Bear School Astartes

”These are my travel companions, Rong Buqiu and Qilin.”

Lann first patted the head of the Elu Cat, then patted the neck of the Qilin, introducing them to Radagast.

”Hello meow!”

”Neigh-neigh!”

Rong Buqiu politely waved its little paw, and the Qilin lowered its head with a gentle neigh.

The scruffy old man looked dazzled by the scene.

He seemed to have completely forgotten that just a minute ago, the group was being chased by vicious giant spiders and vampire bats.

His trembling hands showed his excitement, his face had a satisfied aunt-like smile, and his hands reached out as if wanting to pet, yet hovered indecisively between Rong Buqiu and the Qilin.

”Oh~ beautiful and cute creatures! Oh~”

Radagast looked completely enchanted.

”Look at that perfect bone structure, such noble and imposing steeds! And that nimble little creature, it can talk! Haha! It can talk!”

Confirmed.

Lann pressed his lips together.

When he saw Radagast housing three little birds in his hat, he felt this old man must be akin to a Druid.

The type who is close to nature, close to animals.

Seeing his reaction to Rong Buqiu and the Qilin now directly confirmed this point.

Radagast’s enamored silly grin caused Rong Buqiu and the Qilin to quietly retreat a few paces.

Leaving Lann alone at the front to handle the negotiation.

”Ahem, Radagast?”

After a gentle cough, Lann finally brought the dazed old man who was staring at the Qilin and Rong Buqiu back to reality.

”Mm... Mm? Oh! Looks like you really are people who arrived from afar by accident.”

Once Radagast returned to his senses, although his gaze kept drifting behind Lann, he could at least communicate.

”In Middle-earth Continent, I’ve never seen such elegant and noble steeds, and talking cats! The wonders of the world are truly endless, aren’t they? When I have some free time, I am eager to travel every corner of Ardan, see every creature!”

It was Lann’s first time being outright ignored despite his face being unobscured, a feeling quite novel.

Ardan... from the sound of it, this world has a definite name, so it’s called Ardan?

Mentos, in his mind, was responsible for archiving this new information, while Lann continued to communicate.

”Yeah, we arrived muddled and clueless, completely at a loss.”

The Demon Hunter’s face expressing that helpless yet clueless look was pitch-perfect.

Though Radagast was scruffy, he had a good heart.

He looked at Lann, his elderly face showing a certain understanding and compassion unique to older people seeing younger ones in difficult times.

With the hand not holding the Magic Staff, he patted Lann’s arm.

”You’re indeed unlucky. This is the southern edge of the Dark Forest, where vicious darkness resides. The place we just escaped, there’s an ancient and eerie old castle nearby, from which these evil creatures are gathered by the darkness, breeding and thriving.”

Mentioning the old castle, Radagast’s once scruffy yet carefree face inadvertently revealed signs of terror.

Moreover, the originally gentle breeze in the woods suddenly chilled a bit. It was as if even the surrounding environment changed due to Radagast’s mention of that evil place.

’Darkness’ and ’evil’... these words caught Lann’s attention.

Because back in Tom Bombadil’s home, Old Tom specifically explained to Lann.

The old willow that seemingly wanted to harm them at first meeting wasn’t truly an evil, dark creature, merely an exclusionary wild presence.

But by Lann’s standards, the intent to easily kill passersby should be evil.

Unless in this world, the criteria for ’evil, darkness’ differ from other worlds.

It’s understandable in a world with a Creator God who actively oversees, differing from others is more than normal.

And now, experiencing Radagast just vaguely mentioning a location, even the atmosphere changed slightly.

Lann understood a bit more.

Purely harming people, in this world, doesn’t seem to be defined as ’evil’, since even forest bears and boars can kill people.

The definition of ’evil’ in this world represents something with greater influence and impact depth.

”That old castle...” thinking of this, Lann wanted to test one last time, ”The castle’s name is?”

Radagast, unconsciously revealing more fear in his eyes, nonetheless swallowed his saliva, saying a name.

”Dorguldu.”

As the name came out, the atmosphere became even more tense.

Not only did the breeze grow colder, but even the gloomy forest area they escaped from resounded with ’rustling’ noises anew.

As if the legs of giant spiders were brushing and moving across tree trunks.

This seemed to stir the originally retreating giant spiders into wandering restlessly again.

”So, are you here to curb that evil?”

Lann moved his shoulders; the gust of cold wind had made him feel uncomfortable.

”Curb? Uh...”

Saying this, Radagast scratched his nose, a bit embarrassed.

”My mana can’t achieve that, I can at best... monitor. Yeah, I’m monitoring that old castle.”

”But rather than just surveillance, shouldn’t we go further and eliminate the darkness?”

”Eliminate? Go inside?”

Radagast looked horrified at Lann, who suggested this, and quickly dismissed the idea.

”No, no, no!”

”This isn’t a decision to be made lightly! It mustn’t be rash! What if we awaken the things within...”

The scruffy old man waved his hands repeatedly. As he spoke the final words, he quickly covered his mouth before a certain word slipped out.

Lann noticed his resistance and understood that there must be deeper reasons behind it.

So he wisely chose not to press further.

”I think we should talk about something else.”

Radagast clutched his Magic Staff, rummaged under his tattered brown robe, and finally pulled out a simple yet usable pipe.

He stuffed it with pipeweed, lit it, and puffing as he walked ahead.

He stood on the sleigh again, but now the big rabbits pulling the sleigh slowed down, no longer in emergency motion.

Lann also turned over and sat on the back of the Qilin, walking in sync with him.

His tone and expression switching topics were stiff, clearly not good at interpersonal interactions.

But thanks to Lann’s considerate cooperation, Radagast didn’t realize this.

”You said you entered the Dark Forest by accident, that’s truly unlucky. This forest is filled with Magic, and an average person here would lose their way completely in less than half a minute, their thoughts chaotic, their memory fuzzy.”

”Of course, you and your companions seem quite unusual, but I still suggest you don’t take risks. Magic is not something to be trifled with.”

Radagast looked at the young man sympathetically.

”Do you still remember where you were originally staying or where you want to go? Let me see if I can point you in the right direction.”

”Where I used to live is too far away, and I’m traveling, so I don’t want to go back now.”

Lann spoke steadily.

”But the place I want to go... let’s say I have one. Radagast, have you heard of a female Elf’s name?”

”Female Elf? I don’t know many, but go ahead, let’s hear it.”

Radagast’s tense nerves were soothed by the pipeweed, and he happily exhaled a smoke ring.

”Galadriel, have you heard of her?”

”Cough cough!”

Originally, Radagast wanted to blow a neat line through his previous smoke ring with the next puff.

But as soon as Lann spoke the name, the big puff of white smoke he blew out directly scattered the smoke ring.

Radagast coughed several times before he raised his eyes and gave Lann a strange look.

”You’re looking for... Lady Galadriel? Why are you looking for her?”

”A friend of hers asked me to deliver greetings.” Lann raised an eyebrow. ”But seeing your reaction... it seems her identity isn’t simple?”

Hearing Lann’s reason, Radagast calmed down a bit but still shook his head.

”Then you really are unlucky, Lann.”

”Lady Galadriel resides in Lothlórien Forest most of the time, keeping a low profile. She and her husband are the rulers of that forest. Though that forest isn’t far from Dark Forest, it’s hard to navigate.”

The scruffy old man briefly described the geographical location to Lann.

They are currently in the Dark Forest, a long strip of forest stretching north to south, closely adjacent to the similarly north-south stretching Mist Mountains, and they are near the southern end.

Lothlórien Forest is not far from the southwestern corner of the Dark Forest.

In theory, as long as there are no accidents and you have good endurance, you could get there in less than a month.

But ’no accidents’ is unlikely.

Because the castle shrouded in darkness, attracting evil, that Radagast was so secretive about—Dorguldu, just happens to be nestled in the southwestern corner of the Dark Forest.

”Trust me, child.”

The scruffy old man smoked his pipe, speaking in a low yet earnest voice.

”Anyone trying to pass close to that castle or even merely near it is definitely courting death or madness.”

And if you want to take a detour, you’d have to go straight west out of the Dark Forest, then continue west, crossing the Mist Mountains, and then turn south to reach Lothlórien Forest.

In this scenario, even three months of travel is considered going smoothly.

Lann felt a bit numb.

And at this moment, Radagast was still dealing blows.

”And I apologize, child. I’m also unlikely to lead you all the way out of the Dark Forest myself, as I have serious business here and cannot leave easily.”

The scruffy old man looked at Lann with eyes full of apology.

Lann pinched his brow and sighed.

”No need for that face, Radagast. You didn’t have any obligation to help me, and I’m very grateful for the information and advice you have provided.”

The seven or eight large rabbits easily pulling the sleigh made Radagast, on hearing Lann say this, appear even more embarrassed.

Good people are always like this.

He scratched the corner of his mouth with the mouthpiece of his pipe and then had a thought.

”However, as for the Magic covering the forest... hmm, it’s not impossible!”