Though not comparable to the same tree species in Valinor, the mallorn trees of the Golden Wood also grew tall and magnificent, with most Lothlórien elves' dwellings built gracefully in the trees.
"Perhaps that kind of tree could substitute for silverwood..."
After all, both were tree species rich in magical power and possessing certain purifying abilities. Their properties were remarkably similar.
Thus, the Golden Wood became a must-visit destination.
Levi hadn't forgotten that in Rivendell, Lady Galadriel had graciously invited him to visit the Golden Wood, but he had never been able to find the time.
Perhaps he should pay a visit soon.
A journey to the Golden Wood was thus established.
But before that...
Levi returned to the castle and pulled out a pile of carefully selected materials.
Amber, wool, silk thread, glowstone dust, gold ingots...
After retrieving these materials, he used gold nuggets to synthesize an ordinary pure gold ring.
He placed this gold ring on the core pedestal in the center of the Infusion Altar, then arranged the other materials on the auxiliary pedestals on both sides.
Levi then went to the alchemy area to distill the needed aspects and store them categorically in aspect jars.
Energy, magic, protection.
These three aspects would complete Levi's final weakness: insufficient magical defense.
Standing before the runic matrix of the Infusion Altar, Levi felt moved.
Saruman, this White Wizard, had been trying for a long time to emulate Sauron by forging rings with miraculous magical powers.
But he would never imagine that someone he considered a crude brute would create something similar before him today.
"Runic Shield Ring."
Hum...
As the matrix activated, the materials on the pedestals on both sides gradually decomposed and dispersed, transforming into basic vis and infusing into the gold ring in the center.
Then came the pure aspects from the jars, converging into the ring.
Under the enhancement of the tallow candles, this infusion went quite smoothly without any accidents.
Whoosh.
Before long, the runic matrix stopped operating, and the ring in the center glowed with faint light.
After experiencing infusion, this ring's appearance was vastly different from its previous plain look.
It was now a gold ring inlaid with shining amber particles. Compared to before, its color was a more vivid golden-yellow, subtly tending toward orange.
With gold as the form and amber as the magic aspect carrier, a ring with a protective function was thus created.
Levi put this ring on his hand and immediately felt warmth emerging from within.
As the magic aspects stored in his wand were absorbed, pale golden runes spread out from the ring, gradually climbing over his entire body, forming a transparent magical shield.
After flickering once, this pale golden shield directly hid itself.
Only when the wearer was attacked would it reappear to block damage for him.
Runic Shield +5.
This one ring could provide 5 shield points, meaning it could block five points of damage. After being broken, it needed to absorb aspects from the wand to gradually recover.
Without hesitation, Levi made another runic ring, plus a pendant and a belt.
Two rings, one necklace, and one belt. This was the upper limit for accessories to take effect. Wearing more would only have these taking effect.
Together they could provide 28 shield points.
After completing the four-piece runic set, Levi upgraded them again, granting them special effects.
When the belt's shield was damaged, it would burst out a shockwave pushing nearby enemies away. When the rings' shields were broken, they would provide Levi with life recovery effects. When the necklace's shield was broken, it would immediately generate another 8-point temporary runic shield.
Now, Levi was confident in facing a siege by Nazgûl.
Their abilities were no longer an unsolvable problem. Even without Gandalf present, their curses, mental attacks, magical damage, and various fighting skills...
Were actually still somewhat troublesome, but at least he wouldn't be without countermeasures like before, only able to rely on milk to tough it out.
"Phew..."
Taking a breath, removing various research tools, and organizing his backpack, Levi stretched hard.
Being cooped up in a tower doing research was truly tiring work, mainly quite brain-intensive.
It's hard to imagine Saruman could stay cooped up in a tower researching for decades straight.
Just to tinker with a magical ring.
Of course, the ring he was researching was definitely different from what Levi had. What Saruman pursued were powerful rings of power on the same level as the three elven rings.
If he saw Levi's ring, he might find it novel and surprising but definitely wouldn't think this was what he was pursuing.
After all, besides magical protection, this ring had no other functions.
The sunlight was perfect this day. Levi walked out from the tower and came to the gates of Roadside Fort.
Seeing the lord, who had disappeared for a while, appear again, the gatekeeper quickly opened the city gates to welcome Levi back to the city.
The residents had grown accustomed to Levi's sudden departures and returns.
In the past, all residents were happy to see their lord return.
But today there was one exception: the cook responsible for looking after Little Pink's meals.
During the time Levi was immersed in tower research, because he was sometimes too busy when distilling aspects or arranging magic conduits, after forgetting to feed Little Pink twice, he had directly entrusted Little Pink to a resident with considerable contribution to care for.
Upon hearing Levi had returned, this resident immediately came to find Levi, fearfully bowing his head: "Sir, I come to confess my crimes."
"What's wrong?"
Levi had a bad feeling.
"Little Pink, whom you entrusted me to care for, it... it..."
"What happened to it? Did something go wrong?"
"No, not exactly... I don't know how to put it, sir, but I guarantee I never shortchanged Little Pink's food by the slightest bit. Each time I let it eat freely, whatever it liked, until it couldn't eat anymore. We got along very well normally too. It was quite close to me. It's just, it's just..."
As he spoke, a figure in the distance suddenly came running over, flapping its wings with its hind legs bouncing, and thump, crashed into Levi's leg, desperately nuzzling.
"Good, good."
Levi stroked Little Pink's head, observing it briefly.
Looking at its size, it definitely hadn't lacked food during this time, and its mental state was also good. It looked quite happy.
"Isn't this quite good?"
Levi looked at the cook. What was this inexplicable confession about?
Until Little Pink made a sound from its throat.
"Woof!"
Levi smiled with understanding.
The cook quickly explained: "It's my fault, sir. Please punish me. I failed to watch Little Pink properly and let it run off to play with a big yellow dog next door."
"Woof!"
Speak of the big yellow dog, and the big yellow dog appeared.
Little Pink, who had been nuzzling Levi's pants, immediately turned around and frolicked with a big yellow dog running over from the distance.
"Fine, fine, it's okay, I don't blame you. Let it play if it wants to. After all, there are no others of its kind here to teach it what to do."
"Besides, it's not even half a year old yet. It really does need a playmate."
Levi felt somewhat tired. After comforting this cook who had contributed much, he let him go back to continue whatever he was supposed to do.
Before long, the big yellow dog and Little Pink had finished running around. One dragon and one dog came before Levi together and sat properly in front of him.
Levi extended both hands, one stroking the dragon head and one stroking the dog head, while also observing Little Pink's playmate.
A very steady big yellow dog, very obedient, intelligent, good-tempered, friendly to people, and not fierce.
Or at least it knew who to be fierce toward and who not to be fierce toward.
One could tell its owner had trained it well.
It just looked quite old.
"Sigh."
After feeding the big yellow dog a piece of meat, Levi rubbed Little Pink's dragon head and sighed:
"Why do you insist on playing with it?"
"After all, you're so long-lived..."
Like elves, dragons had no lifespan limitations.
They existed eternally.