Hobbit? Wayne was relieved to find their languages were mutually intelligible. Communication wouldn't be a problem. However, the word "hobbit" caught him off guard. Wasn't that a race from the Lord of the Rings films? Was he in Middle-earth?
He had seen the films, but it had been so long ago that the plot was hazy. He only vaguely remembered iconic characters like Smaug the dragon, the Fellowship, Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the wizard, and Sauron the Dark Lord.
The hobbit, dressed as a peasant, continued to regard him with a friendly expression. Wayne considered his response before answering, "I am a wizard. I happened upon this village and decided to investigate."
"It's a truly charming village," he added. "Your homes are quite unique. They resemble burrows, yet they are remarkably intricate and well-crafted."
Wayne's genuine expression, coupled with his good looks and refined demeanor, immediately impressed the simple hobbit. Scratching his head, the hobbit replied with a warm smile, "Well, I never! You're a wizard, too? Do you know Gandalf? He's a wizard as well. Sometimes he visits our Shire for the Midsummer festival."
Gandalf, the Shire. Upon hearing these familiar names, Wayne's heart leaped. He was indeed in Middle-earth, the world of The Lord of the Rings. His emotions were a whirlwind.
Middle-earth was known for its perils. Orc legions, the Dark Lord Sauron, evil spirits, Balrogs, and other monstrous creatures roamed the land. But there were also benevolent forces protecting the world. Humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits, and other races united against evil, striving to safeguard their world. It was a fantasy realm where good and evil clashed, but ultimately, the forces of good prevailed.
At least, the Shire had always remained relatively safe. Even in the later stages of the story, when the Fellowship embarked on their quest to destroy the One Ring, the Shire remained largely unscathed.
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Wayne maintained his friendly smile. After careful consideration, he responded, "I hail from a distant continent and am not a native wizard of Middle-earth. Therefore, I'm unfamiliar with the Gandalf you speak of."
To ascertain the time period he was in, Wayne paused briefly before asking a question:
"By the way, do you know a hobbit named Bilbo?" Wayne inquired, referencing a crucial character in The Lord of the Rings saga. Determining Bilbo's age would reveal the current timeline.
The hobbit tilted his head, puzzled by how this stranger knew of someone from the Shire. However, swayed by Wayne's charm and kind demeanor, he answered amicably, "Bilbo Baggins, of course I know him." He pointed towards a quaint hobbit hole nestled in the hillside a short distance away. "That's his home. We shared a pint just the other day."
Wayne followed the hobbit's gesture and spotted the well-kept dwelling. But it was still early, and the windows and door remained shut, indicating the occupant was likely still asleep.
Even with confirmation of Bilbo's presence, Wayne couldn't ascertain the exact time period. Had the Battle of the Lonely Mountain and the Battle of Five Armies already transpired? It would be suspicious to probe further.
With a silent apology to the unsuspecting hobbit, Wayne discreetly formed an Axii sign in his hand and cast the spell. His witcher senses, enhanced by his mastery of Signs, amplified the power of the simple Axii, easily putting the hobbit into a deep hypnotic state. The hobbit's eyes glazed over, and he swayed on his feet, on the verge of falling asleep.
Wayne, careful not to arouse suspicion, quickly asked his question: "How old is Bilbo this year?"
In his hazy recollection of the story, Bilbo seemed to have lived a quiet life, yearning for adventure. It wasn't until he turned fifty that Gandalf recruited him as a burglar for the dwarves' quest, thus beginning his legendary journey. Determining Bilbo's age could help Wayne estimate the time remaining until the Battle of the Lonely Mountain and the Battle of Five Armies.
The hobbit pondered for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face. "Last year, I attended his 40th birthday party," he replied slowly. "So, he would be 41 now."
Forty-one years old. That meant the main events of The Lord of the Rings were still almost a decade away. A wave of mixed emotions washed over Wayne. It was like hearing about a highly anticipated game release only to have it delayed for years.
However, he had already spent nearly half an hour in Middle-earth. If he lingered any longer, he would be late returning to the Witcher world and Triss's family estate. This initial foray was meant to assess the safety, value, and potential for growth in this new world. Now that he had his answer, he wasn't ready to delve deeper just yet. He needed to return home, formulate a comprehensive plan, and then embark on his interdimensional adventure.
With this in mind, Wayne reinforced the Axii sign, deepening the hobbit's hypnotic state. "Alright," he instructed, "you will awaken naturally after I leave. Everything you saw, heard, and my questions were merely hallucinations. You will have no memory of our conversation, as if you'd never met me. Understand?"
The hobbit nodded slowly, and Wayne felt a sense of relief. He gazed once more at the picturesque landscape of the Shire: the birdsong, the fragrant flowers, the wheat fields, the orchards. It was a peaceful paradise. He sighed inwardly, promising himself to return and explore this beautiful land once he had taken care of his other obligations. Perhaps he could even build a home here, cultivate a few acres of land, and create a haven for relaxation and respite.
Thus, Wayne arrived and departed from the Shire unnoticed. As he stepped back through the dimensional rift into his own world, he made a startling observation. He had spent nearly an hour in Middle-earth, yet the sky in the Witcher world had barely changed. It seemed only a few minutes had passed.
This sparked a theory in Wayne's mind. He retrieved his pocket watch and placed it on a stone beside the rift, noting the time before returning to Middle-earth.
Wayne counted one thousand seconds in Middle-earth. Yet, upon returning to the Witcher world, he discovered that his pocket watch had only ticked off about two hundred seconds. It seemed that time flowed approximately five times slower in Middle-earth compared to the Witcher world. In other words, five years in Middle-earth would equate to only one year in the Witcher world.
This revelation left Wayne both astounded and bewildered. As a modern man well-versed in fantasy lore, countless theories and possibilities flooded his mind.