In the silent expanse of the void, a golden meteor blazed a trail across universes, a solitary traveler bound for the chaotic heart of creation. As it streaked past a particularly vibrant world, a supreme will from within the cosmos cast its gaze. The universe hummed with the Ainulindalë, the Great Music—a song of power, sacred and immense. With a single glance, the Creator saw the meteor for what it was. Pulled by an unseen force, the golden light diverged from its path, plunging into the world of Arda. A new, unexpected note joined the symphony of existence, a flicker of agile melody weaving itself into the grand and ancient composition, forever altering its tune. *** "Excuse me, sir? Sir, are you awake?" A gentle voice pulled Kael from a deep, dreamless slumber. He blinked, his eyes slowly focusing on a canopy of emerald green leaves above him. He wasn't in his bed. He was in a forest. Before him, a small man with large, hairy feet and a deeply concerned expression was peering down at him. Kael's mind felt sluggish, wrapped in a thick fog of confusion. One moment, he was falling asleep in his apartment; the next, he was here, in the middle of nowhere. And who was this stranger? The questions bubbled up, and he voiced the most pressing one. "Who... who are you?" "Oh! I'm Bilbo. Bilbo Baggins, at your service," the little man replied kindly. Bilbo Baggins? The name echoed in his memory, disturbingly familiar. Then, a sudden, shocking realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. His eyes went wide. He had understood the man perfectly. The words had registered not as a foreign language but as his own native tongue, spoken and understood with an instinct he didn't know he possessed. For someone who had barely scraped by in his English classes, this was impossible. Staggering to his feet with a mixture of awe and dread, Kael looked down at the man named Bilbo and realized he was barely half his height. Was he a dwarf? No, the proportions were wrong. A closer look revealed even stranger details. The man had subtly pointed ears, and his wide, bare feet were covered in thick, curly brown hair. This was no race of Man he had ever read about. Connecting the name to the appearance, a wild, unbelievable theory bloomed in his mind. "You're a Hobbit!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with disbelief. The Hobbit, looking pleased to be recognized, nodded sincerely. "Of course! And you, sir, are in the Shire. Hobbiton, to be precise." The last vestiges of hope in Kael's heart crumbled into dust. The Shire. Hobbiton. Bilbo Baggins. It was all true. Gods, what is happening to me? he thought, a wave of panic washing over him. How could he wake up one morning and find himself not just in another country, but another world entirely? And not just any world—one of the most dangerous fictional universes ever conceived. This world wasn't just home to Orcs, Trolls, and Elves. It was a land of powerful Wizards, ancient Dragons, and demonic Balrogs. It was a world shaped by the Maia, the Valar, and the Creator, Ilúvatar himself. How could an ordinary human with no special skills possibly hope to survive? This wasn't starting the game on hard mode; this was a one-way ticket to hell. Bilbo watched as the tall man's face shifted through a dozen emotions—shock, terror, despair—and discreetly took a few steps back. The stranger seemed... unwell. Unstable, even. But he was a kind Hobbit, and it wasn't in his nature to abandon someone in need. "Uh, sir," he ventured cautiously, "are you alright?" "I'm fine," Kael said, forcing a bitter smile. "I just... can't find my way home." "Oh, you're lost?" Bilbo asked, his expression softening. "Well, you might be able to buy a map in the village. They sell maps of the lands outside the Shire, you know." Kael shook his head, a profound sense of hopelessness weighing him down. "My home is... very, very far away. A place I might never see again." Bilbo blinked, unable to truly grasp the immense distance Kael's words implied. But he could see the raw loneliness and sorrow clinging to the man like a shroud. The kind-hearted Hobbit fidgeted, unsure of how to offer comfort. "Well, sir," he began awkwardly, "I mean... if you have nowhere else to go, would you... would you like to be a guest at my home?" Kael's head snapped up, a flicker of genuine surprise cutting through his despair. Seeing the stranger's intense gaze, Bilbo felt a blush creep up his neck. "We don't get many outsiders in Hobbiton," he mumbled, scratching the back of his head. "If you've no place to stay, you're welcome at my smial for a few days." A look of immense gratitude spread across Kael's face, and he immediately accepted. "Thank you, Mister Baggins! Thank you for your kindness. You are a truly good person!" Praised so earnestly, Bilbo became even more flustered. "Ahem, well, it's nothing. Please, follow me, sir." He slung a fishing rod nearly twice his height over one shoulder, picked up his fishing bucket, and began to lead the way down a winding dirt path. As he walked behind the Hobbit, Kael's sorrowful expression melted away, replaced by a quiet sigh of relief. His despair had been real, but the dramatic display was a calculated act. He needed the Hobbit's sympathy, and more importantly, he needed a roof over his head. In this strange, new world, he was utterly alone. Sleeping in the wilderness was a death sentence. Besides, if his memory served him right, Bilbo Baggins was a central figure in the coming storm—a protagonist. Sticking close to him was the smartest move Kael could make, opening up opportunities that he wouldn't find anywhere else. The path meandered past the most peculiar and charming houses Kael had ever seen. They were built into the sides of rolling green hills, with round, brightly painted doors and gardens overflowing with flowers. They looked like something straight out of a children's fairy tale. Curious Hobbits peeked over their fences, whispering and pointing at the tall man following Bilbo. Uncharacteristically, Bilbo didn't stop to greet his neighbors, instead quickening his pace. Kael, however, simply offered warm smiles and polite nods to the onlookers, unbothered by their stares. Soon, they arrived at a particularly fine Hobbit-hole at the end of the lane. A wooden sign on the gate read: "Bag End." This was Bilbo's home. The garden was immaculate, a testament to its owner's care. "I'm afraid I forgot to ask your name, sir," Bilbo said as he pushed open the iconic round, green door. "My name is..." Kael began, intending to say his own name, but another one pushed its way out, forming on his lips as if it had always belonged there. "Kael." Kael? Where did that come from? It felt right, yet completely alien. His heart gave a nervous flutter. Bilbo didn't seem to notice his guest's internal crisis. "Alright then, Kael. Please remember to duck your head when you come in. As you can see, you Men are a fair bit taller than us Hobbits." "Bang!" Distracted by the mystery of his new name, Kael walked straight into the doorframe. He staggered back, clutching his head with a sharp cry of pain. "Oh, my! Mister Kael, are you alright?" Bilbo asked, his face a mixture of concern and poorly suppressed laughter. "I'm fine!" Kael managed, rubbing the rapidly forming lump on his forehead. Deciding to ignore the name issue for now, he hunched his back and shuffled cautiously into the cozy smial. The low, curved ceilings were definitely not designed for someone of his height. He found the nearest armchair and sank into it, utterly bewildered. While Bilbo bustled off to the kitchen to prepare some food for his guest, Kael was left alone with his racing thoughts. That's when it happened. A translucent blue box shimmered into existence right before his eyes. [Hogwarts Sign-in System Activated] [Location Detected: The Shire - Hobbiton - Bag End] [Would you like to complete your first sign-in?] Kael stared, his jaw dropping. "What the hell?!" he whispered, startled. "Is something wrong, Mister Kael?" Bilbo called out, poking his head out of the kitchen pantry. "Nothing!" Kael yelped, realizing with a jolt that Bilbo couldn't see the glowing text box hovering in the air. "Nothing at all!" *** (End of Chapter) [Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!] [www. [email protected]/meowthtl] [+300 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter] [+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter] [Thank You For Your Support!]