Goblin forging craft?
Kael stared at the system notification for a mont, then examined it more closely. His eyes lit with delight.
In the wizarding world, goblins were a highly intelligent magical race with a distinct culture, famous for their cunning and shrewdness as operators of the magical banks. But they were also the most skilled artisans, capable of creating objects of imnse magical power. Their craftsmanship far surpassed that of wizards.
The Sword of Gryffindor, for instance, was goblin-forged, granting it the ability to absorb beneficial magical substances like basilisk venom, which gave it the power to destroy Horcruxes.
Goblin smiths were to the wizarding world what Elven and Dwarven craftsn were to Middle-earth.
More importantly, goblin-forged weapons possessed a unique advantage over those of Elves and Dwarves: growth potential. Over ti, their creations absorbed various magical substances and beca ever stronger. They did not easily grow brittle or weaken.
If Kael could master goblin forging, he would beco a third type of master craftsman, alongside Elves and Dwarves.
Where Dwarven craft emphasized "eternal durability" and Elven work focused on "magical resonance," goblin craft specialized in "potential for growth."
Who wouldn't want their weapon to grow alongside them and beco ever mightier?
Even better, this reward not only granted Kael goblin forging knowledge but also heightened his sensitivity to tal and magic. Holding a piece of mithril, he could feel its magical potential and understand exactly how to unlock its full power.
With this magical sensitivity, he could even sense the magic contained within enchanted objects.
Such an enormous gain thrilled him.
He climbed onto Smaug's back and patted the dragon's neck. "Let's go. Back to Hogwarts Castle!"
He was already eager to study goblin crafting techniques.
The dragon spread mighty wings and soared skyward toward Weathertop.
In Hogsade that day, the air was clear and bright. The settlent had grown into a sizable town with tens of thousands of people, almost a city, sprawling from the lakeshore to the East-West Road.
Endless fields of grain and vegetables covered the surrounding land. Within the town, people bustled with energy and broad smiles.
They ca from all over Eriador. So traveled from the far north, drawn by Weathertop's reputation. rchants, travelers, adventurers, and bards all stopped there.
Bards stood by the Black Lake, gazing up at the castle atop Weathertop and the iconic Gold and Silver Trees, praising them in song.
rchants traded wares with locals and earned fine profits, as the untaxed residents bought whatever they needed.
This prosperity attracted investors. Even Barliman Butterbur, Bree's innkeeper, had opened a branch in Hogsade for his son to run.
Since Bree ca under Kael's rule, the towns were more closely tied. Citizens mingled and even intermarried, proudly calling themselves Kael's people.
With Hogsade's developnt, Bree had not fallen behind either. Now that the ancient barrow's dark power had been drained when Kael bred the basilisk there, the wights no longer threatened travelers. Bree traded freely with the Shire, Buckland, and beyond.
Quite a few hobbits could be seen in Bree now, working at inns, selling Shire produce, tobacco, or ale. Most were the adventurous sort, Tooks or Brandybucks.
On this day, Hogsade was as lively as ever.
A painter, after studying Hogwarts Castle from afar, prepared to capture the scene on canvas to take ho.
Just then, the clear sky darkened.
Looking up, the painter saw a gigantic shadow approach.
"Dragon!" His face went white, hands shaking, brush falling, and voice trembling with terror. "A dragon! It's a dragon!"
Others looked up as well.
Outsiders, seeing the dragon for the first ti, instinctively grew uneasy and sought shelter.
But the locals cheered and waved instead. "Lord Kael has co ho!"
Everyone knew that a month before, their lord had flown off on the dragon for business. Seeing Smaug return ant Kael was back.
The people here were not frightened by the dragon. They were proud of it, for it was their lord's mount, their symbol of strength.
Outsiders, witnessing the celebration, stood speechless. They had heard the castle's master owned a dragon, but seeing it with their own eyes, the vast cloud-darkening shape with its aura of ancient power, was overwhelming.
High above, Kael noticed the cheers below and smiled. Coming ho to such a welco was a wonderful feeling.
Smaug, catching the mood, roared in response and swept toward the castle atop Weathertop.
Landing on the grand lawn, Kael was soon t by steward Edward, who hurried over with a bow and beaming face. "Welco ho, my lord!"
Kael waved. "No need for ceremony, Edward. Anything happen in my absence?"
"All is well, my lord," Edward answered respectfully. "Mayor Luke and Mayor Tenderlarch report regularly, but there have been no major issues."
"Good," Kael nodded.
When Edward left, Kael, at Smaug's urging, descended into the vaults.
Eyeing the space, he muttered, "I will have to expand this again. Otherwise, there won't be room for all this treasure."
Casting another Extension Charm, he doubled the vault's capacity.
Then, under Smaug's impatient gaze, he emptied out his half-share of Moria's treasure.
A river of gold, gems, and jewels tumbled forth, covering the floor and piling ever higher.
Smaug purred with pleasure at the musical chi of gold and rolled in his hoard with abandon.
Kael skirted the dragon's antics. "These treasures are useless for anything but wallowing in. What was Morgoth thinking, making dragons so obsessed with gold?"
Moria's riches rivaled the Lonely Mountain's. His windfall far surpassed his old tenth-share from Erebor.
With this wealth, Smaug could finally bury himself entirely in gold and jewels.
But it wasn't enough. Smaug's eyes glead. "Master, bring out the mithril! I know the dwarves gave you mithril. I can sll it!"
Mithril was far more precious than gold. Smaug wasn't about to miss out.
Kael rolled his eyes. "Are you part bloodhound?"
Still, he brought out the mithril treasures and ores Balin had given him.
Smaug's eyes brightened. The dragon swept them to his side with his tail, far more interested than before. He looked at Kael expectantly for more.
This ti, Kael pushed the dragon's nosy head away. "Forget it. The rest is mine, and I won't give it all to you."
Smaug, seeing he couldn't get more, grumbled and buried his head among the hoard, falling instantly asleep.
Kael ignored him and left the vault.
He returned the basilisk Herpo to the Chamber of Secrets. After the battles with the Balrog, the serpent needed recovery, but the chamber's giant spiders would provide plenty of food.
Finally, only the petrified Watcher in the Water remained.
Basilisk petrification could not be broken by normal magic. Only Mandrake-based potions could restore it.
Kael left it in the space box for now, intending to deal with it after brewing the required restoration draught.
He then moved to his laboratory and took out the Balrog's corpse.
However scorched, twisted, and sulfur-reeking it was, the body of a Maia, even a fallen one, was an invaluable object of study.
At its chest, Kael found red crystal shards, remnants from when Aeglos had struck the Balrog's heart.
He gathered every fragnt and sealed them in crystal vials for future research.
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