As Luke returned to the dock with the day's harvest, a system prompt suddenly appeared before him.
[Hogwarts Sign-in System: Locating Grey Havens. Would you like to sign in?]
Luke's heart leaped. The system had finally arrived! Without a second thought, he replied, "Sign in."
A new message followed.
[Sign-in successful. Congratulations, you have obtained the Apparition skill!]
Apparition? Luke's eyes widened with delight. He never expected to receive such a powerful and versatile skill. Apparition, a magical teleportation spell, was perfect for both swift travel and life-saving escapes.
While it came with risks, such as the danger of "splinching" (splitting one's body), it was a game-changer. Unlike the Floo Network, which was restricted to connecting fireplaces, Apparition could take a wizard to any location they could clearly visualize. The more profound a wizard's magical power, the greater the distance they could travel.
However, since the spell wasn't in his spell book, Luke had never been able to master it. Now, with this new opportunity, his mobility in both travel and combat had increased tenfold. He could even apparate away from danger, instantly maximizing his chances of survival.
Luke decided that in addition to collecting the mercury from the bay, he would dedicate his time in Mithlond to mastering Apparition. Every day, he sailed the bay to collect the Mercury of the Soul and spent his nights practicing the difficult skill. Unlike Hogwarts, where professors were on hand to prevent splinching, Luke was alone. A single mistake could be fatal, so he proceeded with extreme caution.
More than a week passed, and Luke finally collected a small bottle of the luminous, quicksilver-like mercury. He carefully put it away, but didn't stop there, planning to gather a few more bottles just in case. He also began preparing for his first attempt at Apparition, even preparing some white savory essence and arranging for the elf Aldo to watch over him.
Before he could begin, Aldo approached him with news. "Wizard Luke, Lord Círdan's white ship has entered the bay and will soon dock!"
"Lord Círdan is back?" Luke asked in surprise.
At Aldo's invitation, Luke went to the dock to greet Círdan. A crowd of elves had already gathered, a testament to Círdan's high standing among his people. Luke, led by Aldo, stood at the front as a massive white sailboat emerged from the horizon. The ship was a magnificent work of art, with a swan-shaped prow, white oars, and silver-woven sails. It blended seamlessly with the white waves, appearing as if it was born from the sea itself. Luke stared in awe.
This was no ordinary ship. Since Ilúvatar had shaped Middle-earth into a sphere, Valinor, once a physical place across the sea, had been moved into another dimension. Only a straight path could lead a traveler there, but Círdan's legendary white ships could carry elves directly to this ethereal realm. The man who crafted such a divine vessel, Círdan, was truly extraordinary.
As the ship drew near, Luke saw an elf standing on the bow. He was tall and dressed in a dark blue robe. What stood out was his long, gray beard, an uncommon sight among elves who retained their youthful appearance. Luke knew this elf had to be incredibly ancient, far older than even ancient elves like Galadriel or Elrond. This was Círdan the Shipwright, Lord of Lindon and Mithlond.
Luke had heard of Círdan from Elrond, who said he was the eldest of all the elves in Middle-earth, one of the first to awaken. As Círdan stepped off the ship, his secretary, Galdor, greeted him.
"Lord Círdan, welcome back. Was your journey smooth?" Galdor asked respectfully.
Círdan smiled calmly. His eyes, bright as stars, and his handsome face were a stark contrast to his long gray beard, which spoke of a life filled with unimaginable history.
"Everything went smoothly," he said. "Aside from a visit from a group of mermaids, the seas were peaceful. What about Mithlond? Has anything happened recently?"
Galdor introduced Luke. "My lord, this is Luke, the Black Wizard. He is the Lord of Amon Sûl and has come to visit you, bringing a letter from Lord Elrond."
Luke stepped forward and bowed politely. "Lord Círdan, I've heard much about you. It's an honor to meet you."
Círdan's eyes twinkled with a warm, knowing smile. "Though we have never met, I have heard of your deeds. Lord of Dragons, Slayer of Orcs, Bane of Fire-Lords.... Gandalf, Elrond, and Lady Galadriel all spoke highly of you, saying your arrival marks a new dawn in Middle-earth."
"The rumors are exaggerated. Gandalf and the others are too kind," Luke replied, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"No need to be modest," Círdan said, his eyes full of admiration. "I have hosted five wizards here before, but only in Gandalf and you have I felt a sense of responsibility and purpose far greater than in any other. This is not a compliment, but the limited insight of an old man who has lived long enough."
Luke was momentarily stunned. A heavy responsibility? A mission? He had no idea what Círdan was talking about. He quickly handed over Elrond's letter. Círdan read it, then smiled at Luke.
"Elrond has already told me in his letter that you wish to extract the soul quicksilver water from the bay," he said. "You are welcome to continue your work here. If you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me or Galdor."
"Thank you, Lord Círdan. I would be glad to help you in any way I can," Luke replied.
Círdan then invited Luke to his residence. Luke readily accepted.
Círdan's residence was a simple palace resembling a dock, complete with a small private shipyard. A small, exquisite white swan boat was moored at a private dock, and in the shipyard, an unfinished ship sat waiting. Inside the reception hall, two ship models were displayed in crystal bottles. One was a model of the white ship Luke had just seen, and the other had golden oars.
Luke looked at the second model, fascinated. "Lord Círdan, which ship is this a model of? It looks so perfect."
Círdan's face lit up as he spoke of his passion. "This is the Vingilot, which I built with Eärendil. It has golden oars and silvery sails. It carried Eärendil and his wife across the sea, through the enchanted isles and the Shadow Sea, until they finally reached the Blessed Realm."
Círdan pointed to the Star of Eärendil in the sky. "It has long been consecrated by the Valar and sails across the sky every day."
Luke was amazed. Not only had Círdan built a ship that could reach Valinor, but he had also created a vessel that sailed among the stars. It was clear that despite being a lord, Círdan was a pure shipbuilder at heart.
Luke, seeing Círdan's deep love for shipbuilding, had a sudden thought. Círdan's ships were all made of wood. What if he knew about steamships and diesel engines?
An image popped into Luke's mind: a steel cruise ship with smoke belching from its chimney, carrying a group of elves as it blared its horn on its way to Valinor. He couldn't help but laugh out loud at the absurdity of the mental image.