A lean-faced, deep-eyed, blue-robed old man appeared on the water's surface, full of vicissitudes and wisdom, with a gray goatee.
This was Róstámo, one of the two Blue Wizards.
Like Gandalf, Saruman, and other wizards, Róstámo wasn't his real na but a title aning "Eastern Savior," given by those he had rescued in the east.
The other Blue Wizard, Morinehtar, ant "Darkness-slayer."
Both Blue Wizards were Maiar who had served Oromë the Hunter among the Valar. When the call ca to aid Middle-earth against Sauron's growing shadow, Morinehtar answered first—much like Saruman had done—but he would not go alone. He convinced his close friend Róstámo to join him on this perilous mission.
Upon reaching Middle-earth, the two wizards turned their steps eastward, following the ancient paths where their master Oromë had once hunted in the Elder Days. There, in lands far from western eyes, they worked tirelessly among scattered human tribes—helping those who had cast off the dark worship of Morgoth and stirring rebellion against Sauron's spreading influence.
Dorwinion leader Barg showed reverence, respectfully reporting yesterday's battle at Easterling City to the Blue Wizard Róstámo in the water mirror.
"Róstámo, we were saved by another wizard and weren't killed by the Nazgûl and fell beast. He wishes to visit you. Will you see him?"
"A wizard?" Róstámo raised an eyebrow curiously. "What kind of wizard?"
"He calls himself Albus Dumbledore and says he cos from the west," Barg said.
Hearing Barg ntion the false na, Kael winced inwardly and stepped closer to the stone basin where Róstámo's image flickered in the water. There's no point in maintaining this charade with a fellow wizard.
"Greetings, Wizard Róstámo. Forgive the deception, but my true na is Kael." As he spoke, he let the disguise fall away—wrinkles smoothing, his hunched back straightening, and gray hair darkening to its natural color. "I co seeking you on the counsel of Gandalf the Grey and Radagast the Brown."
Beside him, Dorwinion leader Barg stared in shock at Kael transforming from an old man to a tall young man, mouth agape.
The Blue Wizard Róstámo in the water mirror also showed surprise at this scene.
Then he smiled warmly and greeted him friendly. "So you're the Black-Robed Wizard Kael! I didn't expect you to be so young. Though I'm in the east, I've heard of your deeds in the west. Compared to you, we idle folk are sowhat ashad."
"Wizard Róstámo, you're too modest!" Kael waved his hand. "Without you and Wizard Morinehtar constraining Sauron's eastern actions and limiting his power, the west would have long fallen under his dark rule."
After lengthy pleasantries and exchanging information about east and west, Róstámo asked. "Wizard Kael, you've traveled thousands of miles to find . Is there so important matter?"
Kael took the opportunity to inquire. "Wizard Róstámo, having been in the east for so long, do you know the location of Hildórien, the birthplace of n?"
Hearing Kael's question, surprise flashed in Róstámo's eyes. "You seek Hildórien?"
Kael nodded.
"There's a substance I need to find in Hildórien. But with the passage of ti, that place is unknown to all. However, I thought that you and Wizard Morinehtar have traveled throughout the east, your footsteps covering every inch of eastern land. Perhaps you know that forgotten birthplace of humanity?"
Facing Kael's sowhat anxious, expectant gaze, Róstámo smiled cheerfully. "Others might not know of Hildórien, but Morinehtar and I indeed know of it."
"When we first ca to the east, we sought a temporary dwelling place, so we searched the east for many years and eventually discovered Hildórien by accident. It's in the Far East, surrounded by the Mountains of the Wind on the west side and bordered by the Eastern Sea on the east."
Speaking of this, Róstámo showed a reminiscent expression.
"It's a hidden valley called the Vale of Sleep, shrouded by sacred power. Its sanctity and beauty rival the Blessed Realm. The soil and streams there are full of life. Morinehtar and I lingered there for a long ti. If not for our mission and responsibilities, we would have wanted to retire there!"
Hearing that Róstámo had been to Hildórien, Kael's spirits imdiately lifted.
After traveling the east for so long, he had finally found definite news of Hildórien.
Róstámo seed to know Kael's eager mood and shook his head, dampening his hopes.
"Hildórien is shrouded by sacred power. Without specific conditions, even with an exact map, one cannot see it, much less find it."
"Specific conditions?" Kael quickly asked. "What kind of conditions are needed?"
Róstámo didn't hide anything. "Humans awakened on the first day of the first year of the First Age, when sunlight first fell upon Middle-earth. So Hildórien only appears when illuminated by the first ray of sunlight on New Year's Day. Only then can one enter the Vale of Sleep."
"This year's New Year has long passed. If you want to enter Hildórien, you'll need to wait until next year."
Good things co to those who wait. Hearing this, Kael wasn't too disappointed, and with most of this year already past, he didn't mind waiting a bit longer.
"If Wizard Kael is willing to wait, after I finish matters here, I can help you create a route map to Hildórien," Róstámo added.
Kael was delighted. This was exactly what he hoped for.
"That would be most helpful, Wizard Róstámo!"
But seeing the Blue Wizard's sowhat requesting expression, Kael proactively asked. "Is there sothing you need to do, Wizard Róstámo? Please don't be polite."
Since the other party had helped him, he naturally wanted to reciprocate.
Róstámo's expression relaxed slightly, but he sighed with so gravity. "It's about Morinehtar. He seems to have encountered trouble in southern Harad."
Kael was stunned and more puzzled. "Has he run into so difficulty?"
Róstámo shook his head without elaborating. "I can't be certain about this matter yet, and it can't be explained in a few words. Let co et you in person to discuss it."
Kael was full of questions, but seeing the other party wouldn't say more, he didn't press.
The two soon ended their conversation and agreed to et at the Dorwinion tribe.
So for the following days, Kael stayed within Dorwinion territory.
After more than half a month, a wizard in deep blue robes appeared at the Dorwinion tribe, riding a tall wild bull.
The arrival was indeed Róstámo.
His appearance caused cheers among the Dorwinions, with everyone looking at him reverently as their savior.
Róstámo greeted everyone with kindly benevolence, even rembering each person's na, then his gaze fell directly on Kael from afar, nodding with a smile.
Róstámo rode his bull to Kael, then nimbly dismounted, smiling as he said.
"Wizard Kael, this is our first formal eting. When news of you ca from the west, I was very curious about you. Seeing you today, you're indeed extraordinary!"
eting a Blue Wizard in person for the first ti, Kael was also surprised by Róstámo.
Unlike wizards such as Gandalf and Saruman, besides the mysterious aura unique to wizards, Róstámo also had a wild, untad quality, more like a battle-hardened old hunter.
But part of Kael's attention was on the wild bull behind Róstámo.
The bull looked extraordinary, massive in size, larger than ordinary cattle, with shimring pale white fur that reflected dazzling halos in sunlight.
Especially those two huge snow-white horns gave a sacred, majestic feeling.
"Wizard Róstámo, is this your mount? It looks truly beautiful!" Kael praised.
Hearing this, Róstámo's smile deepened as he patted the bull. "This is Norimor, an Araw ox, descended from the cattle of Oromë the Hunter. I found him as a newborn on hills by the Sea of Rhûn and have raised him ever since."
The bull responded with an intelligent-sounding moo.
Kael understood. As a Maiar servant of Oromë the Hunter, choosing a descendant of Oromë's cattle as a mount wasn't strange.
But this Oromë the Hunter certainly had many pets. Besides Huan the Hound, there was Nahar, the ancestor of the aras horse breed, and Oromë's cattle. Each was a divine beast.
Among them, Huan the Hound could kill Morgoth's werewolves Draugluin and Carcharoth. The divine horse Nahar's descendants could travel a thousand miles in a day.
What abilities might this descendant of Oromë's cattle possess?
"Moo?" The bull sensed Kael's gaze and looked at him with puzzlent.
Seeing this, Kael couldn't help smiling, clearing his distracting thoughts before conversing with Róstámo.
"This is the route map I've drawn to Hildórien. I hope it helps you," Róstámo said, handing Kael a parchnt.
Kael took the parchnt and opened it to see the depicted route, imdiately showing joy.
"Thank you, Wizard Róstámo. You've been a great help!"
With this route map, he could accurately find Hildórien and enter the Vale of Sleep on New Year's morning to collect the final ingredient needed for the Philosopher's Stone, the "Salt of the Body."
Reciprocating the favor, he asked Róstámo. "Wizard Róstámo, you ntioned earlier that Wizard Morinehtar encountered trouble. What's the problem? What can I do to help?"
Róstámo sighed with worry.
"When Morinehtar and I ca to the east, we initially worked together. But because Sauron's power and influence in the east were too great to contain his actions, we had to separate. I handled affairs in Easterling territories while Morinehtar went to the southern Khand and Harad regions. We used to correspond regularly, but recently Morinehtar suddenly went silent. I have a bad feeling and worry sothing has happened to him."
Hearing this, Kael frowned. "What do you plan to do?"
"I originally planned to rescue Morinehtar alone, but I sense this journey would be dangerous. One wrong step could an eternal doom. Until I t you, I sensed a turning point," Róstámo said.
"So I want to invite you to go south with to rescue Morinehtar together."
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