Beryn Fin

The time between childhood and adulthood is the most defining for the growing elf . This time is called the beryn fin, the time of discoveries. The adolescent is exposed to changing emotions, increasingly waiting for the Ephiphany, the moment of realization, the mystical event that makes him an adult. Contrary to many assumptions, elven children and teenagers grow up almost as fast as humans. The main difference is that puberty starts at around the same time and ends at around the age of 25.
During the beryn fin the young elf is encouraged to explore and get to know himself and all the boundaries he wants to set himself, and especially his sexuality. While other peoples may find the elves' sexual practices even shocking, for the elves sex is just a shared, wonderful experience. Experimenting with one or more partners is not much different for them than trying the juice of different berries to find out which tastes the best for them. There are no embarrassments or jealousies through these games; An elf may have enjoyed a large part of his elven congregation in the past and yet can face them all or each one without shame or discomfort - the pleasant memory of them is scarcely more valued than perhaps a meal taken or a meal taken together Day spent together with the exploration of the environment. Along with this exploration of one's own body, the adolescent elf is expected to gradually take on the tasks of the community, learn to fight, especially with the bow, and contribute to food procurement, and so on.
Both the development of the individual and the development of duties to the community are less important to the elves than the spiritual development, the search for their God . Elves see no boundary between the everyday world and the world of their gods . In the past, Corellon Larethian and his people have visited the elves many times and even assisted them in wars. Although he usually resides in the distant world of Arvandor , where the elves' dead go, he still guides every elf to their true selves , according to the beliefs of the elves, and gives them clues and help in search of them. As he grows up, the young elf awaits the epiphany, the one moment when all his senses are addressed by his God , and he becomes fully aware of the presence of his God . An elf tells this moment, this experience to no one else, not even to his partner or children, so it's very difficult to say something about it. It is often portrayed by bards as appearing to Corellon with a luminous aura before the adolescent, but it has been proven that an elf has found his god in a special pattern that sheds light on a leaf in the forest. An elf therefore spends the years of beryn fin in spiritual preparation for this moment. A few do not enjoy the revelation of their God . These so-called malawain ("non-awakened") often become bitter, vicious; and subsequently excluded and expelled from the Elven community.