In LOTR with Harry Potter Sign-In System!

[Check-in successful. Congratulations on obtaining Hufflepuff's Cup alchemy craft!]

As knowledge flooded into his mind, Kael was immediately delighted.

He hadn't expected to gain another Hufflepuff's Cup creation craft so soon after obtaining Ravenclaw's Diadem alchemy!

Both were relics of Hogwarts' founders.

Gryffindor's sword was indestructible and could absorb beneficial magical substances for unlimited growth.

Ravenclaw's diadem could enhance the wearer's wisdom.

And Helga Hufflepuff's cup was naturally no ordinary object either.

According to the cup's creation knowledge, Hufflepuff's Cup possessed powerful purification and healing abilities. More importantly, it could absorb and store magical energy, even nourishing the user's magical power.

Moreover, it had miraculous effects with food magic: though the cup couldn't conjure food from nothing, with just a bit of food or drink, it could continuously create more, feeding many people.

These conjured foods and drinks contained magical power that nourished the user's body.

Though effects weren't obvious initially, they accumulated tremendous benefits over time.

This was why Lady Hufflepuff lived longest among Hogwarts' four founders.

This check-in harvest greatly satisfied Kael.

He now possessed the knowledge to create two magically powerful items, Ravenclaw's Diadem and Hufflepuff's Cup, and was eager to craft them.

But he knew not to rush, temporarily setting the matter aside.

Having completed the check-in at Forlond, Kael should have left immediately.

However, at Maelgûn's invitation, he decided to stay several days.

He was mainly interested in Noldor forging techniques. The Noldor were renowned for exquisite craftsmanship and the ultimate pursuit of jewelry and weapons, creating treasures like the Silmarils, the Three Elven Rings, and the palantíri.

Many Noldor craftsmen from Lindon gathered here, perfectly convenient for learning.

Though he already possessed goblin craft, who could refuse learning more? Perhaps combining Noldor and goblin techniques could advance his forging skills further.

The Noldor craftsmen were equally impressed by Kael's extraordinary forging techniques, especially amazed by his summoned Flammifer's unlimited growth properties.

Both sides exchanged and discussed their respective skills in friendly communication.

A month passed quickly.

Though feeling greatly rewarded by the leisurely time, Kael had to depart again.

After bidding farewell to Maelgûn and the Noldor craftsmen, Kael rode the Great Eagle to Harlond on the southern shore opposite Forlond.

If Forlond was a Noldor gathering place, then Harlond was a Sindar settlement.

Unlike the Noldor's "warlike" nature, skill in forging, metallurgy, and gemcraft, plus proud and persistent character, the Sindar elves were closer to nature, excelling in music, poetry, and woodland survival, with more elegant and subtle cultural styles.

In Kael's understanding, Noldor elves were more like science students, while Sindar elves resembled liberal arts students.

Moreover, Sindar elves had never reached Valinor or seen the Two Trees, hence the name "Dark Elves."

Of course, these Dark Elves weren't evil. The term merely indicated they'd never seen Western light.

Harlond and Forlond faced each other across Lhûn Gulf from north to south, not far apart, so Kael quickly rode the Great Eagle to the southern port.

He directly used Apparition to teleport from high altitude to the ground.

Harlond's architecture differed from Forlond's white radiance, leaning toward natural styles. The port had abundant vegetation and blooming flowers, like a seaside garden city.

Kael's appearance similarly attracted the port elves' attention.

But unlike the Noldor's natural aloofness and sharpness, Sindar elves appeared more restrained and gentle.

Seeing Kael wasn't hostile, they only curiously glanced at him without actively questioning.

Only after entering the city did a silver-haired male elf approach Kael, saying warmly and politely.

"You must be Wizard Kael. Welcome to Harlond. I'm Calænor, harbor master here. I heard days ago that a wizard had come to the Grey Havens. I didn't expect to meet you so soon."

Seeing the friendly attitude, Kael smiled and nodded.

"Harbor master Calænor, hello. I am Kael. Being curious about Harlond's scenery, I came specifically to tour. I hope I haven't disturbed the peace here."

Calænor smiled gently and shook his head slightly.

"Wizard Kael is too polite. You're Lord Círdan's honored guest and naturally also Harlond's distinguished visitor. If you don't mind, let me introduce the scenery here."

Kael showed a flattered expression. "If it's no trouble, that would be my honor!"

Under the harbor-master's guidance, Kael began touring this Sindar port city.

Unlike northern Forlond's Noldor autonomy, Harlond's Sindar elves more willingly accepted Círdan's rule and had more frequent exchanges with the Grey Havens. Therefore, harbor-master Calænor showed such courtesy to this wizard Círdan valued.

Harlond was a port city full of elven artistic atmosphere.

Melodious instrumental sounds could be heard everywhere, with beautiful songs drifting from deep forests, telling ancient histories, love, and nature.

There were also various crafts created with fine woodwork and silver.

Kael followed Calænor, appreciating Harlond's various sights until the system finally responded.

[Hogwarts Check-in System: Located at Harlindon - Harlond, check in?]

"Check in," Kael silently thought.

[Check-in successful. Congratulations on obtaining the magical portrait creation craft!]

Magical portraits? Kael was surprised. He hadn't expected this from the check-in.

In the magical world, magical portraits were artworks containing special magic. The figures weren't static images but possessed independent consciousness and personality and could freely move and communicate.

Especially in Hogwarts Castle, many magical portraits hung, like the Gryffindor common room entrance guarded by a portrait.

The painting showed a lady called the Fat Lady, who loved singing high notes and drinking, only allowing entry through her password.

The headmaster's office also contained portraits of former headmasters. They rarely spoke but would pretend to doze while secretly observing visitors.

These portraits could not only move but also visit each other, traveling from one painting to another.

They were not only important Hogwarts features but also sometimes served monitoring and message-relay functions.

These portraits were essentially independent personalities living in paintings, with their own consciousness and social circles, everything except being alive.

Though not thrilled by gaining magical portrait knowledge, Kael wasn't disappointed either.

The only problem was, he couldn't paint at all!

Creating magical portraits required basic painting skills combined with magic to successfully craft them.

Otherwise, who knew what bizarre things he'd create? That wouldn't be art but terrifying.

"Harbor master Calænor, are there any skilled painters here?"

Kael thought that since Sindar elves excelled in linguistic and poetic arts, they should also be versed in painting.

Calænor nodded.

"Painting is one of our clan's important skills. Most elves have some involvement. Does Wizard Kael want to commission a painting?"

"Not exactly," Kael smiled and shook his head. "I'm mainly interested in painting and want to find a painter to learn techniques."

Calænor understood and readily agreed to help Kael find a painting teacher.

So Kael stayed temporarily in Harlond and, through Calænor's introduction, learned painting from a highly skilled elven artist.

Honestly, elves with their long lives had accumulated sufficient painting techniques. Any elf could teach painting novice Kael.

There was no need to trouble an exceptionally skilled elven painter.

But results were significant. Under the elven painter's guidance, Kael made obvious progress and quickly began.

Over a month passed, and Kael could paint reasonably well.

Though the elven painter criticized him as "full of craftsman's spirit with no aesthetic sense," Kael was satisfied.

Being a crash course in painting skills, being able to paint recognizably was already good.

As for lacking spirit and being stiff, once he used magic to animate the portraits, they'd be more "lifelike" than master paintings!

Under the elven painter's regretful gaze, Kael formally ended his painting lessons.

But to thank the elven painter's patient teaching, Kael gave him an alchemical creation made during leisure time: a brush that could paint various colors and, when infused with magic, could temporarily animate paintings, though only briefly.

The elven painter was satisfied with this gift, promising Kael could ask about any future painting questions.

As for harbor-master Calænor, who had helped with introductions, Kael gave him mithril as thanks.

Kael then formally bid farewell, mounting Great Eagle Thorondor to fly directly eastward home.

He'd been away for over half a year.

He planned to return to Weathertop first, then go south to the White Mountains' Paths of the Dead to find Sulfur of the Soul.

Flying over the Blue Mountains, past the Shire, Old Forest, Barrow-downs...

Finally, after crossing Bree, he saw Weathertop's castle and tower outline.

Weathertop remained magnificent. Under sunlight, the gold and silver trees glittered brilliantly, tinting the castle gold and silver.

A flock of pure white Great Snowy Owls circled the sky like white clouds surrounding the castle.

Upon discovering the Great Eagle and Kael's arrival, they all flew over.

The Great Snowy Owls chirped joyfully, surrounding the Great Eagle like welcoming their returning king.