Though everything that needed to be done was done and everything that needed to be said was said, it seemed there was nothing left.
But someone was still unsatisfied.
Levi looked at the cramped underground stronghold before him and frowned.
A week later, the area from the South Downs to Sarn Ford had many spacious underground chambers, complete with various emergency supplies, good environments, barely detectable ventilation shafts, and each contained a small farm growing potatoes and other common crops, with light and heat provided by stones that glowed.
Now these strongholds truly looked like strongholds, rather than temporary shelters where one could only briefly take refuge.
Only then did the Rangers finally understand just how miraculous the legendary magical construction abilities that Levi possessed really were.
"Actually, I'm somewhat curious."
On the way back to Roadside Fort, Levi asked Halbarad: "Do all your kinsmen live like this, wandering everywhere, hunting orcs and wargs, and constantly moving between various strongholds?"
"No, we do have some fixed settlements with houses and farmland."
Halbarad was only now recovering. He said:
"No one knows where our tribe lives, except the elves."
"Yes, elves."
Just as they returned to Roadside Fort, Wade approached Levi.
"There's an elf claiming to be from Rivendell who says he has a letter to deliver to you, and it must be handed to you personally."
"Where is he?"
"In the farmland."
"Farmland?"
"Yes, he's farming."
Following Wade's directions, Levi paused at the vegetable fields.
"Aglar?"
He called out.
The elf planting potatoes quickly stood up and greeted Levi.
Moments later.
The tidied-up Aglar met with Levi in the castle, with Halbarad listening nearby.
A Ranger and an elf exchanged greetings, then both turned to Levi to discuss business.
Aglar began: "Lord Elrond wrote you a letter several days ago. I happened to be curious about what this place was like, so I volunteered to deliver it."
"After discovering you weren't here, I tried to find an inn but couldn't. Then a resident arranged free lodging for me."
"I heard that residents here do some daily labor, so I joined them."
"Surprising. The crops here grow so fast, as if some magic had been cast."
"You could think of it that way..."
Levi was too lazy to explain anymore.
Aglar pulled out a well-preserved letter and handed it to him.
Halbarad stole a couple glances and confirmed it was indeed from the Lord of Rivendell. The markings couldn't be faked.
This also confirmed what Levi had said earlier.
He was unquestionably one of their own.
Once the envelope was opened, only Levi's movements could be heard in the castle.
After a moment, he smiled somewhat awkwardly.
Oops, I really did forget there was still a horse in Rivendell.
Though the letter's content was polite and only mentioned this matter in a sentence or two, Levi could still see the main point.
That horse was indeed a good full-speed mount, but Roadside Fort had a bunch of such horses...
Missing one really wasn't very noticeable, so much so that he'd forgotten about it.
"Well, I have to say I did forget certain things. This reminder came at just the right time."
Putting away the letter, he'd finished the official business.
Only then did Levi formally say: "Welcome, Aglar. As you can see, this is my castle."
"Though when I first invited you here, the scale wasn't nearly this large. Back then Roadside Fort really was just a castle."
"And some walls that weren't very high or very long."
Halbarad added from the side.
"Back then it neither had this large a scale nor that tower outside that looks like it suddenly fell from the sky."
Even having seen it many times, every time he looked in that direction, Halbarad couldn't help but marvel.
Simply miraculous.
He secretly glanced at Aglar beside him.
Elves really are composed.
But that made sense. He'd only lived over a hundred years, after all. How could his experience of grand scenes compare to an elf's?
But...
From what Levi said, this seemed to be his first time here?
Wait, this guy doesn't think it's always been like this, does he?
"Indeed so."
Levi sighed:
"Time really flies. Suddenly it's been so long."
"A long time?"
Halbarad leaned back.
"The memory of meeting you feels like yesterday."
Aglar also smiled and said this.
Levi blinked, unable to open his mouth for quite a while.
Great.
A Dúnadan and an elf.
Two long-lived ones.
Can't continue this conversation with these two at all.
"May I boldly ask."
Aglar suddenly said: "What is that...?"
He pointed at the beacon behind Levi that was radiating brilliant light.
"I sense a powerful life force from it and strength. This power made my movements faster when wielding the hoe."
"It's a type of magical artifact I created. You can call it a 'beacon.'"
"Beacon?"
Halbarad was also quite curious. Actually, from the moment he entered, his peripheral vision hadn't been able to escape this thing.
This glowing object was truly too miraculous. The first sight of it brought many long-sealed legends floating up from memory, though none could match this artifact.
Halbarad was like this, and as an elf naturally without resistance to beautiful things, Aglar had been attracted even earlier. If not for being constrained by Elrond's letter, he would have asked about it the moment he saw the beacon.
"Yes, beacon."
"The life force you feel and the strength surging from within your bodies both originate from it."
Levi stood up and tapped the beacon's glass cover with his finger: "Everyone who enters its coverage area receives this blessing."
Due to the beacon's appearance, daily rest on the plaza beside the castle had become routine for residents.
This also meant that at certain times, the plaza would be extremely lively.
If this continued, that small space would eventually become insufficient. To address this situation, Levi planned to find time to kill another Wither and specifically create a "Life Plaza" or similar place.
He could also build the hospital near the beacon.
Injured people staying in the hospital would suddenly discover their wounds had healed, while those with severe injuries or serious illnesses could come here to temporarily sustain their lives until finding complete cures.
"Truly great and beautiful."
Aglar was generous with praise.
"Being able to create such a nearly perfect work, your skill is no less than that of history's greatest craftsmen, whether righteous or evil."
In ancient times, Fëanor created the Silmarils. In the Second Age, Sauron forged the One Ring.
Now Levi Stonecraft crafted beacons.
"Time always brings surprises. I'm glad to see such beautiful things."
"Then you should look forward to it. There's still a long time ahead."
Levi said this mysteriously, then changed the subject:
"Since you two could come, why don't you tour my territory with me? There are many things I haven't introduced to you yet."
"By the way, I wonder if you've seen Little Pink."
"I've heard this name from residents."
Aglar said: "But I haven't seen it yet."
"This is my first time hearing about it."
Halbarad shifted his gaze from the beacon and responded.
Levi beckoned to both: "Then let's go see. It lives in the mallorn tree beside the castle."
"It? I'm guessing some kind of winged creature, maybe even with pink feathers."
Halbarad chatted with Aglar behind them.
Aglar thought for a moment and said: "But definitely not an ordinary animal."
"Maybe a magical bird, or some kind of large eagle?"
"I can't think of anything else."