Time passed quickly, and two weeks had flown by since the expedition team had arrived in Rivendell.
During this time, Wayne had managed to grasp the basics of Sindarin and could now read some simple texts written in the language. He also acquired a new skill in his repertoire called "Foreign Language Talent," which had already advanced to level two.
Foreign Language Talent LV2: Increased alien language learning speed by 20%.
However, what Princess Arwen and King Elrond didn't know was that during his study of Sindarin, Wayne had secretly copied several books from the library using magic. These were not rare or forbidden texts, only books that were available within Elrond's permission and open to him.
As for his new apprentice, Aragorn, Wayne dedicated himself fully to the young boy's training. Not only did he spend two hours each day meticulously instructing him in swordsmanship, but he also set up various after-school training exercises, building a training ground in a secluded forest reminiscent of those used for witcher apprentices.
Under Wayne's guidance, the ten-year-old Aragorn grew visibly stronger with each passing day. He quickly became accustomed to the physical pain and mental rigors of training, and his swordplay became sharper and more refined. The satisfaction of growing stronger fueled the boy's passion, and the look he gave Wayne was filled with admiration and respect.
But as with all things, this chapter was destined to end. Despite Aragorn's reluctance to part ways with his mentor, the time came for their farewells.
The future king, mature beyond his years, did not cry or throw a tantrum like other children might. Instead, he carefully expressed his gratitude and presented Wayne with a handmade gift as a token of his appreciation. He also expressed his hope that Wayne could continue to be his swordsmanship teacher after the task of slaying Smaug was complete.
When Aragorn learned that Wayne's mission was to hunt Smaug, the famed dragon of the North, his eyes shone with admiration. For a child of his age, becoming a hero who slays dragons was a lifelong dream.
Wayne, however, did not give a definitive answer. He noticed that the quest involving Aragorn's training had not concluded upon his departure from Rivendell. It was an open-ended mission, allowing him the option to continue teaching Aragorn at a later time. This sparked an idea in Wayne's mind—perhaps he would return to train the boy in the future.
Not only because Aragorn would go on to become a central figure in Middle-earth, but also because Wayne had grown fond of him. The boy was diligent, obedient, and remarkably talented—an exceptional student with great potential. Wayne couldn't help but admire his promise.
Over time, Wayne also noticed a shift in King Elrond's attitude toward him. Elrond seemed increasingly interested in building a strong relationship with Wayne, perhaps not only due to the time Wayne spent with Princess Arwen, but also because of the various dealings they had shared.
During their stay, Wayne had engaged in a transaction with Elrond. He traded several intermediate healing potions, magical artifacts, and blueprints for master-crafted crossbows in exchange for a batch of Sindarin war horses. These horses, unique to the Sindarin elves, were renowned for their special bloodlines, exceptional speed, endurance, and strength. Their performance far exceeded that of the finest war horses in the Witcher world, and Wayne estimated that each would fetch over 2,000 orens in the markets back home.
Wayne's plan was to take these horses with him, along with Deathclaw Robin, once the Lonely Mountain mission was complete. The warhorses would serve as valuable gifts for his fellow witchers, or he could use them as bargaining chips to trade with the elves of the Witcher world. High-quality warhorses would be in high demand, especially with the looming civil war.
Moreover, establishing friendly relations with the powerful races of Middle-earth—elves, dwarves, and men—would provide access to valuable resources and trade opportunities that Wayne could leverage in his future ventures. The unique goods from Middle-earth, including rare materials and craftsmanship, could become best-sellers in his planned trade routes, bringing substantial profit to his future merchant guild.
Among all those in Rivendell, the one most reluctant to see Wayne leave was likely Princess Arwen. Perhaps it was the witcher's rugged charm, his wit, or perhaps the sweet delicacies he brought with him—delicious cakes and desserts unlike anything the elves had ever tasted—that made him so endearing to her.
Although Wayne and Arwen didn't spend a long time together, they developed a close bond. For the elven princess, it was rare to meet someone who could communicate with her as an equal, and she cherished this newfound friendship. On the day they were to part, in front of King Elrond and the rest of the expedition team, Arwen stepped forward, stood on her tiptoes, and gently embraced Wayne. She placed a soft kiss of blessing on his cheek, wishing him victory in his battle against Smaug. She also crowned him with a beautifully woven wreath, a symbol of her goodwill.
As the embrace ended, Wayne found himself surrounded by knowing smiles and curious glances from the dwarves, elves, hobbits, and wizards alike. His face flushed slightly, but he maintained a polite smile, careful not to glance too long in King Elrond's direction.
He then quietly thanked Arwen, his voice soft with gratitude, and in return, he presented her with a gift—a finely crafted elven blade he had found alongside the two ancient elven swords, later known as the Sting blade. After giving the gift, he and the rest of the expedition team quickly departed from Rivendell, almost as if they were fleeing.
...
Because Gandalf and Wayne accompanied the group this time, Thorin and the other dwarves fared far better than in the original tale. They were not captured and taken to the orc town, nor did they need to be rescued by Gandalf's magic at the last moment.
However, Wayne's previous rampage had not gone unnoticed. The large number of orcs and wargs he had slain in earlier encounters had aroused the attention of Azog and the orc clans. As soon as the group entered orc territory, scouts spotted them, and their presence was quickly revealed.
In response, the orc clans wasted no time. A large group of orcs, accompanied by wargs, launched a relentless series of attacks on the expedition team. These ambushes were not simple—they included poison, traps, archery, and night assaults. The orcs used every underhanded tactic available to them.
Strangely, this suited Wayne just fine.
Despite Gandalf's advice to keep a low profile, Wayne deliberately slowed the group's progress. Every day, he managed to secure a new expert-level task from Thorin, focused on hunting orcs. It became a blood-soaked journey as Wayne eagerly turned every attack into an opportunity to hunt down orcs.
Perhaps these foolish orcs believed that the Misty Mountains, their home terrain, would give them the advantage. They thought traps, ambushes, or even a full siege would bring harm to the expedition team.
But in their limited minds, they could never have imagined the devastation that Deathclaw Robin—a monstrous beast, a top-tier apocalypse predator—would unleash in such a setting.
The orcs' arrows were little more than scratches against Robin's thick hide, and the boulders they hurled from high cliffs were no more than soft punches, incapable of causing any real harm to the towering creature.
With this terrifying beast leading the charge, the orcs' tactics were rendered utterly useless. Their traps, ambushes, and brute force meant nothing in the face of Robin's raw power.
Even in a situation requiring defense, Gandalf and Thorin only needed to select a strategic position—somewhere easy to defend and difficult to attack—then use Robin as an indomitable shield. Perched in a narrow gorge, no matter how many orcs threw themselves into the fray, they would be shredded to pieces by the deathclaw's claws and fangs.
At this time, Wayne became an unstoppable killing machine. Hovering above the battle on his magic flying carpet, he unleashed destruction from above. Signs, alchemy bombs, arrows—Wayne rained down death upon the orcs without ever putting himself at risk.
With the aerial bombardment and the relentless assault from Deathclaw Robin, the orcs—having never faced such overwhelming power—broke into panic. In less than ten minutes, they left behind hundreds of corpses as they fled for their lives.
...
That evening, the group found refuge in a cave perched high on a mountaintop—a natural stronghold, easy to defend. Robin, the ever-watchful deathclaw, guarded the entrance, ensuring no enemy would disturb their rest.
As the expedition's unofficial chef, Wayne casually prepared a pot of mushroom jerky soup, along with roasted meat and fresh bread for the group. Despite its simplicity, the meal earned him praises from all around.
Over time, through countless battles and camaraderie, Wayne's influence in the team had grown. Though Thorin was the leader by title, Wayne's power had placed him on equal footing with the dwarf prince. If not for Thorin's royal lineage, Wayne might well have become the de facto leader of the group.
Sipping on a bottle of Rivendell's honeyed fruit wine, Wayne leaned back against a smooth rock wall and said to Gandalf and Thorin:
"Thorin, Gandalf, I've located the entrance to the Orc Town in the Misty Mountains."
"We need to act quickly—launch a raid on their home base before they organize another siege."
Gandalf took a thoughtful puff from his pipe, his eyes narrowing as he stroked his long, white beard.
"Are you planning to go alone again, Wayne?" he asked. "I still believe this plan is far too risky."
"Although your strength is undeniable, you mustn't underestimate the orcs who have survived in these mountains for so long."
"Orc Town is their stronghold, their home ground. No one knows what hidden dangers lurk within its depths."
"As long as we reach the Lonely Mountain and rally the warriors who have been persecuted by the orcs for years, we'll be able to defeat them together."
Gandalf's words were filled with concern, and Wayne recognized the wizard's good intentions. But whether it was confidence in his own abilities or the lure of the master-level mission to cripple the orcs of the Misty Mountains, Wayne had no desire to remain on the defensive.
Thorin's thoughts mirrored Wayne's. As he ran a whetstone over his long sword, now slightly dulled from killing orcs, he nodded in agreement and said:
"I agree with you, Wayne. We should take the offensive."
"These half-orc scum failed in their first attempt because they underestimated us."
"If we wait for them to regroup and launch a second assault, even with the strength of your deathclaw, we may suffer losses. I won't stand by and let our brothers die."
"While they are still unprepared, we should strike first—hit them with a surprise raid. Not only will it shatter their plans, but we'll deal them a crippling blow."
"Let's make sure these filthy orcs never stand in our way to the Lonely Mountain again."