The Bard of Hogwarts

Chapter 257 Lina's Departure

The blacksmith's shop, a room filled with weapons and equipment.

The White Witch's sudden appearance made this ordinary room seem somewhat different.

People often say that gorgeous clothes and jewelry can enhance a person's appearance. But if a person is outstanding enough, they can, in turn, enhance their outward appearance, because they themselves are like jewelry.

The White Witch's height is always eye-catching, especially with those crystal high heels that are at least three inches long, making her appear even taller and more slender.

The pale blue evening gown, the porcelain-white skin that seemed to glow, and the newly crafted weapons all around created an extreme contrast between softness and fortitude in the room.

"You seem surprised?" the White Witch asked teasingly.

"It's quite unexpected! This is truly groundbreaking for magic."

Ino nodded honestly; it was an unprecedented and unheard-of feat for magical creatures to transform into human form.

"What if we do that?" another voice rang out in the room.

A tiny figure peeked out from the blue spider silk on the ceiling.

Are you still surprised by this?

Ino's gaze shifted, looking at the White Witch before him, then at Lina on the ceiling. For a moment, he truly didn't know what to say.

"Do you remember the notebook I gave you? It's the heirloom notebook of the Gaunt family, where they used alchemy to modify their bodies..."

As the White Witch recounted the story, Ino also thought of that ancient notebook.

Using themselves as alchemical materials, ancient runes are inscribed into their bodies to gain even more powerful magical abilities.

"It seems you remembered, but didn't study it properly."

The White Witch slowly walked towards the wall, her light steps causing the smooth hem of her blue skirt to undulate like ocean waves.

At the same time, Lina, who was on the ceiling, also landed on the White Witch's shoulder.

The combination of the two creates a kind of absurd beauty.

"Is this body an alchemical product? An ice and snow creation?" Ino was somewhat dazed.

If it weren't for basic etiquette, he would really want to get his hands on it and take a look; it's just too amazing.

Seemingly having discerned something, the White Witch extended her palm. After a brief delay, the fair skin of her palm faded, revealing crystalline ice and snow and intricate alchemical circuits.

"I showed you that book because of the characteristics of ice and snow magic, but what happened? You created a giant and five goblins, and then made them farm in the valley."

The White Witch sighed softly, then looked at the forge. Although the flames had died down, the residual heat still lingered.

"But all of that is in the past. You've forged your own path, so there's no need to copy mine."

……

In the ordinariness of life, time often slips by unnoticed.

The Battle of Helm's Deep has been over for more than half a month.

Many things happened during this period, the first being that Edoras regained its former prosperity.

Under Iowa's careful management, the more than 5,000 Rohan citizens who had previously suffered have now fully integrated into the city and begun their new lives.

Similarly, Theojed and Éomer were not idle either. Each leading well-equipped cavalry, they were clearing out the remaining dark forces within Rohan, using Edoras as their starting point, to create a safe living environment for the people of Rohan to the greatest extent possible.

However, all of this was insignificant to Ino, who was now more focused on modifying the eight-eyed giant spider.

Especially after Lina left, he is now even more focused, since the story of Middle-earth has entered its final countdown, and all he can do is wait patiently.

Waiting for Middle-earth to play the final movement of the Third Age.

However, Lina's departure was still somewhat unexpected. She didn't choose to go anywhere else; instead, with Fide's help, she went to the Charles.

In her words, having been a queen for too long, she needed to experience life in a different role.

Ino expressed his understanding of this.

Even if he didn't understand, he wouldn't object. Since he had promised freedom, there was no need to interfere with Lina's choice.

To be honest, he felt a slight sense of relief the moment the other person left.

It's like the relief of having debts that have accumulated for many years suddenly paid off.

……

In fact, many things are judged by actions, not intentions.

The death of the White Witch, the appearance of the Ice Flower, Lina the Blue Eight-Eyed Spider...

When a series of coincidences occur, everything needs to be reconsidered to determine whether it is truly a coincidence.

We should think, but not overthink, or try to overanalyze people's thoughts.

Actually, many things could have been put on hold the moment Lina asked him to pay more attention to the ice flower at the shelter last year.

Moreover, the other party did pay a reward, and it was a generous one.

The inheritance of ice and snow magic is real, and the bloodline is real, but the flower is the only fake one.

That ice flower was the White Witch's backup plan.

From the world of Chann to Narnia, as a veteran time traveler, the White Witch knows how to smuggle herself across.

But despite all her calculations, she hadn't anticipated the rules of the shelter. From the moment the seed was first taken out of Narnia, everything was already irreversible.

This is precisely where Ino feels guilty, especially after realizing that the other party truly meant no harm.

To be honest, even if a deal falls through, the friendship remains.

Moreover, he had already accepted the inheritance and bloodline, but in the end, he outmaneuvered the White Witch, which was somewhat unfair.

Therefore, after Lina appeared, he treated her with the utmost respect and never forced her to do anything.

But as the White Witch said, it's all in the past now.

After the story of Middle-earth ends, we'll probably meet again like old friends, every few decades.

"The hardest debts to repay are those owed to others..."

Ino sighed, then threw herself back into her new work.

Before him were hundreds and thousands of eight-eyed giant spiders, each over three meters long, carrying enormous spears on their backs.

……

At the same time.

The distant capital of Gondor.

Silent Hill, the first mountain peak west of Minastillis, is located in the eastern part of the Druadan Forest.

Here stands the beacon tower from which Gondor sought aid from Rohan in the west.

Today, two figures, one large and one small, arrived on this mountain peak that Gondor jokingly calls the Silent Hill.

Gandalf, accompanied by the hobbit Pippin, quietly climbed the treacherous mountain.

"I'll distract them for a bit, the rest is up to you," Gandalf said, bending down with a serious expression.

"Don't worry! This is nothing." Pi Ping nodded seriously.

Soon, Gandalf pretended to be an injured old man and made a noise to attract the attention of the soldiers guarding the beacon fire.

Before the two soldiers realized something was wrong, Pippin had already climbed the ancient beacon tower—Amondin.

Using his hobbit-like dexterity, Pippin quickly knocked over the oil lamp burning on the firewood, and scalding oil mixed with flames fell down.

"Boom!"

In just a moment, the dry firewood burst into flames.

The flames of Amun-Din have been lit, and the ancient oath between Rohan and Gondor from the previous era has been re-established after more than three thousand years.

The second, the third, the fourth... signaling calls for help traveled westward along the snow-covered white mountains.

I was dragged to a meeting again on a weekend afternoon.

I completely broke Xiao Di's spirits. Oh well, there's no other way but to post two updates today.

I'm so sorry, everyone.

Also, Xiao Di plans to conclude the Great Symphony of Middle-earth tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)