Chapter 160: Promise

Celeborn looked at his and his wife's beloved granddaughter with such firm determination and couldn't help feeling heartbroken. "But have you considered that between you two lies not only differences in race but also time? Do you want to abandon immortality for him and become a mortal to spend a brief life?" Hearing this, Arwen shook her head. The curve at the corner of her lips held a smile warmer than sunlight, and the tenderness in her eyes seemed about to overflow. "Grandfather, you needn't worry about me. Kael refused to let me choose mortal fate. He wishes to pursue immortality so we can be together forever, rather than sharing a brief mortal life." On Kael's side, Galadriel didn't speak but chose mental communication. She looked at Kael with deep, smiling eyes that seemed able to penetrate his body and see his innermost thoughts. "Lady Galadriel, don't you oppose me and Arwen?" Kael asked, somewhat surprised. Galadriel shook her head, but her words made Kael's heart shake. "I often use the water mirror in the garden to explore visions of past, present, and future. Future visions are constantly changing. Every person and event leads to different futures, so they're not necessarily true." "Regarding Arwen, I've seen two different fate lines. One is her choosing mortal destiny, briefly gaining everything then losing it all, finally walking alone into the forest to be buried in an unknown place, gradually forgotten." Speaking of this, sadness flashed in Galadriel's eyes as if she'd already seen such a scene. But the sadness immediately disappeared, replaced by a look of surprise as she gazed at him. "The other is her meeting you." "Evenstar becomes the Morning Star, her radiance becoming more brilliant, shining eternally like a star." Galadriel showed a bright smile. "So why would I oppose it?" Hearing this, Kael understood Galadriel's thoughts. The fate line Galadriel mentioned of Arwen choosing mortal destiny was undoubtedly the timeline without his presence. As the granddaughter she personally raised, Galadriel naturally didn't want Arwen to abandon immortality and be separated by death from them. Kael's appearance broke fate, preventing Arwen from choosing to become human. Galadriel naturally preferred accepting Arwen being with Kael. Thinking this, Kael suddenly remembered that when Galadriel first met him in Rivendell, she had very generously given him the Elessar emerald, originally meant as a dowry for Aragorn, to make into a staff. Had she already seen today's result back then? Kael was shocked and couldn't help looking at Galadriel. He met her knowing, all-seeing smile. Well, he hadn't guessed wrong. Kael was amazed by Galadriel's prophetic abilities. Compared to her abilities, his sign-in-acquired prophecy talent was trash with no comparison. Since Galadriel didn't oppose, even if Celeborn was reluctant and felt like Kael wasn't good enough for his granddaughter, he could only respect Arwen's opinion. After all, Elves were extremely faithful in love. Once they decided, they would never change. But he was still displeased with Kael. He required both to go to Rivendell and first obtain agreement from Elrond, the father. So with an anxious heart, Kael and Arwen traveled through the fireplace to Rivendell once again. Elrond was somewhat surprised and delighted by his daughter's and Kael's arrival. But soon, he sensed that secret connection between them. His brow immediately furrowed tightly, and his joy instantly dissipated. "Arwen, have you really decided?" Elrond asked gravely. Arwen nodded, her gaze firm and resolute. "Yes, Father, unchangingly!" "But Father, don't worry. I won't choose mortal fate. Kael also refused to let me do so. He wants to be with me forever, not spend a brief life." Arwen's tone changed, her eyes gentle and happy as she spoke. She told Elrond everything Kael had said. After hearing this, Elrond looked at Kael with some skepticism, his gaze very penetrating. "Kael, I'm not deliberately making things difficult, but immortality is no easy matter. From ancient times to now, the only special exception is my human grandfather Tuor, who received the Valar's guidance, sailed west to Valinor, received the All-Father's grace, and was counted among the Elven race, thus gaining immortality." "All other immortality seekers have without exception gone astray, like the former Númenóreans who were ultimately destroyed by their own greed and corruption. The Nine Ringwraiths were also once powerful human kings, but seeking immortality, they were seduced and corrupted by Sauron's power, becoming Sauron's servants." Regarding Elrond's concerns and doubts, Kael explained his phoenix concept. Hearing about the phoenix, Elrond was also amazed. He hadn't expected Kael to design such a perfect, magnificent species, lacking only the final key step for success. His furrowed brow relaxed slightly. Since this phoenix could gain Gandalf's recognition and participation, Elrond was much more reassured. But Kael, deeply afraid Elrond still wasn't reassured, took out a parchment and handed it to him. Seeing mysterious patterns and runes drawn on the parchment, Elrond was attracted by its contents. "What is this?" Elrond asked curiously. "This is the method for creating the Philosopher's Stone," Kael explained. "The Philosopher's Stone, also called the Sorcerer's Stone, is a miraculous substance that can turn stone to gold and create elixirs of life." "Philosopher's Stone? Can create elixirs of life?" Elrond was very surprised. As an immortal Elf, Elrond naturally didn't need life elixirs, but he was amazed by what the Philosopher's Stone represented. Human destiny was set by Eru. Their essence was possessing death, which was Eru's "gift" to humanity. So even the Valar had no power to change this human destiny. The only exception was the human Tuor, Elrond's grandfather and also the father of the half-elf Eärendil. He gained immortality, but not through Valar power. Rather through Eru's personal special grace, being counted among the Elven race as a "unique exception." If Kael's Philosopher's Stone could truly grant human immortality, it would absolutely be a miracle no less than Fëanor creating the Silmarils. It would be not only a treasure all non-immortal races dreamed of, but even the Valar would cast their gaze upon it. Regarding Elrond's surprise, Kael still shook his head and explained. "The Philosopher's Stone still has flaws. Though it can grant immortality, it cannot prevent bodily aging, so the longer one lives, the weaker the body becomes." This was also why he still tried to evolve his Animagus into a phoenix. After all, the Stone's flaw was obvious. Someone like Nicolas Flamel, who lived over 600 years, had an aged body like a dead person. Living even longer, he probably couldn't even move. In such circumstances, who would want to continue living like the walking dead? This was probably why Flamel ultimately abandoned the Stone. So Kael showed Elrond the Stone's creation diagram partly to give Elrond assurance, and also hoping to use Elrond's and others' wisdom to see if the Stone could be perfected to remedy its flaws. As Middle-earth's most famous Elven sage, Elrond's wisdom and erudition amazed even Gandalf. Kael had no confidence in perfecting the Stone himself, but could seek external help from Elrond, this future "father-in-law." He also needn't worry about secrecy. After all, the Stone's most important immortality function held no attraction for Elves, and its transmutation ability was trivial. Hearing Kael's words, Elrond nodded. "Indeed a drawback, but even so, this Philosopher's Stone is still a great invention worthy of historical record." He looked with amazement at the young wizard before him. "When the Philosopher's Stone is born, your name will be linked with it, just as Fëanor is with the Silmarils!" With the Phoenix and the Philosopher's Stone as double assurances, Elrond's disapproval of Kael and Arwen lessened somewhat. But he still made a three-part agreement with Kael. Before gaining immortality, he and Arwen couldn't truly be together. Kael agreed to this. Though so saying, Elrond didn't prevent Kael and Arwen from meeting. With an "out of sight, out of mind" attitude, he took the runic dictionary Kael gave him to study in the Hall of Fire, trying to understand the Stone's creation secrets on the parchment. But Kael couldn't achieve his date with Arwen, being directly dragged away by "brothers-in-law" Elladan and Elrohir for martial practice. In their words, now that he had a nearly two-meter-tall frame, he needed proper training to become stronger. Otherwise, without wand and staff, he'd be like an ordinary person. How could he protect their sister? So Kael's days of suffering began. Mornings were sword practice with Elladan, afternoons spear sparring with Elrohir. Though called practice and sparring, it was really Kael being beaten throughout. Every day he returned to Hogwarts Castle bruised, exhausted, and grimacing, applying Dittany essence all over before daring to lie down. Then the next day he'd return to Rivendell to continue being abused by the brothers. Elladan and Elrohir discovered that after applying Dittany, Kael became lively again. They immediately let loose, attacking more fiercely. But both brothers were skilled warriors. Their weapons never actually injured Kael. Kael could only passively defend with the Flame Sword and divine spear Aeglos. These two weapons gathering dust in Kael's space bag were used more frequently during this period than all previous times combined. This day, Kael exhaustedly removed his outer robe, grimacing as he applied Dittany to his bruised skin. As he tried to apply some to his back, jade hands replaced his, gently applying Dittany to his back. Arwen looked at him with heartache, complaining gently. "You silly one, if you just admitted defeat to my brothers, they wouldn't bully you anymore. Why do you stubbornly insist on competing with them daily?" Kael drew a sharp breath but resolutely shook his head. "No way! If I admitted defeat, they wouldn't let me see you anymore! Besides, how could a man admit defeat!" Since learning Kael had stolen their beloved sister, these brothers had completely changed their attitude 180 degrees, daily finding ways to disrupt Kael and Arwen's alone time, then dragging Kael into endless competitions under the pretense of future protection for Arwen. If Kael dared refuse, they'd absolutely make sarcastic remarks about him being unwilling to suffer for Arwen. Fighting for dignity, Kael naturally wouldn't admit defeat. More importantly, with Elladan and Elrohir, masters who'd lived thousands of years, as sparring partners, Kael's swordsmanship and spear skills were rapidly improving. Even the residual effects of Ent-draught from Fangorn Forest were being quickly absorbed and strengthened by his body. His body became stronger and more agile, and in competitions with both, he barely managed some fighting power.