Elrond, true to his title as one of the wisest beings in Middle-earth, quickly became Sylas's greatest collaborator. Under his guidance, the research on the Two-Way Mirror Network advanced faster than Sylas had ever imagined.
Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen also joined the project, offering their own insight and creativity. The study sessions often stretched deep into the night, the library and forge filled with quiet murmurs, glowing runes, and the hum of magic.
Drawing inspiration from the Floo Network, Sylas proposed a bold idea, to build a magical web, a network linking every mirror across Middle-earth. The Two-Way Mirror would serve as a terminal, connected through this "magic web," allowing anyone with a mirror to reach others instantly.
But Sylas didn't stop there. Using the Resurrection Stone Ring, he summoned the spirit of Fëanor, the legendary craftsman who had created the Palantíri. With Fëanor's guidance, he merged a portion of the Palantíri's long-distance sight and resonance into the new mirrors, enhancing both clarity and power.
After a month of sleepless collaboration, their creation was complete.
On Sylas's workbench lay a row of gleaming, palm-sized mirrors. Each one was crafted from clear glass coated with mithril, framed in gold or silver, their reflections so sharp that every strand of hair or shimmer of light appeared vividly. They were both tools and works of art.
Sylas picked one up, smiling faintly, and said, "Mirror, Mirror, connect me to Arwen."
A tiny, cartoon-like baby dragon appeared in the mirror's surface, bowing cheerfully.
"Yes, Master. Connecting now!"
A soft ripple spread across the glass, and Arwen's face appeared, luminous and clear as if she stood right beside him.
"Sylas, you finished it?" she asked, her eyes bright.
Sylas nodded proudly. "It's done. The Two-Way Mirror system is complete. It can now connect one-to-one or one-to-many, save messages, images, and voice, and even share them through the Magic Web so others can view or discuss them."
He smiled with a trace of mischief. "Essentially, it's everything a smartphone could do… and more."
Because unlike ordinary devices, these mirrors housed mirror spirits, small sentient beings like the baby dragon that had appeared moments ago. Each spirit acted as a personal assistant, obeying its owner's commands, organizing messages, and maintaining the magic web, like loyal little caretakers living within the glass.
When Arwen heard this, she came to his workshop in person. Rows of the newly forged mirrors glittered under candlelight, and her eyes lit up in awe.
"Sylas, you're incredible," she said softly, gazing at him with pride. "This Two-Way Mirror is no less important than the Floo Network. If people everywhere could own one, it would change all of Middle-earth."
Her praise brought a smile to Sylas's face, though he shook his head. "It's not easy to spread them widely yet. Each mirror must be crafted by hand. In a month, I've only made ten, twelve counting the ones you and your father already have. Unless we discover a method for mass production, it will take years."
Arwen gently touched his arm, smiling. "You've already done so much. There's no need to rush. We have time, and I'm sure you'll find a way."
Her eyes then drifted to a large, golden mirror standing upright beside the workbench.
"What's that one?" she asked curiously.
"That's the Master Mirror," Sylas explained. "It's the central hub, the core that stores all data and connects every mirror across the network. With it, all mirrors can share text, sound, and images seamlessly."
He didn't mention the hidden function he had built in, that the Master Mirror could monitor, locate, or even cut off any individual mirror's connection.
Just in case the day ever came when his creation might be turned against the peace he had worked so hard to build.
He could even listen in on communications between other Two-Way Mirrors through the Master Mirror.
This function, though one he never intended to use lightly, gave him full oversight of the magical web he had built. The Master Mirror was by far the most intricate and labor-intensive creation of the entire project, the beating heart of the network, just like the central server of the internet from his past life. Every reflection, every message, every trace of connection flowed through it.
When the first batch of Two-Way Mirrors was complete, Sylas sat in his workshop, considering who should receive them.
Elrond and Arwen already had theirs. The next obvious recipients were his brothers-in-law, Elladan and Elrohir, and Arwen's grandparents, Galadriel and Celeborn, links to the elven realms.
Then there were Bilbo and Gandalf, dear friends who had shared much of his journey.
For governance, Mayor of Hogsmeade, Owner of Bree, and Brog, the chieftain, would each need one for swift communication.
That made nine mirrors already accounted for. And since the first batch contained only ten, that left barely one spare.
But Sylas's circle of allies was far wider. He couldn't overlook Beorn, the skin-changer of the Anduin Valley, or Legolas, prince of Mirkwood, or Balin, the Dwarven lord of Erebor.
Nor could he forget the distant but vital figures, the Blue Wizards of the East, Rómestámo and Morinehtar; Radagast the Brown; Bard, Lord of Lake-town; Thorin, King Under the Mountain; Fengel, King of Rohan; and the Regent of Gondor.
Realizing this, Sylas sighed and rolled up his sleeves again. For an entire month, he worked tirelessly, days and nights filled with hammering, chanting, and engraving runes, until thirty new mirrors stood gleaming on his workbench.
When the last one was polished, he smiled faintly and began dispatching them.Each mirror was packed in velvet, sealed in protective enchantments, and tied to the legs of owl messengers, who would carry them to their recipients all across Middle-earth.
Meanwhile, far away in the Shire, Bilbo Baggins was frying sausages in his cozy kitchen at Bag End.
Just as the sausages began to sizzle perfectly, a sharp tap-tap-tap sounded at the window.
Bilbo blinked and turned, only to see a large snowy owl perched outside, tapping insistently with its beak as if knocking on a door.
"Good heavens," Bilbo muttered, setting down the pan. "Now where did you come from?"
Then it struck him. That snowy owl, white as fresh snow, eyes bright gold, was unmistakable.
"Sylas's owl!" he exclaimed. "What in the world are you doing here?"
He hurried to open the window. The owl fluttered inside, ruffling its feathers proudly.
"Did Sylas send you, little fellow?" Bilbo asked kindly.
"Hoo! Hoo!" the owl replied, nodding in a distinctly human-like way before lifting one leg.
Bilbo noticed a small black cloth bag tied neatly to it.
"Oh? A message, perhaps?" He carefully untied the bag and felt something solid inside, heavy, smooth, not at all like parchment.
"This isn't a letter," he murmured curiously. "What on earth did he send this time?"
Before he could open it, the snowy owl gave a sharp hoot and turned its head toward the kitchen, fixing Bilbo with a pointed stare.
Bilbo laughed softly, understanding at once. "Ah, of course, you must be hungry! You've flown quite a distance, haven't you?"
He tucked the cloth bag safely into his pocket, dashed back to the stove, and quickly plated two sizzling sausages along with a glass of milk.
The owl regarded him approvingly, almost smugly, before tucking into the meal.
Bilbo watched in amusement, utterly unbothered that his own lunch was being eaten.
Once the owl was content, Bilbo pulled the black bag from his pocket and tipped it open onto the table.
Out slid a small, palm-sized mirror, its surface gleaming like silver water, framed with fine gold runes that pulsed faintly with magic.
Bilbo tilted his head, eyes wide.
"This is… a mirror?"
...
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