Bear School Astartes

He seemed to be shouting something aloud, but even with Lann the Demon Hunter’s hearing, the distance and the openness of the terrain made it impossible to understand what the scruffy old wizard was saying.

Not even a simple magic to amplify or transmit sound... Lann internally criticized again how this Wizard was doing his job.

Then, under the watchful eyes of the elves and Lann, Radagast turned around and boarded his rabbit sleigh, running off into the distance.

”Uh, he’s...”

Lann pointed dumbfoundedly at the departing rabbit sleigh, a bit at a loss for words.

It was Elrond, standing beside him, who very considerately spoke to him.

”I think he just left you here, Lann. Radagast is always reclusive and unpredictable.”

Lann understood the situation quite well.

He was originally going to leave the Dark Forest himself, and now that Radagast had conveniently brought him out while delivering the message, it was considered done.

The Demon Hunter nodded, accepting this explanation.

But immediately afterward...

”Well, now you can come with me to Rivendell.”

”Hmm?”

The Demon Hunter turned to look at Elrond with puzzlement, but his face showed no special expression.

Elrond spoke as if it was only natural.

”Radagast seldom leaves the Dark Forest, but his appearance in the outside world this time gives me a bad feeling.”

”Aren’t you his agent? In any case, please come to Rivendell and tell me what is going on. We will take care of you completely.”

Lann felt that Elrond had misunderstood the nature of his and Radagast’s relationship, thinking they were closer than they actually were.

They had only known each other for less than a month, just a few weeks.

But clearly, Elrond now had a sense of foreboding due to Radagast’s appearance, eagerly wanting to know more.

Radagast slipped back to enjoy leisure with his animal friends, but Lann was dragged along by Elrond.

Lann’s nature was such that he couldn’t bear to refuse a friendly gesture.

Elrond’s approach was tactful, well-intentioned, and courteous, leaving the Demon Hunter no room to refuse.

Moreover, Lann was actually quite interested in the elves of this world, and after all, the person he was looking for was also an elf.

Perhaps getting to know Elrond wouldn’t be a bad thing?

After making his decision, the Demon Hunter didn’t linger any longer.

He mounted the Qilin in one swift motion, during which the Magic Rune Cloth on the Qilin was slightly lifted by his actions.

The elves seemed to share Radagast’s appreciation of the Ancient Dragon’s form and the beauty and power within it.

The Elf Knights were full of praise for the Qilin’s figure, even singing hymns in admiration on their way back.

-----------------

The elves’ talent for poetry seemed like a gift from the heavens.

They could effortlessly craft a piece of beautiful melody, and their voices were pure and clear, captivating enough even when singing without accompaniment.

At least for the Qilin, although due to Lann not translating, it didn’t fully understand, it oddly knew it was a poem praising itself, rocking its head in enjoyment and joy.

Additionally, Rong Buqiu also received its own poem.

The little cat was evidently very popular, especially after the elves discovered it could speak.

The elves sang as they galloped their horses, elegant and poised, showing no trace of the savageness that had vanquished dozens of Warg Riders just half an hour before.

Lann simply followed Elrond through this hilly terrain, turning left and right, seemingly without pattern or path.

Yet a peculiar feeling involuntarily surged within him, as if he had suddenly entered another realm from a mundane world, leaving Lann a bit confused.

”Yadanisil, did you feel it?”

Elrond, smiling in the saddle, asked.

”Seems you have keen senses and extraordinary talent!”

Yadanisil, as the Demon Hunter had learned in previous conversations, was the elves’ name for him, meaning ’One Like the Elves.’

It was a word in the elvish language, and when the elves first saw Lann’s face, they thought he must have been from some ancient and noble elven family, only later realizing he was human.

And in the epic ’Nan Yi Xi’en Hulin,’ a tragic human hero from the First Era who fought against the Great Dark Enemy Morgoth, Turing Turumba, also bore this title.

”What is this?”

Lann asked in confusion, and Elrond offered a generous explanation.

”It’s an invisible and formless yet immensely powerful magic, used to protect a place.”

”A place?”

”Yes, a place.” Elrond effortlessly controlled his horse, bringing it to a halt, ”And this place is now right before us!”

Turning a corner of a suddenly appearing hillside, the view broadened!

This was a tranquil and absolutely beautiful valley, with waterfalls cascading from the mountains into the city within the valley.

The sunlight was always gentle and warm, shining on the city’s buildings and the vast woods within the valley.

The magic indeed protected this city, as Lann felt even the breeze and the air were relaxing.

Even the cliffs at the back of the city did not seem intimidating or dangerous in this atmosphere, instead providing a sense of guarded security.

”Imladi River Valley.”

Elrond, controlling his horse to the side, introduced with a smile to Lann.

”Or in the more commonly used term among people, Rivendell (Valley).”

”Welcome, Lann, Qilin, and Rong Buqiu.”

”Meow~”

Not only was Lann slightly stunned by the bright and warm scene before him, the Three-Floral Elu Cat also straightened up on the saddle to look forward, tail raised high.

Following the Elf Knights, Lann stepped onto a small stone bridge leading into this valley city.

The crisp sound of horse hooves echoed on the stones.

But as they walked on, Lann heard shouts from the front of the line.

”Prepare for battle!”

”Circle together! Tighten formation! Scramble with the elves!”

The voices were chaotic and gruff; they were the dwarves.

It seemed that the fully armed elf cavalry made them nervous.

At the end of the little stone bridge was a platform, just enough for Elrond’s knights to circle the dwarves.

As Elrond and Lann finally appeared, the tense atmosphere between the elves and dwarves suddenly dissipated.

”Aha!”

The dwarves saw Lann and waved excitedly!

”The big guy is still alive! Not a scratch on him! Incredible!”

”Well done!”

Elrond turned around on his horse, somewhat surprised, to look at the Demon Hunter.

”Yadanisil, it seems you have a reputation among the stubborn dwarves?”

”We just fought side by side, just now.”

Lann nodded, responding with neither pride nor humility.

Meanwhile, in the crowd, Gandalf raised an eyebrow slightly, watching Lann and Elrond talk.

After getting the answer from Lann’s mouth, Elrond shook the cloak covering the horse’s rear and greeted Gandalf, dismounting.

”Mistlandir.”

Elrond called warmly.

Considering his own treatment, Lann felt this must be the name the elves gave Gandalf in Elvish.

”What wind has blown you here?”

Elrond handed the riding whip to a handsome elf in casual dress, and asked Gandalf.

That elf seemed to be Elrond’s steward.

”I came to find you, Elrond.”

”Find me?”

Facing Elrond’s surprise, Gandalf responded first.

”Why did you take a group of knights out?”

Elrond raised his hand, holding a beastman’s weapon, rough and twisted but deadly.

”We are controlling the beastman numbers in the nearby area. For some reason, they have increased during this time and are getting bolder. Today, they even dared to operate near Rivendell.”

”They must be viciously pursuing someone or something.”

”Aha, that would be us.”

Gandalf spoke bluntly and took the opportunity to introduce the dwarves to Elrond.

Elrond immediately recognized the leader of the group.

”Sorlin Oak Shield?” He looked down at the dwarf, ”Son of Serafine, grandson of Thror?”

Sorlin’s response was stiff, as if the elf in front of him filled him with hostility.

”We should never have met.”

”Indeed, but I met your grandfather during his reign over the Lonely Mountain as King Under the Mountain. You have his demeanor.”

”Sadly, he never mentioned you. Not once.”

When one side is filled with rejection, no amount of conversational skill can save the atmosphere.

Elrond’s kind and handsome face opened his mouth, but in the end, he could only look at Sorlin, helplessly speaking to the steward behind him.

”Lindir, light the fire and pour the wine. We must entertain guests from afar.”

Having said that, Elrond took the lead toward the valley city.

Gandalf, familiar with the situation, led the dwarves after him.

Lann was warmly surrounded by the dwarves, several strong hands patting him all over.

The dwarves’ enthusiasm was direct and unapologetic.

”Oh my, Turin above! How did you train these muscles? They’re solid enough to hurt our palms when we slap them!”

”Armor! Look at the armor! This iron is really nice!”

”It’s all superficial! It’s still him being impressive to face so many wargs and beastmen! Right?”

Lann didn’t dislike the dwarves, but such enthusiasm made his mouth twitch.

Rong Buqiu felt the same.

The little cat was pulled off Lann, several dwarves circled it. Until they discovered it was unharmed, they showered it with praise and congratulations.

”The little cat’s a champ too!”

”Meowow?”

Rong Buqiu was startled by the dwarves’ enthusiasm, its big watery eyes bewildered as it quickly jumped over a line of dwarves’ heads to perch on Lann’s shoulder.

The dwarves below weren’t annoyed, but rather burst into hearty laughter.

And Lann, at that moment, bent down to whisper with Gandalf.

”Elrond seems to have mistaken me for Radagast’s messenger or agent or something.”

”I couldn’t clarify at the time, but Gandalf, later at dinner could you...?”

Gandalf puffed on his pipe, hearing this first pondered briefly, then nodded up and down with lips pursed, eyes closed.

His face said ’No need to say more, leave it to me’.

Yet for some reason, Lann did not feel reassured seeing Gandalf’s expression.