Luke was overjoyed by Smaug's submission.
Gandalf, who was standing by, was also happy for Luke:
"Congratulations, Luke, from now on you are the only one in Middle-earth who can control a Dragon. This is an unprecedented achievement!"
As powerful creatures created by the dark Morgoth, the Dragon race once rampaged across Middle-earth, bringing fear and destruction to its people.
Although they belonged to the dark creatures, their power and terror were undeniable.
The Dark Lord Sauron had tried to subjugate Dragons to serve him, but he never succeeded.
This was because Dragons were only greedy for gold and silver jewels, but had no interest in ruling Middle-earth.
However, because of this, the greedy Dragons and the wealth-accumulating Dwarves formed a hatred that lasted for thousands of years.
Thorin's ancestors originally lived in the Grey Mountains north of the Lonely Mountain, but their wealth attracted the Dragon's wrath. The Dragon attacked and killed the Dwarf King Thráin I and his son Frór.
Only the surviving eldest son, Thráin, led some of his people to the Lonely Mountain to establish the Kingdom Under the Mountain.
But unexpectedly, the treasures of the Kingdom Under the Mountain attracted an even fiercer Dragon—Smaug's invasion—which ultimately led to the wandering lives of Thorin and the other Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain.
Now, this Dragon had been subdued by Luke, becoming his aid.
Luke's power underwent a drastic change, making him one of the most unprovokable individuals in Middle-earth.
After subduing the Dragon, Luke and Gandalf rode on the Dragon's back, preparing to leave the area.
After all, they were still in the lake.
One of Smaug's wings was injured, preventing him from flying for the time being. He could only walk, carrying the two people on his back towards Lake-town.
Lake-town did not suffer too many casualties thanks to Luke and Gandalf's timely intervention. However, the houses ignited by Dragon-fire continued to spread,
and were very difficult to extinguish with water.
As the residents of Lake-town grieved over their burning houses, they saw the Dragon in the distance approaching them from the lake, and were instantly filled with terror and despair.
Bard was even more startled, drawing his bow and aiming at the Dragon.
Although he knew it would have no effect on the Dragon, he did not want to sit idly by and wait for death.
However, with his sharp eyes, he quickly spotted Luke and Gandalf on the Dragon's back, and was instantly shocked. His intelligence led him to realize that things were not as he had imagined.
Bard took a deep breath. Amidst the residents' exclamations and worries, he quickly walked to the dockside, only a few meters away from the approaching Dragon, Smaug.
Although he had mentally prepared himself, facing the Dragon's radiating might and oppressive presence, his heart still raced.
If the Dragon were to suddenly open its mouth and breathe fire, or bite him, he would have no chance of escaping.
"Luke, Gandalf, what is going on with you?" Bard asked, full of surprise and doubt.
Luke said nothing, but directly waved his staff, continuously extinguishing the surrounding flames to prevent them from spreading further.
Gandalf, meanwhile, slid down the Dragon's neck and head, jumping directly onto the dock, and smilingly explained to Bard and the crowd:
"The Dragon has now been subdued by Luke. He now obeys Luke's commands and will no longer pose a danger to you!"
Hearing Gandalf's words, and seeing the Dragon Smaug making no aggressive moves, everyone looked on in disbelief.
As descendants of Dale, the residents of Lake-town were very aware of the terror and danger of the Dragon Smaug.
When Dale was destroyed by the Dragon, their ancestors had no choice but to abandon their homes and float downstream, establishing a new home in this long lake, thus avoiding Smaug's persecution.
Yet, they never expected that this Dragon, once their nightmare, would one day be subdued by someone!
Everyone looked at the person riding on a broom, waving his staff to extinguish the fire, and a sense of awe spontaneously arose.
Soon, Luke extinguished the large fire in Lake-town.
However, the burned buildings, being caused by Dragon-fire, could not be restored to their original state even with Luke's Repairing Charm.
Looking at the residents who were homeless due to their burned houses, Luke felt a little guilty at this moment.
After all, all of this was caused by the Dragon.
And now that the Dragon had been subdued by him and became one with him, the destruction caused by the Dragon seemed to have become his responsibility as well.
Luke took out a bag from his spatial pouch and handed it to Bard.
"This contains some gold coins and jewels. Please distribute them to the affected residents."
Bard looked at the small money bag in his hand, somewhat surprised.
However, when he opened the bag and looked inside, he saw a space of about two meters, filled with countless gold coins and precious jewels.
The value of so much treasure completely surpassed that of the wealthiest Master of the town.
Even if it were distributed among every resident of the town, it would be enough for everyone to live a prosperous life.
Bard was shocked by the quantity of treasures within, but he did not develop any greedy thoughts. Instead, he nodded gratefully to Luke, assuring him.
"Thank you for your generosity, Luke. I will accept this on behalf of the residents! Rest assured, I will distribute these treasures to the residents,
so they can smoothly get through this winter!"
Moreover, he also knew that Luke was helping him raise his prestige. The Master had previously abandoned the residents of Lake-town, fleeing with only a boatload of money, only to be noticed first by the Dragon, who directly sprayed him to death with Dragon-fire.
Now Lake-town was without a leader, and as a descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale, Bard naturally became the leader of the residents of Lake-town.
"What are you planning to do, Bard?" Gandalf asked him.
Bard looked at the many damaged buildings around him, and a surge of ambition rose in his heart.
He said, "We were forced to come and live in Lake-town. Now that the Dragon is no longer a threat, I want to lead the residents to rebuild Dale."
"Furthermore, if the Dwarves hadn't insisted on going to the Lonely Mountain and waking and angering the Dragon, the Dragon wouldn't have come out! So I need the Dwarves to give up a portion of the Lonely Mountain's treasure to compensate the residents and rebuild Dale."
"After all, when the Dragon attacked the Lonely Mountain and Dale, it plundered the treasures of Dale and took them into the Lonely Mountain. Logically speaking, as a descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale, I also have the right to a share of those treasures."
Luke and Gandalf had no objections to this; after all, it was a matter between Bard and Thorin Oakenshield.
After a conversation with Bard, Luke and Gandalf did not linger in Lake-town, but rode the Dragon Smaug towards the Lonely Mountain.
Although the residents of Lake-town knew that the Dragon would no longer harm them, they breathed a sigh of relief, feeling like they had narrowly escaped death, as they watched the Dragon depart.
The fear of the Dragon was deeply ingrained, and they couldn't help but be afraid.
One of Smaug's wings was pierced by the divine spear aeglos, making it impossible for him to fly for a short period.
So he could only move on the ground, carrying Luke and Gandalf.
However, even on the ground, the Dragon's movement speed was very fast.
Sitting on the Dragon's back, Gandalf chuckled with novelty, "Thanks to you, I never thought I'd get to experience riding a Dragon one day. It's absolutely wonderful!"
Luke was also a bit excited. He had never imagined he would have the experience of being a Dragon Rider one day.
The only regret was that the Dragon couldn't fly yet, which diminished the experience somewhat.
"Smaug, when will your wing heal?" Luke asked.
"Master, it was your divine spear aeglos that pierced my wing. The divine spear contains powerful energy, and it will prevent my wound from healing on its own. Without a miraculous elixir, I'm afraid I won't be able to fly for a very long time!"
Smaug's voice carried a hint of resentment and grievance.
Bound by the unbreakable Vow Charm, he dared not resent Luke. He could only lament his own misfortune, having encountered Luke, a being who countered him.
Upon hearing this, Luke became a little anxious for the Dragon. After all, a major advantage of Dragons was their ability to fly and exert aerial dominance over the ground.
If he could only move on the ground, the Dragon's combat power and threat would be greatly reduced.
Gandalf, seeing Luke frown, smiled and comforted him:
"This isn't too big of a problem. Once this mission is completely over, we can go to Rivendell and ask Lord Elrond for help.
He is the most powerful healer in all of Middle-earth. Even the most fatal injuries, he can heal. Smaug's injury is probably something he can resolve with ease."
Gandalf had previously worried that the Dragon Smaug would ally with the Orcs, which was why he organized the Dwarf expedition to the Lonely Mountain, intending to use the Dwarves' strength to kill the Dragon and eliminate the hidden danger.
But now that the Dragon had been subdued by Luke and became a force for good,
Gandalf naturally genuinely hoped that the Dragon would recover from his injuries as soon as possible, making their own forces stronger, thereby enabling them to defeat the forces of darkness.
Soon, the two individuals and the Dragon returned to the Lonely Mountain.
Upon arriving at the main gate, they saw that the entrance was already blocked.
"What's going on?" Gandalf frowned in confusion. "It wasn't like this when we left. Why is it blocked as soon as we return?"
"Did something happen here after we left?"
Luke looked at the tightly sealed gate, and a guess formed in his mind. He sneered, "Perhaps some people inside don't welcome our return."
Gandalf's brow furrowed further upon hearing this. Thinking of Thorin's situation earlier, he leaned towards Luke's speculation.
The Dragon Smaug, however, spoke up proactively. He looked eager, saying,
"Master, let me do it. These city walls can't stop me at all. I'll just attack directly, kill all the Dwarves inside, and then the entire Lonely Mountain and the treasures within will be ours!"
Seeing Gandalf's disapproving expression, Luke's face instantly darkened. He snapped, "Shut up!"
Even though this fellow was forced to submit to him, he still couldn't change his ways, remaining extremely greedy for treasure and trying to incite him to steal the treasure.
Seeing Luke angry, Smaug immediately shut up.
However, his two Dragon eyes flickered with restless light, still unwilling to give up on the Lonely Mountain's treasure.
After all, in his opinion, these treasures were plundered. Now that he had submitted to Luke, these treasures should belong to Luke.
In that case, the Master's things were his things, and the Master's treasures were his treasures, still not affecting his continued possession of these treasures.
He could even request to guard the treasures for the Master once the Master owned them.
Ensuring not a single coin would be lost!
"Luke, you and Smaug stay here for now. Can I talk to Thorin alone?"
Gandalf did not want to see a conflict between Luke and the Dwarves.
The original Luke was already someone the Dwarves could not deal with, and now with a giant dragon, even the Durin Dwarves at their peak might not be a match, let alone only thirteen Dwarves in Erebor now.
Luke didn't care. He had no interest in the treasures of Erebor and had no intention of attacking the Dwarves.
"Suit yourself."
"But I think you, Gandalf, are going to be disappointed. Thorin's dragon sickness should have completely erupted by now. Without reason and in a state of madness, he probably won't accept your goodwill."
Gandalf sighed, "It's always worth a try."
With that, he jumped off the dragon's back and strode to the blocked gate, his voice like thunder:
"Thorin Oakenshield, come out and meet me!"
After a while, there was no response from behind the blocked gate.
Gandalf frowned, his voice stern without anger:
"Thorin Oakenshield, come out and see me!"
This time, there was still no response.
Gandalf's face showed anger, and he raised his staff, about to smash the giant stones blocking the gate.
Just then, a small figure poked his head out from the city wall and quickly waved his hand.
"Gandalf, I'm here!"
Gandalf looked up, surprised, "Bilbo, why is it you? Where are Thorin and the other Dwarves?"
Seeing Gandalf, Bilbo seemed to see hope and quickly explained:
"Thorin has become very mad now. After you left with the dragon, he had Bofur and the others use explosives to collapse the gate, completely blocking it. Now he's also making everyone search the treasury for the arkenstone—oh my goodness, what is that?!"
Bilbo hadn't finished speaking when his eyes caught sight of the giant dragon Smaug in the distance, and he instantly widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.
"Gandalf, how did the dragon come back with you?"
Gandalf smiled and said, "The dragon was subdued by Luke. He is now Luke's mount."
"Is that true?" Bilbo was dumbfounded, rubbing his eyes in disbelief, confirming that he wasn't dreaming.
How could the dragon suddenly become Luke's mount after only half a day out?
"Alright, Bilbo, go call Thorin. I need to talk to him."
Gandalf said.
Bilbo was still immersed in the shock of the dragon being subdued, nodding blankly, then turned to call Thorin.
Time passed bit by bit.
It wasn't until Gandalf's patience was almost gone that Thorin slowly appeared on the city wall.
However, before he could speak arrogantly, his eyes fell upon the giant dragon behind Gandalf, and his pupils immediately contracted, his body instinctively recoiling.
"Gandalf, what is the meaning of this? Why has the dragon returned with you? Have you colluded with the dragon, intending to seize my treasures?!"
Thorin demanded sharply, his eyes filled with a mad obsession and unease for the treasure.
Gandalf rolled his eyes, utterly helpless at Thorin's mad obsession with treasure.
Thorin was clearly in the grip of dragon sickness now, his eyes only showing greed and possessiveness for the treasure.
"Thorin, son of Thráin II, you have reclaimed Erebor, and we rejoice for you." Gandalf asked loudly,
"But why does the King Under the Mountain barricade himself within, like a bandit in a stronghold?"
Thorin scrutinized Gandalf below the wall, and Luke and the dragon in the distance, with wary and suspicious eyes.
"The reason for this, of course, is that I have bandits at my door, intending to seize my treasure!"
"And I am not yet the King Under the Mountain. Our clan's heirloom, the arkenstone, has not yet been found. I will cut off all access until the arkenstone is found!"
Gandalf was so angry at Thorin's words that he felt a heart attack coming on. "My Vala, Thorin Oakenshield, no one here wants your treasure! It is utterly insignificant!"
"What you should be doing now is not guarding your pile of treasure and trapping yourself in a cage, but actively contacting other Dwarven clans and allying with the humans of Lake-town, building defenses, forging weapons, and together resisting the imminent danger!"
"Danger? Besides you bringing the dragon, which makes me feel danger, I haven't seen any other danger!" Thorin said coldly.
"Thorin Oakenshield, wake up! We are not your enemies. The dragon Smaug has been subdued by Luke; he is now on our side!" Gandalf's voice carried a power that shook the soul.
"The threat to Erebor is not over. The Orc army could appear at any time. We must organize more forces to deal with the Orc threat!"
A flicker of struggle appeared in Thorin's eyes, as if he was swayed,
But in the end, the possessiveness of the treasure took over, and his eyes became cold again.
"Gandalf, you are not welcome here. Please leave!"
Gandalf's beard quivered with anger at Thorin's stubbornness.
"What about me, Thorin Oakenshield?" Luke's voice came, as he rode his flying broom to Thorin's front, looking down at him with cold eyes, "You promised me before that once I helped you reclaim Erebor, one-tenth of the Erebor treasure would be mine."
"Now that I have helped you solve the dragon problem and allowed you to reclaim Erebor, when will you fulfill your payment?"
Thorin looked at Luke, who had flown in front of him, his pupils contracted, and his expression became wary and guarded.
And the giant dragon Smaug, still in the distance, let out a deafening roar, its eyes fixed on him.
At this moment, the fear of the dragon instinctively restored a bit of Thorin's reason, allowing him to swallow the words of refusal in time.
He looked at Luke holding the magic wand in front of him, then at the distant dragon, his face extremely grim and ugly, struggling for a long time as if his heart was bleeding and being cut, and then he gritted his teeth and said:
"I promise that after the arkenstone is found, I will give you one-tenth of the treasure!"
But Luke was not easily fooled. He narrowed his eyes and said:
"But what if the arkenstone isn't found, or if it is found and not revealed, does that mean you won't give it?"
Thorin's face became even uglier, "Of course not, but you promised me to reclaim Erebor. If you want a share of the treasure, you must first help me find the arkenstone!"
Luke chuckled and shook his head, his finger moving slightly, and the contract flew out of his pocket, floating in front of Thorin.
"I think you might be mistaken, Thorin Oakenshield. The contract only requires me to help you reclaim Erebor; it doesn't say I have to help you find the arkenstone. This is an extra-contractual request, and I didn't agree to it."
"Besides, Smaug breathed so much dragon fire in the treasury earlier, who knows if the arkenstone was directly burned to ashes by the dragon fire?"
"I have fulfilled the terms of the contract. Now it's time for you to fulfill your promise!"
Facing Luke's strong attitude, Thorin's grim face seemed to drip ink.
"Give me a month."
"In a month, I will place your share of the treasure, not a single coin less, before you."
Luke looked at him meaningfully: "I hope you keep your word."
He then turned his flying broom around and asked Bilbo, who was not far away:
"Bilbo, do you want to leave with me and Gandalf?"
Bilbo looked at the grim-faced Thorin, then at the smiling Luke, and after a moment of hesitation, he nodded.
Upon hearing this, Luke lowered the broom and reached out to pull Bilbo onto the broom.
"Don't you dare leave!" Thorin's voice suddenly rang out.
Luke's hand paused, and he turned to look at Thorin, his expression turning cold.
"Do you have an objection?"
Bilbo also looked at Thorin in surprise,
"You can leave, but you must prove that you haven't taken anything belonging to Erebor!"
Thorin said, looking at Bilbo with a suspicious expression.
A surge of magic pressure erupted from Luke.
"Thorin Oakenshield, am I being too lenient with you? Making you suspect my friend?"
Thorin felt the surrounding air instantly solidify, and even breathing became suffocating.
But even so, he still gritted his teeth and said, "If he hasn't hidden anything, why is he afraid to let me check? Is the arkenstone hidden on him?"
Luke drew his magic wand, about to teach him a good lesson.
But Bilbo stopped him.
Bilbo held Luke's magic wand, shaking his head slightly with a calm expression.
"Luke, it's alright. Since he suspects me, let him check to prove my innocence."
Seeing Bilbo speak, Luke snorted coldly and released Thorin.
Thorin gasped for breath, relieving the suffocating sensation from earlier, but his gaze towards Luke was filled with even more apprehension, and a hint of fear.
Under Thorin's gaze, Bilbo turned out his pockets one by one, proving he hadn't hidden anything.
"Wait, and that money pouch. I know it's enchanted and can hold a lot of things."
Bilbo was completely disappointed with Thorin now. He nodded expressionlessly, then opened the money pouch and poured its contents onto the ground.
Instantly, various gold and silver treasures clattered out, quickly piling up into a small mountain on the ground.
These were some of the treasures Luke had acquired from the Goblin Cave earlier.
Thorin looked at the treasures before him, a flicker of greed in his eyes. Afflicted with dragon sickness, he wished he could pocket every treasure he saw.
However, with a sliver of rationality left, he looked at Luke in front of him, and the dragon watching menacingly, and still suppressed his greed. Luke naturally noticed the change in Thorin's expression. He sneered, pointing at the pile of treasures on the ground, and said:
"Now you go through these treasures and see if there's anything belonging to your Erebor? If you don't find anything, then please put them back into the money pouch one by one and return them to Bilbo!"
Thorin naturally failed to find the arkenstone he desired among them.
Under Luke's threat, he could only reluctantly and humiliatingly put the treasures back into the money pouch and return them to Bilbo.
Then Luke took Bilbo and left the city wall, flying towards Gandalf's direction.
"Welcome back, Bilbo."
Gandalf said, smiling at Bilbo.
He had seen what happened on the city wall and was very disappointed with Thorin's behavior.
The current Thorin showed no sign of his former rationality and conscience, only stubbornness and an obsession and greed for treasure.
At the same time, he also felt a little guilty. If he hadn't organized this expedition, would Thorin have been alright?
It was a good thing Luke didn't know Gandalf's thoughts at the moment, otherwise, he would only say he was overthinking it.
Reclaiming Erebor was Thorin Oakenshield's obsession. Even without Gandalf, he would probably have gone to Erebor.
And without Gandalf's care, he would either have fallen halfway, like his father Thráin II, dying at the hands of Orcs;
Or, upon reaching Erebor, he would ultimately face the fate of being consumed by dragon fire.
The three left the Erebor gate and headed towards Lake-Town.
During this time, Bilbo experienced riding a giant dragon for the first time, and he was flushed with excitement throughout, completely forgetting the unpleasantness that had occurred on the city wall.
"Oh, by the way, Luke, I searched the entire treasury for the Mandrake you lent me, but I couldn't find it. Could it have been burned by the dragon fire?"
On the dragon's back, Bilbo suddenly remembered something and said to Luke with an apologetic look.
Luke smiled and shook his head.
"I forgot to tell you earlier, but I actually took the Mandrake back a while ago."
"After all, it's something that can be solved with an Accio spell."
Upon hearing this, Bilbo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's good. I thought I had lost your Mandrake."
Leaving the Lonely Mountain, Luke and his two companions arrived in Lake-Town to temporarily reside.
Smaug the Dragon was too enormous, so Luke let him hunt for prey in the Great Wilderness near the Lonely Mountain and await his summons at any time.
Many of Lake-Town's buildings had been destroyed by Smaug's dragon flame back then, and even if Luke wished to restore them, he couldn't.
The three of them went directly to the house they had stayed in before.
The fireplace there was still connected to Rivendell and had not been severed by Luke.
Gandalf was a busy man; after only a brief rest, he prepared to find Bard.
He intended to have Bard lead the residents of Lake-town to migrate to Weathertop.
Lake-Town was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and it was backed by the Lonely Mountain; if the Orcs made any move, they could quickly unite with the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain, forming a force capable of resisting the Orcs.
This would prevent them from being defeated one by one by the Orcs.
However, Lake-town was surrounded by an endless expanse with no barriers whatsoever; once a large Orc army attacked, it would be impossible to stop their destructive advance.
Therefore, for the safety of Lake-town's residents, Gandalf had to quickly move them to Weathertop before the Orc army arrived.
If possible, Gandalf also wanted to persuade Thranduil, the Elven King, to join the alliance against the Orcs.
After Smaug the Dragon was subdued, Luke and Gandalf had inquired about his cooperation with the Orcs.
Smaug naturally dared not conceal anything.
According to him, the Orcs had contacted him before Azog was killed, attempting to persuade him to cooperate with them.
However, Smaug was only devoted to guarding his treasure and had no interest in ruling or conquering Middle-earth.
Thus, he refused Azog's cooperation.
It wasn't until recently that Bolg, Azog's son, proactively contacted him, informing him of Thorin Oakenshield's intention to reclaim the Lonely Mountain.
Using this as a pretext, he reached an agreement with Smaug.
Smaug allowed Bolg's Orc army to enter the Lonely Mountain territory and march north to reclaim the Kingdom of Angmar.
In return, the Orcs recognized Smaug the Dragon's sovereignty over the Lonely Mountain and promised to give Smaug half of the treasures obtained from their conquests and plundering.
Now that the dragon had been subdued, as the news spread, Bolg would surely be restless and might launch a major offensive against the Lonely Mountain to seize this important strategic stronghold in the North.
While Gandalf was busy preparing for the impending war with worry, Luke was also facing an important matter.
One morning at sunrise, Luke, as usual, pointed his wand tip towards his heart and chanted: "Amato, Animo, Animato, Animagus."
As the incantation finished, it felt as if he had a second heart within his chest; the faint thumping sound followed his original heartbeat, rising and falling like a duet, which he found novel.
Luke was delighted to discover this, as it was a premonition of successful Animagus Transfiguration.
He then pulled out his Palantír to check the weather conditions at the High Pass of the Misty Mountains.
Upon seeing the High Pass shrouded in dark clouds and thunderstorms, Luke immediately set off.
Leaving Bilbo in Lake-Town, he teleported to Rivendell via the fireplace, then rode his flying broom without delay towards the Misty Mountains.
At the High Pass, heavy rain poured and lightning flashed.
Luke, riding his flying broom, dared not fly too high, fearing being struck by the lightning in the sky.
He continued until he reached the spot where he had buried the small crystal vial, and dug it out.
The mixture in the crystal vial had now turned into a blood-red liquid.
Seeing the Potion in the bottle, Luke's eyes lit up, and he immediately departed, swiftly returning towards Rivendell.
Now, only one final step remained before the Animagus Transfiguration.
After returning to Rivendell, Luke did not immediately return to Lake-Town through the fireplace but temporarily stayed in Rivendell.
Performing the Transfiguration required a spacious and safe place to ensure the process would not be disturbed or put him in danger.
"Luke, was your journey smooth?" Elrond, who had returned to Rivendell from Lórien, asked with a smile.
Luke nodded and pleaded for Elrond's help: "Lord Elrond, could you help me find an undisturbed Chamber of Secrets? I want to ensure that no accidents occur during the Transfiguration."
Elrond naturally would not refuse, and he was also very curious about Luke's Animagus Transfiguration.
To date, only the Skin-changers were capable of transforming into animals.
Now, with Luke, a Wizard who had mastered human Transfiguration magic, he also wanted to see what animal Luke would transform into.
Elrond led Luke to a spacious hall.
There were no tables here, only two fireplaces on either side between the pillars, burning with blazing fires.
There was no firewood in the fireplaces, but they burned year-round, providing warmth and light to the hall.
On the marble floor, mysterious Elven runes were carved.
As soon as Luke entered, he felt his spirit invigorated and his mind became clear.
"This is the Hall of Flames. Whenever I seek tranquility, contemplation, and meditation, I spend some time here," Elrond introduced.
"You can perform your Transfiguration here; no one will disturb you."
Luke hadn't expected Rivendell to have such a wonderful place; he felt that practicing magic here would be several times more efficient than usual.
Suddenly, he felt even more confident about his Animagus Transfiguration.
After sincerely thanking Elrond, Luke began to focus all his attention on the Transfiguration.
He once again placed his wand against his heart and chanted for the last time: "Amato, Animo, Animato, Animagus."
Then he opened the crystal vial and drank the red liquid in one gulp.
The next second, two intense heartbeats emanated from his chest; the loud thumping could even be heard in the empty hall.
Immediately following was an intense pain, as if his entire body was being reshaped, no easier than the Crucio.
At the same time, the image of an animal gradually emerged in Luke's mind, becoming clearer and clearer.
Luke's will was firm, and he tried not to resist the transformation.
His body began to shrink rapidly; his clothes, jewelry, and other items melted into his skin, transforming into fur.
Finally, only a massive owl remained in the hall.
To be precise, it was an eagle owl.
It had a round head topped with characteristic ear tufts, its feathers were a mix of yellow and black, its eyes were large and golden, radiating a sharp, cold glint, its beak was hooked, and its strong talons concealed sharp blades.
Eagle owls are among the largest of owls, and the eagle owl Luke transformed into was even larger than a common eagle owl.
It stood a full meter tall, with a wingspan of over three meters.
During his initial Transfiguration, Luke felt somewhat bewildered and helpless.
He lowered his head and saw his reflection through the polished floor.
"So, my Animagus is consistent with my Patronus; it's an owl?"
Luke was both surprised and unsurprised by this.
Although it wasn't the handsome raptor like an eagle that he most desired, an owl was still acceptable.
Owls not only possess excellent flying abilities but also have night vision and hearing, allowing them to move freely at night, making them very suitable for stealth.
However, transforming into an owl did not mean he could fly immediately.
Luke flapped his wings, attempting to fly repeatedly within the hall, stumbling and falling countless times, scattering feathers everywhere.
Finally, after numerous attempts, he successfully took flight.
Although he had experienced flying on a broom, flying by himself was a completely different experience.
Immersed in flight, Luke felt the hall was not spacious enough, so he swiftly drifted out of the window and continuously circled and soared above Rivendell, taking in the entire scenery of Rivendell.
Below, on the observation deck, Elrond looked up at the sky and smiled.
Once he had flown enough, Luke flew directly towards Elrond and, as soon as he landed, transformed back into his human form.
"Thank you for your help, Lord Elrond, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to successfully Transfigure so quickly."
Luke expressed his gratitude.
Elrond shook his head.
"This is your own effort; I merely provided you with a space for practice."
He then asked, "By the way, how was your mission this time?"
Luke concisely recounted everything that had happened on the Lonely Mountain.
Upon hearing that Luke had subdued Smaug the Dragon, even the well-traveled Elrond couldn't help but be greatly astonished.
Since dragons were created by Morgoth, no one except Morgoth had ever been able to subdue a dragon.
Not even the Dark Lord Sauron was an exception.
He hadn't expected such a change to occur with Luke now.
At first, Elrond was concerned whether this was a trick by Smaug the Dragon, but upon learning the nature of the unbreakable Vow and that the contract was completed under Gandalf's witness, Elrond finally felt relieved.
He trusted Gandalf's wisdom and knew he wouldn't act aimlessly.
Therefore, after Luke requested healing for the dragon's injuries, Elrond readily agreed.
Afterward, Luke did not linger in Rivendell and returned to Lake-Town once again.
However, this time he chose not to return via the fireplace but directly transformed into an owl, preparing to cross the Misty Mountains to thoroughly familiarize himself with his Animagus.
Although he had successfully mastered Animagus Transfiguration, it was still only at a beginner level, and he could not perform it without his wand.
If he were a Transfiguration master like Professor McGonagall, he could perform Animagus without a wand, and even incorporate the wand into his body, making it a part of himself.
Therefore, even after successfully mastering Animagus, Luke needed to practice continuously until it became second nature.
The Misty Mountains towered into the clouds.
Luke flew along, seeing traces of Trolls, Orcs, and Wargs in the mountains, but he did not stop, flying eastward until he crossed the mountains and reached the eastern side of the Misty Mountains.
Here, he encountered the Great Eagles.
The Great Eagles also spotted him and swiftly charged towards him.
Luke was startled, wondering if they mistook him for prey.
He was about to transform back into human form when a voice reached his ears.
"What are you? Although you look like an owl, you don't smell like an owl; instead, you have a human scent?"
A Great Eagle circled around Luke, curiously examining him and asking the question.
Luke breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the Eagle King had no intention of attacking him.
But then he reacted, even more surprised: "You can talk? Oh no, it's that I can understand you?"
A strange look appeared in the Eagle King's sharp eyes.
"I am a messenger of Manwë, King of the Valar, and King of all Birds, so naturally I can communicate with all fowls."
"But what are you? Why do you look like an owl, but carry a human scent?"
"I am not a thing, ah, no, I am a thing—
Luke only felt that after turning into a bird, his brain capacity had shrunk, and he quickly introduced himself.
"I am the Wizard Luke. When I crossed the Misty Mountains with Gandalf and the others, you even gave us a ride. Do you remember?"
The Eagle King suddenly realized: "I remember you, the Wizard who was with Gandalf. You killed Azog, the King of the Orcs, at that time."
"Yes, that's me." Luke nodded.
"Then why did you turn into a bird? I remember you were human before."
"Well, this is magic transformation, which allows me to turn into an animal."
"Sounds similar to a skin-changer."
Seeing Luke, this Wizard who could turn into a bird and communicate with them,
The Eagle King was very interested in Luke and invited him to be a guest at the Eagle King's nest.
At the Eagle King's invitation, Luke arrived at their dwelling place, which was on a cliff not far from High Pass and Goblin-town. There was a rock platform there like a wide shelf.
Giant nests were built on it, stacked with thick branches intertwined layer by layer, and inside, finer branches and feathers were laid, and there were even entire Warg pelts as padding.
Luke landed on the nest, and instantly it was as if he had arrived in a land of Giants, surrounded by Eagle Kings looking at him with interested and curious eyes.
The Eagle King expressed his welcome to his arrival.
The Eagle Kings possessed wisdom and understood the languages of Elves and men, but they could not communicate directly.
Now encountering Luke, this Wizard who could turn into an owl and communicate with them, the Eagle Kings were also very curious.
The Eagle Kings brought fruits that grew in the Misty Mountains to entertain him, and even caught a half-dead Warg.
Their enthusiastic attitude made Luke somewhat overwhelmed.
In the eagle's nest, there were also some newly hatched chicks, whose bodies were larger than Luke's, chirping and very active.
However, Luke noticed one lonely chick, which was very weak compared to its other siblings, and its cries were also faint.
It looked like it was congenitally weak, unable to compete with its other siblings, and ate the least.
And their parents seemed very indifferent, with no intention of specifically caring for it.
Luke frowned slightly. He knew that in nature, the fittest survive, so there were cases where ordinary eagles would throw away or even eat sick and weak chicks.
But the Eagle Kings were a wise race, would they do the same?
However, this was an internal matter for the Eagle Kings, and he found it difficult to speak up.
The Eagle King seemed to know what Luke was thinking and sighed:
"Our Eagle King race lives in the Misty Mountains, and every day we need to fight the Wargs, Orcs, and even more dangerous creatures in the mountains. Only the strongest of our kind can survive in this mountain range."
"And the weak are destined to be eliminated. Perhaps returning to Manwë's embrace earlier is the best outcome for them."
"However, Wizard Luke, if you have compassion, you can take this poor child away and provide him with a dwelling place. This might be a new beginning for him."
"I take it?!" Luke was incredulous when he heard this. How could such a thing as giving away a child happen?
The Eagle King nodded.
And the chick's parents had no objections either.
Luke looked at the thin, pitiful chick and didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Little one, do you want to come with me?"
Luke transformed back into human form, took out dried meat from his pocket and offered it to him, and asked this chick, who was said to be less than three years old.
The growth of the Eagle King race was long, and their infancy was also longer than other races.
However, even though it was less than three years old, the chick was still able to understand Luke's words.
The hungry chick's eyes turned red when it saw the dried meat. As its other siblings were about to snatch the food again, it quickly gobbled down the dried meat.
Then he looked at the bird-man in front of him with kindness, and then at his parents with indifferent eyes, and his siblings who were fighting for food.
Finally, he nodded.
Luke still took the chick with him.
For this, he specially expanded the internal space of a money pouch with an Undetectable Extension Charm to a diameter of ten meters.
This was the limit he could currently cast, but it was enough for the chick to live in.
Accompanying the chick was an eagle's nest gifted by the Eagle King, which was said to be the nest where the Eagle King had once hatched and grown, built from fragrant wood.
In addition, Luke also received feathers, Warg pelts, and some eggshells left by the chicks, all gifted by the Eagle Kings.
Among them, the Eagle King feathers could be used to make Potion cores, and the eggshells could be used to make Potions.
As for the Warg pelt, it could be used as a cushion.
After bidding farewell to the Eagle Kings, Luke transformed into a sculpture again, grabbed the money pouch containing the chick and the eagle's nest, and continued flying eastward.
As for the chick in the money pouch space, it was currently burying its head in all the food stored in Luke's space.
For him, who had not been full for a single day since hatching, nothing was more important than eating!
So the little fellow, who recognized whoever fed him, felt no sadness about being abandoned, and was solely focused on eating.
Luke flew over the Misty Mountains, but instead of flying directly towards the Lonely Mountain, he circled above Beorn's house for a moment before flying down.
"Who is it?" Beorn noticed the anomaly in the sky, and seeing that it was just a raven flying towards him, he still did not relax his guard.
However, when the raven landed and transformed into a human, Beorn's vigilance instantly disappeared.
"Beorn, long time no see!" Luke greeted with a smile.
Seeing that it was Luke, a happy smile also appeared on Beorn's face.
"So it's you, Luke."
"Was that your animal form just now? If we skin-changers didn't all turn into Giant Bears, I would have thought you were one of my kind too."
Luke smiled and nodded.
"I just happened to pass by your place, so I came down to visit."
"This is the Animagus I just mastered, but I can only turn into ordinary animals, so it can't compare to your transformation ability."
Beorn disagreed, instead envying: "I really want to turn into a flying animal, that's much cooler than a clumsy Bear that can only run on the ground!"
"Alright, please come in and sit down. I haven't heard from you since you left here. Tell me what happened during this time."
With the host's invitation, Luke naturally would not refuse.
Moreover, he came here this time with the purpose of asking Beorn for advice.
To see if he could gain some inspiration from the skin-changer's transformation into a Bear, thereby upgrading his Animagus.
Luke was not just satisfied with turning into an owl; he also wanted to have a stronger magical creature Animagus, such as a Phoenix, Thunderbird, Dragon, Unicorn, etc.
Of course, since his current Animagus was an owl, a bird, he would first rule out irrelevant animals like Dragons and Unicorns.
After all, no matter how an owl evolves, it is impossible for it to turn into species like Dragons or Unicorns.
Instead, powerful bird-like magical creatures such as the Phoenix and Thunderbird might have a slight possibility of evolution.
After all, isn't there a saying about a sparrow becoming a Phoenix? Maybe an owl can do it too?
Although it was a very unreliable idea, if it succeeded, the rewards would be enormous.
A Phoenix possesses immortality. Once it ages or dies, even if it is hit by Avada Kedavra, it will be reborn from the ashes.
This ability is simply a dream come true.
Next is the Thunderbird. The Thunderbird has the power to change the weather, able to summon lightning and storms, and even the ability to foresee danger...
In Beorn's cottage,
Luke also told Beorn everything that had happened during this time.
When he heard that Thorin was afflicted with Dragon sickness and had lost his mind, Beorn also snorted coldly.
"These Dwarves are always so greedy and blind. Even if the treasure tainted with the Dragon's magic was the Causes, wasn't it also his own problem?"
Beorn had always disliked the Dwarves.
He only took them in back then because both sides had a common enemy.
Now that Thorin had gone mad, in Beorn's eyes, it was his own doing.
However, Beorn wasn't too interested in the Dwarves' situation; instead, he focused more attention on another matter.
"You really subdued that Dragon?" Beorn asked, eyes wide with disbelief.
Luke had grown accustomed to such expressions and nodded with a smile.
"This is truly unheard of, it's so astonishing!" Beorn exclaimed, looking at him with admiration, "To be able to subdue the evil Dragon, it won't be long before your name is spread throughout all of Middle-earth!"
"I think you will soon have a very glorious title, perhaps 'Dragon-binder'? Or 'Smaug's Master'?"
?
"But if you ask me, 'Dragon Rider' is the most suitable, after all, you are the only one in Middle-earth who can control a Dragon!"
Beorn was already enthusiastically thinking of future titles for Luke.
Seeing Beorn half-jokingly talking about his title, Luke still took the opportunity to ask him about the principle of the skin-changer's transformation.
Beorn shook his head at this.
"Our skin-changer's transformation ability comes from the inheritance of our ancestors' bloodline. Legend has it that our ancestors were humans living in the Misty Mountains, and they gained the ability to turn into Bears by receiving the blessing of the spirits of nature."
"I don't know if this rumor is true or not, because turning into a Giant Bear is a natural thing for us; it awakens at a certain age. So I don't know much either."
Luke had been prepared for this and was not too disappointed.
However, he still asked Beorn for a favor, to perform a transformation on the spot to see if he could discover anything.
Beorn did not refuse.
But before transforming, he had to take off his clothes.
Beorn's transformation was different from Luke's Animagus; it would merge his clothes into his skin, so once he transformed, his clothes would be torn apart.
So Luke could only try his best to ignore the naked man in front of him, silently telling himself it was just for research.
Oh, damn it! My eyes are going to get a stye!
Luke wailed in his heart.
After Beorn was ready, he began to adjust his emotions, as if anger was rising. Veins began to bulge on his forehead, his muscles twitched, he gasped for breath, clenched his fists, his body rapidly expanded, and his skin grew thick, black fur.
Finally, a black Giant Bear as large as a house stood before Luke.
As Beorn transformed into a giant bear, a wild, primal sense of oppression washed over them.
Even knowing the giant bear in front of him was Beorn, there was still an urge to retreat.
"Beorn, don't resist later. Can I examine the magic circulation within your body?"
The giant bear nodded, signaling for him to proceed.
Seeing Beorn agree, Luke immediately placed his hand on the giant bear's skin and slowly injected magic into it to sense how the magic operated within the giant bear.
The reason Animagi cannot transform into magical creatures is due to the fundamental difference in how Wizard magic and magical creature magic operate.
And once this method of magic operation is forcibly broken, it can easily lead to severe and unpredictable consequences.
For example, the Quintaped in the magic world is said to have been transformed from a Wizard.
But because the magic operation method within the body changed during the transformation, once they became a Quintaped, they could never change back, thus adding a new creature to the magic world.
In the magic world, very few Wizards practice Animagus, and even fewer succeed.
There were only seven registered Animagi in the entire 20th century, and even if those who secretly practiced without registering were added, there weren't many in total.
There were no successful precedents of transforming into magical creatures, coupled with the severe consequences brought by those who did transform into magical creatures.
Therefore, Wizards in the magic world never dared to easily attempt Animagus transformations into magical animals.
However, it was different for Luke.
Although Beorn was a skin-changer, his ability to transform into a giant bear was an excellent reference.
If he could unravel the mystery of Beorn's transformation and integrate it into his own Animagus, he might be able to possess a stronger Animagus.
Luke very carefully sensed the magic operation within the giant bear, feeling the difference between its magic circulation and his own.
Beorn also had magic within his body, and it was not low.
This was also the reason he could transform into a giant bear.
However, as Luke continued to perceive the magic operation system within the giant bear, his expression became increasingly solemn, and he finally sighed and withdrew his hand.
"Thank you, Beorn, you can change back now."
The giant bear let out a low growl, its massive body rapidly shrinking, eventually transforming back into human form.
Beorn put his clothes back on and asked, "Did you gain anything?"
Luke nodded: "I gained a lot. Your magic circulation method is very unique. If I could fully replicate it, perhaps I could unravel the mystery of the skin-changer's transformation."
"It's just that your magic circulation system is too complex. To record it all would probably be a huge undertaking, requiring at least several years or even longer!"
magic circulation is similar to the circulation of true qi in meridians in Wuxia novels, forming a complete and complex magic circulation system within the body.
However, the magic circulation and operation of Wizards are not the same as those of magical creatures.
If a Wizard forcibly transforms into a magical creature, the magic circulation within their body will be broken.
At best, magic loses balance and becomes chaotic, turning them into a Squib.
At worst, they permanently become a magical creature, with their soul trapped within the beast's body, even worse than a Blood-Curse Beastman!
After all, it is impossible for two magic circulation systems to coexist within one person's body.
However, Beorn was different.
Luke discovered that he had one type of magic circulation when in human form, but another type of magic circulation system when transforming into a giant bear.
Beorn could freely switch between these two systems, allowing him to change back and forth between human and giant bear forms.
If he could find the switching point between the two, Luke might be able to find a way to make Animagi transform into magical creatures.
But this was still too distant for Luke at the moment.
Just recording Beorn's complex magic circulation system would take a very long time.
And there could be no deviation or omission in between.
Otherwise, it would be a serious magic accident.
To this, Beorn waved his hand very readily and said:
"What's the big deal? If you want to research, you can find me anytime, even stay here permanently. I'm the only one here year-round, so you're very welcome to visit!"
Luke was very grateful to Beorn. He had originally prepared himself for Beorn's refusal, or even hostility.
After all, the transformation ability was the foundation of the skin-changer race's power. If it were deciphered by outsiders or a method to counter it was found, it would be like handing over the power of life and death to others for the skin-changers.
But Beorn allowed Luke to research on him, which was a great trust.
Luke owed him a favor, so he naturally had to repay it.
He thought for a moment, since Beorn had magic within him, he would make a wand for him.
Hearing that Luke was going to make him a wand, Beorn was also very pleasantly surprised.
"Is that possible? I mean, I'm just a skin-changer, can I really cast spells with a wand?"
Luke nodded affirmatively.
"You have magic within you. As long as you have a wand, of course you can cast spells. If you don't believe me, you can try with my wand."
Luke handed his wand to Beorn and taught him the most basic Lumos spell.
Luke's wand was naturally not suitable for Beorn, but it was not difficult to cast a simple Lumos spell with it.
As a point of light glowed at the tip of the wand, Beorn looked as if he had seen the most wondrous thing, a very happy smile appearing on his face.
He immediately eagerly requested to Luke: "Luke, please make me a wand, this is too magical!"
Luke smiled and nodded.
"Of course, that's what I was going to do."
To make a wand for Beorn, the first step was naturally to find a suitable wand body and core for him.
He had Galadriel's hair and giant eagle feathers that were suitable for a wand core.
However, when Luke took out these two, neither was compatible with Beorn until Beorn brought out a Warg he had killed the day before. Only then did Luke find a suitable wand core for him from the Warg – a Warg's heartstring.
As for the wand body, Mirkwood also had many magical trees.
Luke rode his broom to Mirkwood and found a suitable wand body for Beorn, which was a section of heartwood cut from a very old oak tree.
After collecting the materials for the wand, Luke began to make the wand for Beorn.
However, Luke did not intend to make it here.
The wand-making process was complex and time-consuming. He had been away from Lake-Town for some time and didn't know if the Orc army had arrived.
Especially that giant dragon, he didn't know if it had been well-behaved during his absence.
"Beorn, interested in experiencing Floo Powder travel?" Luke invited him with a smile.
Gandalf was busy preparing for the arrival of the Orc army, and he couldn't just do nothing.
It was also a good opportunity to invite Beorn to Lake-Town to join the fight against the Orcs.
He remembered that in the original timeline, this individual also participated in the Battle of Five Armies, dealing heavy blows to the Orcs, and even killing Bolg, Azog's son.
Hearing that it was about fighting Orcs, Beorn agreed without even thinking.
His kin had all died at the hands of Orcs, and his hatred for Orcs was deeply ingrained. He would agree without hesitation to anything that involved killing Orcs.
So, after arranging for the livestock, the two used Floo Powder to teleport directly to Lake-Town through the fireplace.
In the fireplace at Lake-Town, green flames flashed, and Luke emerged first.
The next second, the tall figure of Beorn appeared, accidentally inhaling some soot. He coughed awkwardly, hunched over, as he crawled out of the fireplace.
Seeing this, Luke waved his hand to clear the soot from him and asked with a chuckle.
"Beorn, are you alright?"
Beorn coughed until tears came to his eyes, waved his hand, his face unreadable.
"Cough cough I'm fine—!"
Bilbo heard the commotion and walked in from outside. Seeing the two, his eyes lit up, and he quickly ran forward.
"Luke, and Mr. Beorn, how did you come together?"
"Long time no see, Mr. Baggins." Beorn greeted politely. He had a good impression of this Hobbit.
Luke also explained with a smile: "Beorn is a guest I invited. He will join us in fighting the Orcs."
"By the way, where's Gandalf? Has he not returned yet?"
Bilbo shook his head.
"Bard and the residents of Lake-town have all migrated here, but Gandalf has not returned yet. Bard said he went to Mirkwood, wanting to persuade the Elves to ally with humans and Dwarves."
Luke shook his head upon hearing this.
Gandalf's trip would probably not be smooth.
Thranduil was not an Elf with a broad mind like Elrond; he only cared about the Elves of the Woodland Realm.
Not to mention allying with Dwarves, don't even think about it.
Putting the matter aside, he then asked: "What are Bard and the others doing now?"
"Bard and the others are currently building defenses, preparing to mend the gaps in the city walls so they can withstand Orc attacks," Bilbo said.
"Then let's go take a look together!" Luke said.
Immediately, the three went together to Bard's location.
Along the way, Luke looked at the residents of Lake-town, who were setting up makeshift tents using the ruined walls as foundations, and couldn't help but frown.
It was now late autumn, early winter, and the temperature in Lake-Town, located in the north, was starting to get cold.
Such crude living conditions could lead to people freezing to death.
The three arrived at the city gate.
At this time, Bard and the men were moving the stones, piling them up one by one in the gaps of the city wall.
After moving a large stone, Bard took a breath, saw Luke and the other two, and immediately showed surprise and happiness. "Luke, Bilbo said you went on a long journey, I didn't expect you to be back so soon!"
"Are you repairing the city walls?" Luke asked.
Bard nodded.
"Although the walls of Lake-Town are severely damaged, they can still be used. I want to repair the city walls as quickly as possible before the Orc army arrives, so we can prevent the Orcs from entering the city and harming the residents."
"Since that's the case, I'll give you a hand too." Luke said, drawing his wand.
Then he waved his wand at the broken city walls.
"Reparo~"
The next second, time around them seemed to flow backward. Except for the areas burned by dragon fire, the city walls were continuously repairing, scattered rubble reversing, filling in each damaged gap.