After purchasing the blades, Daniel reunited with Bilbo, and together they returned to Bag End. On the way, Bilbo looked at the two bone-chopping blades Daniel had bought and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Daniel, what are you buying two bone-chopping blades for? Don't we already have some at home?"
Daniel struck a chopping stance, holding the blades. "These aren't just bone-chopping blades; these are my weapons! I'll be using them to fend off enemies in the future!"
Bilbo's mouth opened slightly, unable to reconcile this image with that of a Wizard. "As long as you like it."
Seeing Bilbo's expression, Daniel's mouth curved into a slight smile. With a swift motion, the two blades flew from his hands, embedding themselves into a roadside oak tree, half of their length sunk into the trunk.
Bilbo was instantly dumbfounded. "Swords... er, no, blades, come!" The blades pulled from the tree trunk and flew back into Daniel's hands.
Bilbo watched, utterly stunned. Having shown off, Daniel calmly brushed off his clothes, looking every bit the master. But inside, he silently wiped away a bead of sweat. The blades had been inserted too deeply; it took all his strength to pull them out, almost making him lose face. That was a close call!
Upon returning to Bag End, Daniel began a new round of training. He focused on controlling the two blades, trying to make them as responsive as his own limbs. Each blade weighed two pounds, right at the limit of Daniel's magical control.
To achieve more precise control, he simply manipulated the blades to chop wood. Although the process was challenging and could only be maintained briefly at first, as he persevered, Daniel found it easier to control the blades, and their speed became swifter.
As a result, Bag End's winter firewood was completed early by Daniel, with even some left over. Bilbo was overjoyed about this. After all, while Hobbits love life, they don't mind a bit of laziness, and stockpiling firewood before winter is always a daunting task. Now that it was completed ahead of schedule, he was naturally very happy.
However, looking at the two blades whizzing around Daniel, almost invisible and only emitting whooshing sounds as they cut through the air, Bilbo was both amazed and worried. He was always concerned that Daniel might lose control and get injured by the blades. After all, it looked incredibly dangerous!
After the two flying blades danced agilely around Daniel for half an hour, they reluctantly flew back and inserted themselves into the sheaths hanging at his waist. Daniel's control over the flying blades had now reached a level of complete mastery; within a five-meter radius, the blades could arrive instantly.
This brought about a qualitative change in Daniel's offensive power, giving him a certain degree of self-preservation. Moreover, with continuous control and practice, Daniel had successfully managed to float a hundred-pound object and sustain it for a period of time.
For this, Bilbo was the first to experience the thrill of flight, as Daniel floated him in the air like a kite. The surrounding Hobbit neighbors also witnessed Bilbo's feat of flying over the Hobbiton hills, and for a time, Bilbo became a prominent figure in Hobbiton.
Of course, Daniel, as the instigator, also attracted attention. However, due to concerns about his identity as a Wizard, no one dared to approach him. But the title of Daniel the Wizard began to spread from Hobbiton throughout the entire Shire.
Daniel had been living in Bag End for two months when he suddenly bid farewell to Bilbo. "Bilbo, thank you very much for having me for so long. I'm afraid I need to say goodbye."
Bilbo was somewhat caught off guard. "Daniel, was there anything I did that wasn't hospitable enough? Why are you leaving so suddenly?"
Seeing the Hobbit become anxious, Daniel quickly bent down and patted his shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, my friend, you've done well enough! This isn't because of you. I'm just preparing to explore other places. After all, besides Hobbiton, I haven't been anywhere else yet!"
He winked at his friend with a smile. "Of course, when I get tired of traveling, I might come back to stay for a few days. You wouldn't be unwelcome then, would you?"
Bilbo relaxed upon hearing this and immediately shook his head rapidly. "Of course not, you are always welcome here, Daniel."
But he still asked with some concern, "Daniel, where are you planning to go?"
Daniel shook his head. "I don't have any plans yet. I intend to wander and see where I end up, but for now, I don't plan to go too far, so I'll probably just explore within the Shire."
The Shire is neither large nor small; besides Hobbiton, there are many other towns where Hobbits reside. He planned to see if he could sign in at those places.
"Oh, by the way, Bilbo, you should be very familiar with the Shire. Do you have any towns you'd recommend?"
Hearing that Daniel intended to travel within the Shire, Bilbo felt even more relieved. He quickly went to the study, rummaged around, and then pulled out a map of the Shire, spreading it on the table.
"Daniel, since you're traveling within the Shire, the first place I recommend is Michel Delving. It's the capital of the Shire and definitely a must-visit stop," Bilbo said, pointing to a marked location on the map to the west of Hobbiton.
According to Bilbo's explanation, the entire Shire was divided into four districts: East, West, South, and North. Hobbiton was located in the center of the Shire, belonging to the Westfarthing. Also in the Westfarthing was Michel Delving, the capital of the Shire. Michel Delving was where the Mayor's office was located, and it was also the commercial and trade center of the Shire, with the East-West Road main thoroughfare passing through it, making transportation convenient.
"Alright, Michel Delving it is!" Daniel made his decision.
Though reluctant, Bilbo still saw Daniel off. Before he left, Bilbo prepared a large bag of food for Daniel, as well as a bulging pouch of silver coins, enough for his living expenses for the next period of time.
Although Daniel wanted to refuse, he was currently penniless, so he accepted Bilbo's kindness, silently noting this friendship in his heart.
Refusing Bilbo's idea of accompanying him to the village, Daniel applied a floating spell to his package. Then, carrying the weightless package, he embarked on his journey alone.
From Bag End to the town, Daniel did not stop, following the East-West Road that passed through here, heading west. The road was flat, with beautiful pastoral scenery along the way, and occasionally Hobbit merchants or travelers passed by. They were also very curious about Daniel, who was clearly a human outsider.
Daniel's pace was not slow, but it still took him a full day to finally arrive at Michel Delving before nightfall. The architectural style of Michel Delving differed from Hobbiton; here, the buildings were taller and larger, mostly made of wood, bricks, and stone, giving it more of a city feel.
As he entered the town, all the Hobbits around focused their gaze on this tall human. A Hobbit with a handlebar mustache, whose hat was adorned with a blue feather, proactively approached.
"Outsider, where do you come from? What business do you have in our Michel Delving?"