The simple meal concluded all too quickly.
Although this elven lord held one of the highest positions in Middle-earth, he proved remarkably approachable. To be honest, before arriving here, Garrett hadn't even been certain he'd be granted an audience.
He never expected to be personally received by Elrond himself.
Perhaps it was because Rivendell had not welcomed human visitors for quite some time, or maybe the wise lord could somehow sense Garrett's achievements, sparking his curiosity about this peculiar adventurer. But either way, it was likely just a brief interlude in Elrond's long life, perhaps merely an inconspicuous note in an endless symphony.
After their pleasant conversation, Elrond granted Garrett permission to explore the valley freely, then graciously took his leave.
That night, Lindir arranged comfortable quarters for him. Lying on a bed more luxurious than anything he'd ever experienced, Garrett couldn't help but marvel, truly elven craftsmanship; it was more comfortable than any bed he'd ever slept in.
The night passed peacefully.
---
The next morning, as soon as Garrett stepped outside, he immediately felt many curious gazes upon him. Turning his head, he noticed several elves watching him with barely concealed interest, clearly wondering what made this human special enough to be personally received by their lord.
Word of his arrival and his recent deeds had obviously spread throughout the valley. Not at all intimidated by the attention, he met their gazes directly.
He had to admit, elves were indeed blessed in countless ways.
Thanks to their extraordinary lifespans, they had ample time to master all manner of skills. With just modest effort over the centuries, they could become exceptionally well-rounded warriors and scholars.
On top of that, they were all strikingly beautiful, truly a sight to behold. Also, elves had a maximum HP of 30, he noted with interest.
"Greetings, traveler from distant lands. Is there any news from the settlements of Men to the west?"
Finally, one elf could no longer contain their curiosity and approached to speak.
"Nothing worth mentioning. People go about their daily lives much as they always have."
"I heard you defeated an entire war-band single-handedly, is this true?"
"Something like that."
"Remarkable... Do you perhaps know magic?"
Here we go again, why did everyone assume that?
"Unfortunately, no. I'm just an ordinary human. Defeating that war-band was more due to strategy and luck."
And a bit of cheating, he added silently.
"Even so, it's quite extraordinary," the elf said with genuine admiration.
"A rising star among the race of Men."
He continued, "Will you be staying here for a while?"
"If possible, I'd love to."
"Wonderful. If you don't mind, I could show you around our realm. Our land is beautiful and safe, no shadow of evil touches this place."
"Then I'll be in your care."
And just like that, Garrett had acquired a tour guide.
"I haven't asked your name yet."
"I am Erestor."
"Garrett."
Mountains, rivers, forests, waterfalls, grand halls, cozy dwellings, gardens and courtyards, every kind of beautiful scene, whether wrought by nature or elvish hands, seemed to exist here in perfect harmony. If one could imagine it, it could be found somewhere in this hidden valley. Though Rivendell was somewhat busier during the day than at night, it was undoubtedly more picturesque.
Garrett couldn't help but express his awe:
"It's truly beautiful. I've never seen scenery like this. After seeing this place, I don't even want to go home."
Beside him, Erestor nodded with a proud smile.
Ding.
As they passed by a particular building, the sound of rhythmic hammering caught Garrett's attention.
Following his gaze, Erestor explained, "That's the forge. Some weapons and armor were slightly damaged in last night's skirmish. Our smiths are working on repairs and maintenance."
Oh? Elven equipment?
Garrett's interest was immediately piqued. "May I take a look inside?"
"Of course. You are Lord Elrond's honored guest, you have every right."
Clang!
As Garrett stepped into the forge, he saw an elf carefully hammering a gleaming longsword into shape.
Noticing the visitor, the elven smith paused in his work and offered a respectful nod.
"This is Garrett, a guest of Lord Elrond. He has expressed interest in our craft," Erestor introduced.
"Well met," the smith said courteously.
"As you can see, I'm forging a replacement blade. To keep my skills sharp, I often take on various repair and crafting tasks for the household."
"May I take a look at the sword?" Garrett asked politely.
"Certainly."
With permission granted, he carefully lifted the longsword from the forge table.
[Elven Steel Sword: Attack Power +7]
Wait, what?
"Are all the swords you use of this quality?"
"Indeed. Is something amiss?"
"No, no, it's excellent. I just wanted to say, your craftsmanship is truly remarkable, truly impressive."
Outwardly composed, Garrett was inwardly reeling at the absurdity of it all.
Bro… even your regular weapons are diamond-tier quality?
What kind of material was this sword forged from? The blade was incredibly well-tempered and balanced.
"You honor me with such praise. Our craft does indeed carry the wisdom of ages," the smith replied modestly.
As he spoke, he began recounting the history of elven smithing to Garrett, from the establishment of the great workshops in ages past to the migration of master craftsmen into this valley. There were countless tales to tell, and he listened with rapt attention.
It was said that even the forge itself was older than most kingdoms of Men.
Garrett ran his hand along the anvil, its elegant design reflecting the timeless elven aesthetic, marveling at how everything here seemed steeped in ancient lore.
[Special Workstation Detected: "Rivendell Master Forge"]
["Alloy Forging" Mod Installed]
[Rivendell Recipes Unlocked]
What?
What?!
He suddenly froze, staring at the forge table, barely suppressing a sharp intake of breath.
A new mod... just unlocked!
"Is something wrong?" Erestor noticed Garrett's reaction and inquired with concern.
"It's nothing. I'm just amazed at how old this forge is, it's far older than I am," Garrett replied.
"No need for such surprise. In elven realms, nearly everything has a long and storied history. You Men might find it overwhelming at first, but for us, it's simply the natural order of things."
"Yes... I'm beginning to understand."
Though he responded appropriately, Garrett's mind had already turned inward. He opened his crafting interface, and discovered an entirely new category of elven-marked items.
Elven steel swords, elven spears, complete sets of elven armor... And to craft these items, a material called Elven Steel was required. As for how to obtain it, he studied the crafting requirements intently.
Elven Steel required a newly unlocked workstation called an Alloy Forge. By combining coal and iron, and expending a portion of experience points, Elven Steel could be produced.
Experience... He had a strong suspicion it represented the "essence" or magical component in the forging process. After all, many elven-crafted items possessed enchanted properties.
If one used only coal and iron without spending experience, the result would be ordinary steel, stronger than iron, but far inferior to true Elven Steel.
Lately, he had been increasingly concerned about his equipment limitations. His iron armor was no longer adequate for the threats he faced, and he simply couldn't acquire diamonds through conventional means. More than once, he'd even considered the mad idea of attempting to steal some from under Smaug's nose in Erebor.
But now, with the Alloy Forging Mod installed, he suddenly saw a bright new path forward. If he could forge equipment rivaling the finest dwarf-work, well, perhaps he didn't need to risk awakening a dragon after all.