In LOTR with Harry Potter Sign-In System!

Círdan led Kael to the machine and proudly demonstrated.

"This is a steam engine I designed after a month of contemplation, cast entirely from fine steel with a bit of mithril added. It heats water by burning it in the boiler, making it boil to produce high-temperature, high-pressure steam that drives pistons in reciprocating motion.

Combined with crankshafts and gear transmission, it transfers power to the propeller at the ship's stern, thus propelling the vessel through water."

Looking at this massive steam engine, Kael couldn't help but marvel.

If not for the group of elves around him, he would have thought he'd traveled to the Steam Age again.

Just as he was curious about what fuel the steam engine would use, he saw Círdan take out a red gemstone, chanting elven spells while holding it. The ruby instantly became bright and hot.

Then Círdan placed the stone in the furnace beneath the boiler. The gem grew brighter and hotter, causing mysterious red runes to appear on the furnace, which then blazed with intense flames using the stone as its fire source.

Under the flame's burning, water in the boiler was quickly heated to boiling and began slowly driving the machine.

Watching the constantly steaming engine, Kael was stunned for a long time.

The surrounding elven craftsmen were even more shocked and delighted.

They had always followed ancient traditions, but this steam engine shattered their understanding.

They felt a completely new era was about to dawn.

As the creator, Círdan looked at his work with satisfaction and pride.

He said to Kael. "Kael, this steam engine came from your inspiration. Please give it a name."

Other elven craftsmen also looked expectantly at Kael.

Kael didn't refuse. Looking at the steaming, chugging engine, he smiled and said. "Let's call it 'New Age.'"

"New Age? New Age Steam Engine, quite fitting indeed," Círdan nodded approvingly after hearing this. "Then the steel ship built with this steam engine shall be called the New Age as well!"

In the following days, Círdan used the steam engine as the core, working with other elven craftsmen to build a steel giant.

Kael formally bid farewell to Círdan.

Unable to persuade him to stay, Círdan gave Kael a swan ship he had personally crafted as a parting gift.

The swan ship carried Círdan's blessing power, not only light and sturdy but also able to glide over water and never sink.

Kael stored the swan ship in his space bag, planning to place it on the Black Lake when he returned.

With Círdan's permission, Kael also connected the Grey Havens' fireplace to the Floo Network and gave Círdan a bottle of Floo Powder.

Círdan warmly welcomed the Floo Network's establishment. With it, elves from Rivendell, Lothlórien, or the Woodland Realm who wanted to sail west from the Grey Havens would find it much more convenient, avoiding long journeys and potential dangers.

Great Eagle Thorondor had been playing wildly during Kael's busy days, flying daily over the ocean to explore its depths, departing at sunrise and returning at sunset, and even catching deep-sea fish.

Now that it was time to leave, he was reluctant.

Kael patted him. "Alright, you can come anytime you want. The distance from Weathertop to here isn't far for you, is it?"

Thorondor tilted his head, thought about it, and realized this made sense. No longer reluctant, he directly carried Kael away from the Grey Havens.

But Kael and Thorondor didn't return by the same route. Instead, they continued flying west.

Though Kael's main mission was collecting Mercury of the Mind, he also aimed to unlock check-in locations.

In this coastal region, besides the Grey Havens, there were two other elven ports at the western ends of Lhûn Gulf's north and south sides: Harlond and Forlond.

Both ports were in Lhûn Gulf with the Grey Havens, only a few hundred miles apart.

Having reached the Grey Havens, Kael naturally wouldn't miss the opportunity to check in at these two ports.

The Great Eagle soon carried Kael to Forlond on Lhûn Gulf's northern shore.

Forlond was one of Lindon's important ports, mainly inhabited by Noldor elves.

The Noldor belonged to the "Calaquendi," or Light-elves. They had followed Finwë to Valinor and basked in the Two Trees' radiance, thus always surrounded by a faint luminous aura.

But later, due to conflicts over the Silmarils, some Noldor elves returned to Middle-earth under Fëanor's leadership, including Galadriel.

The Noldor could be said to be the most influential elven branch in Middle-earth, their history spanning multiple Ages, filled with legend and strife.

After initially awakening by Lake Cuiviénen, the Noldor accepted the Valar's invitation and, led by Finwë, embarked on the journey to Valinor, ultimately basking in the Two Trees' light and becoming the first elven group to settle in the West.

But after Finwë's son Fëanor created the Silmarils, Morgoth's murder of Finwë and theft of the gems ignited the Noldor's vengeance.

Defying the Valar's ban, Fëanor led part of the Noldor into exile in Middle-earth, waging a long war against Morgoth and sparking subsequent conflicts.

Among elves, the Noldor were warlike, with strong will and pride in their nature.

This was perfectly embodied in Galadriel, a Noldor princess.

Galadriel had similarly defied the Valar's ban, following the Noldor from Valinor to wage vengeful war against Morgoth. Even after Morgoth's defeat and Sauron's rise, she organized the White Council to lead opposition against Sauron's forces.

Her pride had even led her to refuse the Valar's forgiveness and return to Valinor, choosing continued exile in Middle-earth.

Additionally, Noldor elves were renowned for wisdom, memory, and pursuit of knowledge, excelling in forging, metallurgy, and gemcraft.

The Silmarils, palantíri, Three Elven Rings, and famous elven swords all came from Noldor hands.

When the Great Eagle appeared over Forlond, the Noldor elves below watched warily at the eagle and Kael on its back.

Kael didn't have the eagle land but used Apparition to appear on the ground.

"Who are you?" A black-haired Noldor elf approached inquiringly.

"I am Kael, black-robed wizard of Weathertop, just finished visiting Lord Círdan of the Grey Havens. Hearing of Forlond's reputation, I came specifically to visit," Kael communicated fluently in Quenya.

Quenya was the Noldor language, but in Middle-earth, due to Sindarin's wider use, Quenya gradually became more of a written or ceremonial language. Even among the Noldor's daily communication, Sindarin was more commonly used.

The dark-haired elf showed surprise at Kael's Quenya, his attitude warming somewhat as he switched to Quenya. "Your Quenya is quite good."

"Thank you. I had an excellent teacher," Kael said with involuntary tenderness, smiling.

Arwen had taught him all his Elvish, including both Sindarin and Quenya.

The dark-haired elf caught his expression change and, seeing the Evenstar pendant at his chest, made a guess.

"I am Maelgûn, harbor master of Forlond. Wizard Kael, your reputation reaches even this westernmost land. Meeting you today proves it well-deserved."

"Harbor-master Maelgûn flatters me!" Kael smiled courteously.

Maelgûn then invited Kael to visit the harbor master's residence.

Kael gladly accepted.

As a port city inhabited by Noldor, Forlond's architecture was full of Noldor characteristics, both magnificent and exquisite, with white walls and terraces, crystal windows, streets paved with white pebbles, and even white sand beaches.

The overall effect was holy and radiant.

Household items were also exquisite, each like artwork.

Kael marveled. The Noldor truly deserved their reputation as the most skilled craftsmen among elves, pursuing beauty to perfection.

Through conversation with Maelgûn, Kael learned he had once been one of High King Gil-galad's guards.

During the Last Alliance war, the Noldor suffered heavy losses, including Gil-galad himself. Maelgûn was among the few surviving Noldor elves.

After Gil-galad's fall, Círdan became Lindon's leader, but since Círdan was a Teleri elf and Lord of the Grey Havens, Forlond, where the Noldor gathered, was somewhat autonomous.

But Forlond had gradually declined.

After the First Age's War of Wrath and the Second Age's Last Alliance, Lindon's Noldor were devastated, gradually fading from Middle-earth and becoming increasingly distant from its affairs.

Combined with longing for their homeland Valinor, more elves felt the sea's call and went to the Grey Havens to sail west.

The number of Noldor remaining in Lindon continuously dwindled. Even Maelgûn, Lord of Forlond, planned to sail west when the last group of elves left.

"Wizard Kael, I heard the spear Aeglos is in your possession. Is this true?"

Near the conversation's end, Maelgûn suddenly asked.

Seeing Maelgûn's expectant gaze, Kael nodded and took spear Aeglos from his space bag, handing it over.

Maelgûn took the spear with emotional expression, eyes full of memory.

"Aeglos, meaning Icicle. Once gathered, the wisdom and craft of many Noldor smiths, forged from meteoric iron and mithril from the stars. We once tried finding it but gained nothing. I never expected to see it again."

Stroking the spear, his face showed relief, as if his final obsession was resolved, becoming more ethereal and seemingly isolated from the world.

He returned the spear to Kael, thanking him with a relieved smile.

"Thank you for fulfilling my last wish. I feel the sea's call. I fear I cannot wait for the last of my people's departure and must go first."

Hearing Maelgûn's words, Kael paused, then congratulated him. "Then congratulations in advance!"

Just then, the system prompted:

[Hogwarts Check-in System: Located at Forlindon—Forlond, check in?]

Kael's heart stirred as he silently thought: "Check in."