Bear School Astartes

In the lair of three ogres, to find a sword of this caliber?

Lann handed Orcrist back to Sorlin across the entire table, disbelief in his eyes.

Are you joking?

The power of the Lady of the Lake’s Sword—Aron Dite has never let Lann down since he obtained it.

Even when it struggled against the New Continent’s monsters, it was merely due to its design, unsuitable for dealing with large-sized creatures.

In that dim and decaying Flame World, there was a giant blacksmith who served the Fire Gods Royal Family since the world’s order began with the First Flame.

Lann saved his life, and thus he wanted to express his gratitude using his craftsmanship.

Back then, the giant blacksmith who had served the Fire Gods for thousands of years assessed the Lady of the Lake’s Sword, saying: the forging method of this weapon is different from his, and the level is not far behind. If he were to reinforce it further, the difference in technique might weaken it, making it not worth the risk.

Later, only a wedge-shaped stone disk was used to reinforce [Muddy Stream·Destruction].

And in this world, Lann subsequently encountered another sword of comparable standard.

The hand-and-a-half sword hanging at Gandalf’s waist.

”This sword is called Glamdring, the [Foe-hammer].”

Elrond held Gandalf’s sheathed longsword leaning on the dining table, and like the previous knife, he drew a small section to ascertain the path of the sword merely by some inscriptions.

”Both of these swords were forged by the high elves of the West during the First Era to fight against the Great Dark Enemy, and they are both from Gondolin.”

”From my lineage.”

”Among them, the [Foe-hammer] was the sword of the King of Gondolin, Turin. Meanwhile, the [Goblin Cleaver] belonged to the Lord of the Spring.”

”Back then, the enemies they slew with these weapons would make us now shiver just at the thought and fill us with fear.”

”When you think about it, that was ten thousand years ago.”

”Apart from those renowned dark servants, these two swords also slew countless Orc Orcs. The magic of the Elf Race on them causes them to emit a blue glow as a warning whenever there are Orcs nearby.”

After recounting the origins of the two swords with sentiment, Elrond placed the longsword back next to Gandalf’s seat without the slightest reluctance, allowing it to lean.

”I hope these two swords will be fully utilized in the hands of both of you.”

However, Elrond’s extensive knowledge and recent evaluation of the two treasured swords piqued Lann’s interest.

”I have a good sword here as well, could you take a look?”

”Hmm, why not?”

Elrond shrugged nonchalantly, setting down the wine glass he had just raised from the table, and took the Lady of the Lake’s Sword Lann handed over, across Gandalf.

”Ah, this sword is truly large.”

Gandalf leaned back as he watched the longsword pass in front of him.

”No, that’s where you’re wrong, Gandalf. It’s not large at all, see.”

Elrond’s face showed an unexpected, surprising expression.

And when he looked toward Lann, he found the expression of the longsword’s owner mirrored his exactly.

The Lady of the Lake’s Sword is a Divine-made Armament, adapting to Lann’s stature and maintaining a good hand-and-a-half sword length for his use.

However, when this hand-and-a-half sword length suitable for a two-and-a-half-meter figure reached Elrond’s hands, it transformed back into a size suitable for Elves.

”I can’t determine the origin of this sword, but it uses Elf magic... a very ancient kind of magic.”

”However, this magic is rarely used by us Elves. The history of this sword likely dates back to before the First Era!”

Elrond was able to let the Lady of the Lake’s Sword transform in his hands, adapting to his form, precisely because of Elf magic.

”I must ask your pardon, Lann. This sword may not be renowned in history. I can only recognize that this sword also employs techniques of the Western high Elves, and yet... what is it called?”

”The Lady of the Lake’s Sword—[Aron Dite].”

Lann took back the longsword handed over by Elrond and answered him.

Elrond furrowed his brow in thought again for a moment, but eventually came up with nothing, and decided to let it go.

”Well, I’m truly at a loss. An Elf living in the lake, perhaps?”

Elrond and a group of tall ones had their high table right next to the two lower tables used by the Dwarves, and there was nothing discrete about the sword appraisal, so everyone heard it clearly.

From the low table, Bilbo Baggins bowed his head, drawing the small shortsword he also acquired from the ogre’s lair.

The other two swords had such great renown, his sword was small, but it was also forged by the Elves! In case...

Beside him was Balin, the oldest among the Dwarves, with hair and beard both white, resembling a short-statured Santa Claus.

”No offense, Master Baggins.”

Balin tilted his head, glancing at Bilbo.

”But a sword is named after the deeds it achieved in battle, you see, the [Foe-hammer], [Goblin Cleaver], and such.”

”Hey, what do you mean?” Bilbo retorted defiantly. ”Are you saying my sword has no deeds?”

”In fact, it’s questionable if it can even be called a sword.” Balin shrugged with a smile. ”It looks more like an Elf Letter Opener.”

”What about Rong Buqiu then!” Bilbo looked at the Elu cat squatting across, slowly licking an Elf cake, and said.

”Rong Buqiu, does your sword have a name?”

”Yes, meow!”

Talking about weapons, Rong Buqiu’s spirits lifted.

It patted the hilt of the sword extending from its back shoulder while introducing its weapon to the Hobbits and Dwarves.

”...In short! The Thunder Cat Sword and Silver Cat Sword, I personally watched them being forged meow!”

As it spoke, it proudly extended its paw to show the paw pads.

”The marks on the sword are molds of my paw meow!”

”That’s normal,” said Balin, being a Dwarf and of course a forging veteran. ”Besides battle achievements, blacksmiths also have the habit of naming their weapons, mainly based on the technique, materials, and so on.”

”But as I said, Master Baggins, you definitely won’t find the forger of this sword, and it still has no name.”

Bilbo Baggins sighed, put away the short sword, and resumed indulging in food and drink.

And the commotion at the lower table couldn’t affect the real business carried out at the high table.

”Did you encounter those three Ogres on the Eastern Great Road?”

Elrond pondered.

”What were you doing on the Eastern Great Road?”

At this, Gandalf pursed his lips, and Sorlin acted even more directly; he lifted his long blade, said ’Excuse me,’ and left the room.

Elrond had seen many worldly storms; Sorlin’s behavior was practically tattooing ’I’m hiding something’ on his face.

But he didn’t directly question, because the more urgent the matter, the less effective direct questioning is, perhaps even receiving false information.

So Elrond, as if turning the page, raised his wine glass, slightly gestured to Lann, and the two of them both took a sip.

Then he casually started commenting, as if bored.

”Thirteen Dwarves and a Hobbit, Gandalf, your choice of companions is really strange.”

”Oh!” Gandalf immediately took the opportunity to change the topic too.

”These Dwarves are descendants of Turin, noble, upright people, well-mannered!”

It sounded like a joke.

Lann held the silver base of the crystal wine glass, sipping while glancing to the side.

Nuo Li was sneaking Elf silverware into his embrace, while Bombo was stuffing whole rolls into his mouth, not caring whether his mouth was full, just cramming them in.

”Moreover, their appreciation for art is rather unusual.”

Gandalf continued boasting, while Elrond and Lann seemingly listened earnestly.

But the Dwarves wouldn’t compromise themselves to cooperate with Gandalf.

The serene, elegant music of the Elves annoyed the Dwarves greatly.

Their art appreciation existed, but it never meshed with the Elves.

Bofur simply stood on the table, kicked out a foot space, and then stood stomping to keep pace, starting to sing.

The singing was free-spirited with a heartwarming folksy vibe.

This excitement got the Dwarves releasing their nature.

They started using the table’s food as props, playing along with the song.

The Elven musicians were completely overpowered and disoriented.

They looked at each other.

But the high table wasn’t influenced by the change of musical mood at the banquet.

An Elf roll flew by Gandalf’s plate and scared the Old Wizard into a twitch.

But Lann took advantage of the chaos, tugging at the hem of Gandalf’s gray robe under the table.

It was a hint, a hint for Gandalf to get down to business.

The Old Wizard immediately adjusted his hair, pulling Elrond’s attention back from the Dwarves.

”Ahem! Speaking of companions, we must talk about this one.”

The Demon Hunter felt uneasy now.

”I was just thinking about asking,” Elrond looked seriously at Gandalf and said.

”In one single day near Rivendell, two Wizards showed up! I hardly think this is trivial.”

”It’s normally difficult to find even one of you.”

”We ran into Radagast not long ago, but he just turned and walked away, perfectly fitting my ’afraid of trouble’ idea of him.”

Gandalf didn’t turn his head but took hold of Lann’s hand on the table and pulled it toward Elrond.

”But his departure doesn’t matter; he was never one to handle things.”

At this point, Lann completely understood.

His bad feeling was already confirmed.

”I can vouch, Elrond. Lann is Radagast’s friend in the Dark Forest, and they are very close. Everything Radagast has seen, Lann has seen too! You can completely regard him as Radagast’s proxy!”

Lann faced Elrond’s gaze with a smile.

But under the table...

”Ow!”

Elrond feigned ignorance and looked at the suddenly exclaiming Old Wizard.

”Hmm? What’s wrong, Gandalf?”

”No, it’s nothing!” Gandalf pursed his lips and waved his hand, ”I just bumped my toe on the table corner.”