"Go, go!"
Shouts came from outside the window.
"What's that noise?"
Inside the castle, Levi, who'd been comfortably leaning back in his chair reading, suddenly turned his head with slightly furrowed brows.
He closed his book neatly, placed it on the table, walked to the window, leaned out, and looked toward where the sounds originated.
When he saw the scene below, Levi's face registered pure bewilderment.
There were Saruman and Little Pink, one on each side, tugging at both ends of the staff in a contest of strength, while a growing crowd of residents surrounded them, cheering enthusiastically.
"Quite lively."
Coming to his senses, Levi nodded and leaned against the window frame, watching with genuine interest.
When the contest reached its heated stage—mainly Saruman exhausted with his aged face flushed crimson—Levi even extended his hand out the window and started clapping with amusement.
"Levi!"
Saruman nearly fainted from sheer rage.
"You're just watching from up there—quickly control this rude dragon of yours!"
"What?" Levi was somewhat puzzled.
What, you want me to blow a biased whistle?
"I said, control your dragon! That's my staff—mine!"
Now Levi understood.
He jumped directly from the window, waving at the crowd. "Disperse, disperse. Nothing to see here—don't gather around like this."
So the residents fell silent and scattered reluctantly.
Little Pink also released the staff, snorting disdainfully at Saruman.
Saruman also snorted disdainfully in return. He protectively cradled his staff, saying, "You should know what 'dragons' truly are. I hope when raising this creature, you've made sufficient preparations for the consequences."
"Little Pink isn't like those evil dragons."
Levi refuted Saruman's accusation firmly.
"I don't believe you can't sense Little Pink's fundamental difference from those corrupted wyrms."
With Levi's reminder, Saruman came to his senses.
Indeed.
This dragon was different.
If it were those dragons whose nature was extremely evil, especially young dragons like this—playing with a staff?
They'd probably bite straight for the head, even if their supposed master stood beside them.
Of course, generally those who could tame evil dragons were basically fellows even more fierce and cruel than the dragons themselves.
As for this dragon called 'Little Pink'...
Saruman narrowed his eyes slightly with suspicion.
Truly strange.
For a dragon, its emotions were far too stable and its temperament too gentle, to the point where he'd subconsciously treated it like some domesticated animal, even though it had already grown larger than a wild ox.
"I can naturally sense it, but I still suggest you watch it carefully to avoid any future trouble."
"You don't need to remind me of that. Moreover, Little Pink attended school—it's a civilized, cultured dragon."
Levi stroked Little Pink's iron-like scales affectionately. Little Pink also pressed its head over, nuzzling his hand.
Looking at Little Pink's steadily developing body, suddenly Levi felt somewhat moved by how much it had grown.
Also remembering some matters.
Has Little Pink already developed fire-breathing organs? Need to check this later...
Levi returned his attention to the present, asking, "Let's talk about you instead. Do you have some business coming here?"
Saruman asked back, "Must I necessarily have business when I come?"
"I'm simply acting according to what you promised. You said if I wanted to know something, I should come see for myself."
"So, I came."
"I toured inside that Nameless Tower but couldn't find what I was looking for."
Speaking of this, Saruman could finally deliver the statement he'd prepared long ago.
"Heh, seems you also have a stingy side. Won't even display a bit of useful information..."
"What information specifically?"
"About that beacon, plus those mysterious artifacts you possess."
"Oh, that."
Levi shook his head, opening the castle door.
"Come inside with me first."
Standing at the door wasn't proper for this conversation.
Unlike Saruman's austere residence, Levi's castle had an overall bright, warm atmosphere with excellent lighting. Furniture and such were all personally crafted by him—perhaps not luxurious, but definitely comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
As soon as Saruman sat down, he realized Orthanc's uncomfortable hard chairs should definitely be replaced.
Sitting in such chairs to read books or conduct research was undoubtedly a far more pleasant experience.
Entering the quiet, warm castle, some words could be spoken more frankly.
Levi explained carefully, "I don't expect you to fully understand, but some knowledge itself is a kind of danger. After learning it, the knowledge brings disaster upon the knower."
"I call it 'forbidden knowledge.' This kind of knowledge—even you, as an Istari—had best not pursue."
"At least while in Middle-earth, I won't suggest you delve into it."
"Of course, actually its own inherent harm isn't catastrophically high. As long as careful countermeasures are taken and frequent purification measures performed, even ordinary people can bear exposure to it."
"But I still don't know whether more malevolent existences have already cast their gaze here from beyond or whether they've truly vanished without a trace, so I usually won't let people access these things."
"Sometimes, 'not knowing' itself is a kind of protection."
Saruman could somewhat understand these cautious words.
Even without mentioning the exiled Morgoth, that fallen Vala who opposed the Creator himself, just speaking of Sauron—in his most powerful period, ordinary people hearing his name had to pass a test of will. Those with insufficient fortitude would fall directly into paralyzing fear.
Even now during Sauron's weakest period, people tried to avoid mentioning that name.
However...
"Is knowledge about beacons and that star within also forbidden?"
"Oh, that's not it."
Levi waved his hand dismissively.
"I'm simply too lazy to write it all down."
After all, besides Levi, no second person in this world could obtain nether stars. Similarly, besides him, no one could use nether stars for anything meaningful.
Saruman said carefully, "Recently my research reached a critical juncture. I'm very interested in this aspect's knowledge."
Finishing speaking, he waited for Levi to raise the inevitable price.
"Oh?"
As Saruman expected, Levi showed an interested expression.
"Never thought you could actually research something substantial from it."
"Did you melt it into liquid to make enchanted cloth, or use it as a core to research some spell, or analyze its fundamental properties?"
"...None of those."
"Alright then."
Levi was slightly disappointed.
He didn't beat around the bush, getting straight to the point. "Regarding beacons and the nether stars within, they all originate from an extremely powerful monster. I call it the 'Wither.'"
"According to my understanding, the Wither is some kind of aggregate formed from the residue of a powerful undead overlord. Though merely residue, when it awakens, the entire world can hear its roar—accompanied by a massive explosion that could collapse even Orthanc."
"It commands power that can wither all life. All living things are its enemy. Upon life killed by the Wither blooms a black rose of death. Anyone approaching such roses rapidly falls into decay."
Hearing Levi's narration, Saruman felt genuinely surprised.
On one hand, surprised by the exaggerated content he described. On the other, also not expecting Levi to directly reveal these secrets without even mentioning compensation or trade.
"Sounds like that's not something from this world."
"Indeed not."
Regarding the Wither's specific origins, Levi didn't explain much further.
On one hand, he himself wasn't entirely certain. On the other, it wasn't necessary—Saruman could understand the concept.
After all, Arda's history also contained one intruder not belonging to this world—that spider-form evil god from beyond the void: Ungoliant.
This great spider evil god was even more heavyweight. It beat Morgoth until his cries for help were loud enough to wake the entire Balrog host sleeping deep underground. Finally, only by relying on the Balrog army's timely rescue and their fiery attribute advantage could they drive it back into darkness.
Regarding Ungoliant's ultimate ending, no one knew, no one could investigate conclusively, but it truly hadn't appeared again across several ages.
Everything said so far hadn't exceeded Saruman's cognitive range or understanding.
Levi continued thoughtfully, "The nether star is the item condensed after the Wither's death."
"Quite marvelous, isn't it? A powerful undead monster commanding the very power to wither life—after finally dissipating, it condenses into a flawless, pure star-like crystal absolutely brimming with life force."