Faced with Thorin's offer to trade for the Black Arrow, Bard was sowhat tempted.
Legend had it that the treasure in the Lonely Mountain was piled as high as a mountain itself. Even the dragon had been drawn by its allure.
If he could obtain one-fourteenth of the treasure, not only would his own life change dramatically, but he could also help the impoverished residents of Lake-town. It might not even be impossible to rebuild Dale and restore the glory of his ancestors.
But after careful consideration, Bard still shook his head.
"I cannot risk the lives of the people of Lake-town. If the dragon is not killed, the entire town will suffer its retaliation. Everyone will be devoured by the dragon's flas!"
"Not to ntion, the dragon has already awakened."
Being refused, Thorin's face grew even uglier. His gaze lingered on the Black Arrow for a mont before he snorted coldly, turned, and sat back in his original spot, his face grim as he contemplated sothing unknown.
The atmosphere in the room turned cold once more.
Gandalf looked at Thorin with a worried expression.
anwhile, Kael was imrsed in the system check-in.
Hogwarts Check-in System: Location detected - Lake-town. Check in?
"Check in."
Check-in successful. Congratulations on obtaining the Transfiguration notes of the Transfiguration Master—Minerva McGonagall!
Looking at the thick notebook that appeared before him, Kael's eyes shone.
Professor McGonagall's notebook? What an unexpected surprise!
Kael imdiately began to flip through it eagerly, quickly becoming absorbed by its contents. As a master of Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall's notebook not only detailed various transformation spells, including many spells for changing objects into other objects, objects into animals, and animals into other animals, but it also included human transfiguration techniques like the Animagus transformation.
It even contained spell-casting thods and techniques for transforming elents like water, fire, and earth. For example, one could condense flas into a giant python or a fire dragon, or animate statues to help in battle.
It could be said that this notebook was a comprehensive magnum opus on Transfiguration.
Kael treasured Professor McGonagall's notebook. Especially since, as an Animagus with a tabby cat form, Professor McGonagall's notebook detailed the various situations one might encounter during the Animagus transformation process and how to deal with them.
This was extrely instructive and valuable for Kael, who was currently practicing the Animagus transformation. Right now, he was holding a Mandrake leaf under his tongue, just waiting for the next full moon to arrive so he could take it out and proceed to the next step.
And that ti was fast approaching.
But before that, Kael decided to use this ti to make a flying broomstick.
So, over the next few days, the conflict between Gandalf and Thorin remained unresolved.
Gandalf tried to persuade Thorin to give up on going to the Lonely Mountain. But Thorin stubbornly insisted on continuing, determined to get the Arkenstone no matter the cost.
To this end, he made a deal with the Master of Lake-town, hoping to get so weapons from the town's armory to arm his company of dwarves. He even still coveted the Black Arrow in Bard's house, which could pierce dragon scales, trying several tis through threats and promises to obtain it.
The Master of Lake-town was a greedy and blind man. Upon learning of the treasure in the Lonely Mountain, he imdiately agreed to provide the dwarves with weapons, giving no thought to the threat of the dragon.
In his view, it was just an investnt of so weapons gathering dust in the armory. It wasn't his own money anyway.
If it failed, so be it. But if it succeeded, he would gain endless wealth. It was a no-cost venture, a huge potential profit. For this, the Master even wanted to hold a grand farewell ceremony for the dwarves to send off the dwarven heroes.
Gandalf was worried about this but was powerless to stop it. As for Kael, he paid no mind to the outside world, staying single-mindedly at Bard's house, spending all day polishing and carving the willow heartwood with a sharp dagger.
"Kael, the situation has deviated from my original plan. I am truly very worried."
One day, Gandalf found Kael, his face full of worry.
"It's not just the problem of the dragon, but also Thorin. The dragon-sickness inherited in their family bloodline... the closer he gets to the treasure of the Lonely Mountain, the more obvious his madness becos. I worry that when Thorin cos into contact with that treasure, before the dragon's fire can consu him, he himself will be consud by that mad disease!"
Faced with the worried Gandalf, Kael felt both admiration and helplessness. He admitted he couldn't be as selfless as Gandalf, even returning kindness for malice.
After all, during these days, Gandalf had genuinely been considering Thorin and the others' well-being, tirelessly trying to persuade them to give up on going to the Lonely Mountain and waking the already-aroused dragon.
But in the stubborn Thorin's view, Gandalf's persuasion was ill-intentioned, and he had even beco an enemy hindering the reclamation of his holand. So he had directly pushed Gandalf aside and chosen to cooperate with the Master of the town.
If Kael were Gandalf, he wouldn't bother trying to persuade such a person. He would just let him bring about his own destruction.
"If it really cos to it, Gandalf, you could just knock him out and let him out after Durin's Day has passed," Kael suggested. "Or if you don't want to do it, I can help. One spell and he'll be quiet."
Hearing Kael's words, Gandalf was sowhat tempted but imdiately shook his head.
"Although I would very much like to do that, this is Thorin's will. We can only guide and persuade from the side. We cannot use force to change his will, or it will only lead to even greater disastrous consequences!"
Then his gaze fell on the object in Kael's hands, and he asked curiously, "Are you making a... broom?"
Kael nodded, then shook his head. "I'm preparing to make a flying broomstick as a mode of transport."
"A flying... broomstick? You an it can fly!" Gandalf's eyes suddenly lit up, and he asked eagerly.
Kael nodded, his hands never stopping their work.
Gandalf instantly cast aside the matter of Thorin, his attention completely focused on the gradually forming flying broomstick before him.
Flight... it was a temptation that no one could refuse, not even Gandalf. Although Gandalf was good friends with the Great Eagles and could summon them when needed to carry him in flight, being carried and flying oneself were two completely different experiences. So Gandalf was very interested in the flying broomstick Kael ntioned.
However, before Kael's flying broomstick was completed, Bard rushed back from outside with sudden news.
"The dwarves left by boat just now! They are already on their way to the Lonely Mountain! And they took the halfling with them."
"They've left?" Gandalf was imdiately unsettled, both angry and anxious. "They left without even telling us! What does Thorin Oakenshield an by this? Does he not trust us?"
Gandalf's eyes revealed anger and also a hint of disappointnt.
"No, we can't just let them enter the Lonely Mountain! Thorin Oakenshield is leading them to their deaths!"
He grabbed his staff, about to chase after Thorin and the others. But this ti, Kael refused to go with Gandalf.
He shook his head, pointing at the broom in his hands. "My flying broomstick will be finished in a few days. I can't leave for now. If you're willing to wait, Gandalf, you can ride the broomstick with to catch up."
Although Gandalf was sowhat tempted, he still refused.
"Forget it. I can't sit still here either. I'll set off first to catch up with them. You can co after the broom is finished."
He then borrowed a boat from Bard and set off by water to pursue Thorin and the others.
Only Kael remained as a guest at Bard's house.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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