in which we live. The male centaurs of the tribe are often hunter-gatherers or outings, and you humans can only see them. But in fact, the centaurs are matrilineal, and the female centaurs generally do not leave the village, and they are responsible for the safety and health of the centaurs. At the same time, because the male centaurs sometimes exhibit certain unreliable behaviors, the leader of the tribe is a woman. ”

"Most importantly, unlike the Centaurs who are good at divination and combat, the women are good at communicating with nature, and are more skilled than the Centaurs in natural magic and the means of communicating Emerald dreams. ”

Seeing Ryan's eyes full of doubt. Betty pauses empathetically and asks, "Pony, is there anything you don't understand about the question?"

"It may be presumptuous, but the most I read in my textbooks says that you centaurs are good at healing magic, archery, astronomy, and divination. Never said you were good at anything else. ”

"Huh. Betty flicked her tail disdainfully and said, "Most wizards look at other creatures as if they were blind, and they are never willing to explore the truth of the matter. As far as I know, you also have a ridiculous centaur liaison office in your Ministry of Magic. But since its establishment, no centaur has ever been. ”

After taunting the stupid Ministry of Magic, Betty continued, "We used to live quietly in this forest, and there were no major problems for hundreds of years, but something big happened nearly forty years ago. ”

"What's the big deal? I just know that this time is also the dark period for us human wizards, does it matter?" asked Ryan curiously.

"Probably there is, because it's a dark creature that is causing trouble: the eight-eyed spider. They are reproducing very quickly here. You know, they have no natural predators in this wood, which causes their numbers to begin to grow exponentially. This was followed by devastating damage to the local ecological fabric. ”

Speaking of which, Betty began to unconsciously plow the ground, looking angry. "At the beginning, our parents found traces of the eight-eyed giant spider, but there was only one at the time, so everyone didn't take it seriously. But then I don't know why another one came, and it was paired with the original one. When we found out, there were too many of them to wipe them all out. ”

Betty became more and more angry, but when she realized that Ryan was by her side, she slowly restrained her temper and calmed down, "You know, even though the centaurs in the Hogwarts Forbidden Forest are the largest group in the whole of Britain, there are only about sixty of us. It's simply impossible to cope with hundreds of giant spiders. So we can only choose to limit the range of the spider and shoot all the spiders that are out of range.

But even so, the circle is getting bigger and bigger. At the same time, the dark aura of their bodies and the devastating hunt killed that piece of nature, projecting it into the Emerald Dream, the dead silent forest you see. ”

"Why don't you tell Headmaster Dumbledore, I think Mr. Headmaster should be able to solve this problem. Ryan said with some puzzlement.

"It's a matter of natural balance, a matter for us centaurs or people like you who are approved of the Emerald Dream, and shouldn't bother other wizards to interfere. Not to mention the agreement we signed with the wizards back then, the castle and grounds belong to the school, and the Forbidden Forest belongs to us. Neither side should meddle in what is happening in the other's territory. ”

Well, this kind of political issue is really not good to continue to discuss. However, hearing Betty say that it was the eight-eyed giant spider that caused trouble in the Forbidden Forest, Ryan suddenly felt that today was his lucky day, and he hurriedly said to Betty:

"I'm going to make some kind of magic item right now, but I don't have the materials. So when I think about it, only the eight-eyed giant spider in the Forbidden Forest can provide the materials. What I thought at the time was that they were the only ones who weren't native protists. Killing them will not upset the local balance. ”

"Oh, really? As far as I know, you humans tend to have the most powerful motivation driven by profit, so you mean you're going to join the war to clear the eight-eyed giant spider that is destroying the ecological balance of the Forbidden Forest, right? Betty said with a happy look.

"Yes, ma'am. Ryan nodded in affirmation, and Betty added, "But as a second-year wizard, I'm curious what cards you have to take out those pesky eight-eyed spiders." After all, I also know what level you human wizards are generally at your age. I don't think that average can be of any use in this conflict. ”

"Hmm......" Ryan thought for a moment and decided to show some hole cards to guarantee cooperation.

"The last time you saw me summon some magical plants, I actually could summon far more than you saw last time. Give me some time, and I can even put together an army of plants, and there are no major problems other than not being able to move. ”

Betty nodded when she heard this, "When we first met, those plants of yours gave me a very dangerous feeling. I believe that they should be combative. ”

Seeing that Ryan's face was a little hesitant, Betty said, "I know that your ability may cause others to be jealous, but in the Forbidden Forest, whether it is us centaurs or the unicorns who have come to help this time, they are different from humans. We will never snoop on everything of our allies, and we will not be jealous of our allies because they are strong. We can naturally swear that whatever we see, we will not reveal it to the outside world, nor will we spy on your stuff. ”

As soon as Betty finished speaking, Ryan felt that this oath was closely related to the Emerald Dream, and he could feel that if he broke this oath, he would be naturally repulsed.

Ryan felt embarrassed: "Ma'am, this is ......"

Betty was very relaxed: "As our first human ally in fifty years, this is the only way to reassure everyone." Besides, isn't it all as long as you don't break your oath?"

Ryan was very touched in his heart, and he felt that the biggest gain from coming to the Forbidden Forest this time was the friendship of a centaur friend.