Beacons weren't particularly rare items for Levi anymore.
He'd been wandering around a lot these past years, which meant frequent visits to the Nether. When passing by Nether fortresses, he'd casually slaughter batches of withers—you know, for fun.
The drop rate for wither skeleton skulls wasn't great, but Levi killed so many that even without deliberately hunting them, just cutting them down when he ran into them, he'd accumulated quite a pile over time.
With wither skeleton skulls naturally came their use. The castle now stored plenty of nether stars, all dropped from withers he'd summoned in the Nether and killed when he was bored.
When he needed beacons? He'd just craft them.
"Pretty standard stuff around here now," he explained to his guests. Beacons had become everyday items in Roadside Keep. Hospitals, plazas, barracks—anywhere they might be useful had one, all at maximum levels.
But while Roadside Keep had plenty of beacons, other territories hadn't received any yet.
Why? He'd forgotten.
Simple as that.
Besides looking nice, beacons' greatest benefit to daily life was health regeneration. But since watermelons became widespread crops, instant healing potion production had also surged. Military and civilian needs were covered pretty well. So the health regeneration from beacons wasn't exactly essential anymore.
Still, having them was better than not having them. This gathering seemed like the perfect opportunity to mention it to regional administrators and have them install some.
"Celebration feast," Levi announced.
When that news spread, not only Roadside Keep but all territories under the Free Cities began planning related festivities. Levi waved his hand generously, granting several more days of holiday.
But first...
In the castle, several people stared at the nether star behind the main seat, enclosed in glass. Whiter than mithril, more brilliant than the finest diamonds, and more flawless and pure than anything in the world. Their eyes were completely transfixed.
"I'm... reluctant to say this," Thorin managed after several deep breaths. "But it looks even more perfect than the Arkenstone."
Pure. Flawless. Brilliant. And possessed of some magical power that seemed to pulse with inner light.
Like golden apples, this thing matched the aesthetic preferences of most living beings in the world. Any race would marvel at it. Dwarves, elves, humans...
Even Gandalf couldn't help approaching for a closer look.
"Truly beautiful," he murmured.
If he hadn't personally seen the Silmarils, he'd think one was embedded inside.
"Among all beautiful things I've witnessed, its radiance is second only to the light of the Two Trees." He paused, lost in memory. "Though that memory's quite dim and distant for me now."
"Thank you."
Levi knew the weight of those words. This was practically the highest praise that could come from Gandalf's mouth.
It was wondrous, really. Whether golden apples or nether stars, certain things always possessed such beauty and inherent fairy tale qualities. Never seemed particularly alien or out of place, especially in this world.
Similar things had always existed here. Just not as potent or absolute.
At this moment, allies from various places were making their way to Roadside Keep.
Beorn arrived first, and his expression was... indescribable.
"Sorry," Levi said, feeling genuinely guilty. "I forgot to call you when I came through."
"If my bees hadn't produced bees as big as human heads after eating cherry blossoms, I would've thought you'd abandoned us completely."
"Forgive me, I was just... uh, too busy..."
Levi didn't even believe this excuse himself.
Truth was, Beorn's clan's territory had only recently been claimed as his domain. He'd had a mental lapse and forgotten. Been too focused when inspecting the road construction results and accidentally passed right by.
"This is Bard's fault for not reminding me."
Bard looked over with genuine confusion. "What?"
"Anyway, our other friends have arrived. I need to go see them."
"Welcome!"
He headed toward the city gate, where several elves were arriving on horseback. One was the woodland realm's deputy—the same elf whose horse Legolas had commandeered at Lake-town.
"This shouldn't have been my job," the deputy sighed.
Normally, Thranduil would send his son Legolas for occasions like this. Show of respect and all. But since Legolas was still wandering around somewhere and hadn't returned home, and Thranduil refused to leave the Woodland Realm, the deputy had to come instead.
Though this deputy usually kept a low profile, his position in the Woodland Realm was quite high. Always first to hear the king's orders. Sending him showed considerable respect.
After greeting the Woodland Realm's deputy came elves from Rivendell.
Leading them was the Lord of Rivendell himself. Elrond.
Unlike old homebody Thranduil, who hadn't stepped outside his forest in thousands of years, Elrond regularly led teams out to clear nearby orcs. Relatively active guy.
But since Roadside Keep's first batch of Rangers went out for training, he'd had no opportunities to venture out. There really weren't any orcs nearby anymore. Even wanting to stretch his muscles, there was no chance.
"Long time no see."
"We meet again."
Both greeted simultaneously, but with different content and meaning.
"Quite surprising." Elrond's gaze swept the transformed landscape. "In just a few years, the changes here could be so dramatic."
His eyes turned to the light beam above the castle. Years ago when the beacon was first placed, he'd noticed this thing. But due to elven time concepts—and seeing it caused no harm—investigating the beam had been put off.
This visit was perfect for taking a look.
After greetings, Elrond and the Woodland Realm deputy went into the castle to join Gandalf and others.
One of the elven guards Elrond brought stepped forward.
"Oh, you came too."
"Long time no see, Agla."
Levi went to greet this old friend.
"Lord Elrond found me and asked me to come along," Agla smiled knowingly.
Elrond had observed their friendship and recently assigned many tasks directly to Agla. Trying to let friends meet when possible. So he'd brought him along this time too.
Swoosh—boom!
At night, fireworks shot into the sky, bursting and blooming in various colored displays.
Throughout the territory, elves, dwarves, humans, and wizards from various places gathered around feast tables set up near the castle. The atmosphere was electric.
"Thorin Oakenshield." Elrond approached proactively in the bustling venue, swirling Roadside Keep specialty wine in his goblet. His expression was subtle. "You look much better than when we last met."
"Thank you. As do you."
Thorin responded rather stiffly.
But seeing Elrond's meaningful look, he sighed deeply and turned around.
"You few, come here!" he almost shouted.
Several dwarves from the Company who always forgot to turn off auto-pickup mode suffered the consequences.
"Should've known not to come..." someone muttered.
Soon they lined up before Thorin like children who'd done something wrong.
"Do what you should do." Thorin's voice was expressionless. "Do I need to remind you what that is?"
Silence.
"Sorry," one finally spoke.
With someone taking the lead, others stopped remaining silent and apologized one after another.
"Impressive," Elrond smiled genuinely.
Dwarves being so polite to elves? This was simply...
Anyone knowing the history and various grievances between the two peoples would sooner believe pigs could fly.
Of course, this is also related to Thorin's personal principles. He had his pride as a king. If he'd discovered companions acting rudely in Rivendell, even when still hostile to elves, he'd have stopped them immediately. Hostility was one thing, but the overall reputation and honor of the dwarven race was another entirely.
Elrond shook his head meaningfully, recovering from his surprise.
"Once dwarves and elves were this friendly. I'm sincerely happy for you all."
He toasted the dwarves and Thorin before draining his goblet.
The rigid, cold attitude of mutual non-interaction between the two races finally loosened. Just a tiny bit, but it was something.
Gandalf watched from the side, smiling and nodding continuously.
Good. Truly good.