After Saruman's dramatic exit (which honestly deserved a thunderclap and some ominous rain for dramatic flair), a heavy silence settled over the shattered Council hall.
Gandalf, true to form, had sat down on the steps, puffing smoke clouds that—no exaggeration—were also coming out of his ears. Literally. It might've been a calming spell or just the Istari version of venting frustration.
Galadriel finally broke the silence, like cracking through frozen sea.
"We must not lower our guard."
Her voice was calm, but resonated with the strength of a contained earthquake.
"A dark force is growing in the shadows. It lurks, it watches us… but sooner or later, it will bare its fangs."
I didn't dare speak. I'd just fried half my neurons dueling Saruman, and even if no one blamed me, that was a lot for a first family meeting.
Gandalf looked up at me. Elrond, for his part, remained still, arms crossed, deep in thought.
"I'll send Radagast to investigate Dol Guldur. But I'm also worried about the East. Smaug is a threat we cannot ignore."
Ah. Smaug. The dragon. Middle-earth's version of a nuke.
Galadriel exchanged a knowing look with Gandalf, then turned to me.
"You're right to aid the Dwarves in reclaiming Erebor. Ignore Saruman's protests. Follow what your heart knows is right, Mithrandir."
Then she fixed her gaze on me. The kind of gaze that feels like she's reading your mind like a level-one spellbook.
"You may need help."
"Master Edward."
Her voice snapped me out of my half-meditative state. I'd heard every word but was faking meditation to hide my nausea. Magic duel + political tension = guaranteed migraine.
"Lady Galadriel, give me an order, and I will carry it out."
She smiled. Subtly, but genuinely.
"I didn't realize you were a mage."
I frowned.
"I'm not a mage. What I do… it doesn't come from here. I don't chant spells in Sindarin. I'm just a guy with a special skill."
"A very rare one."
She didn't say it like a threat. Just a fact. A test. I held her gaze, and she understood I wasn't a weapon… but an ally.
"Then, Edward… do you accept to accompany Gandalf on his quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain?"
I glanced at Gandalf, who was giving me that smug little smile like, I knew it.
"If that is your will, my Lady… then I follow."
And that's exactly when the system decided to ping me with a mental alert.
> [Main Scenario Unlocked. Global Quest Activated.]
I nearly jumped. Seriously? Already?
I thought I'd at least have to reach Hobbiton, meet Bilbo, eat some toast, then the quest would start. But no. The White Council was enough. Thank you, fast-forward plot.
"Perfect!" Gandalf exclaimed.
"With you on the team, I've got a good feeling we'll reach Erebor without all getting roasted."
Well. That was it. It was official. I was in the party. Not quite the Avengers, but a bunch of rowdy Dwarves, a pipe-smoking wizard, a reluctant Hobbit, and me—the weird psychic guy.
The Erebor expedition. We were gonna make headlines.
---
After the Council
Once the hall emptied (and was mildly swept by a few overly polite Elves who didn't comment on the cracked floor), I joined Gandalf.
"So? Where and when do we meet?"
"May 1st, 2941. Hobbiton. Look for the door with Elvish runes carved on it. You won't miss it."
I locked the date into my brain like a magical survival calendar.
It was July 21st, 2940. So I had a little over nine months to prepare. Train. And not die prematurely.
Galadriel went to find Arwen. Elrond followed, still elegant and still very unconvinced by my talents.
Me? I was alone.
A silent Elf brought me a dinner tray. I returned to my room and immediately pulled up my system menu to check the quests.
---
📘 Character Sheet: Edward Highland
EXP: 0
Skills:
Telekinesis – LVL 1 (321/400)
Can manipulate up to 3,000 kg within a 150-meter radius. Unlocks Mental Power gauge.
Mental Fortification – LVL 1 (790/1000)
Increased resistance to mental attacks, illusions, and emotional manipulation. (Very useful against Saruman.)
Worlds Visited:
Chronicle
---
🗺️ Active Quests
🌍 [Main Quest]: An Unexpected Journey
> Accompany Gandalf and the Dwarves to Erebor. Reclaim the Lonely Mountain.
Objectives:
1. Kill Smaug.
2. Protect Gandalf and Bilbo.
3. Win the Battle of the Five Armies.
Rewards:
2,000 EXP
1 Skill Upgrade Card
Unlocked Skill: Draconic Metamorphosis
---
🌿 [Side Quest]: Evening Star
> Alter the destiny of Arwen Undómiel.
Objectives:
1. Win Arwen's heart.
2. Pass Elrond's trial.
3. Break the fate written in the Ainulindalë.
Reward:
3,000 EXP
Key Character Bond Contract
---
💎 [Side Quest]: The Silmarils
> Find one of Fëanor's sacred jewels.
Objectives:
1. Locate a Silmaril.
2. Restore it to its original form.
Rewards:
1,000 EXP
1 World Anchor
---
I stood frozen for a moment.
Three quests. Three ticking time bombs. And only one of me.
The main quest looked "simple"... on paper. In reality? We'd be facing a dragon that made the Nazgûl look like angry pigeons.
Smaug isn't a final-level boss. He's a cataclysm. And I was supposed to survive that—with no armor, no magic ring, just a borrowed power from some teenager in Chronicle.
Luckily, the system was clear: no rules, just win.
And I had nine months to become a hero.
Or a pile of ash.