Kael did not linger long in Bywater, resting only one night at The Floating Log Inn. The next day, he took a boat from the pier to Buckland, on the opposite bank of the Brandywine River. He brought his carriage and pony with him, maneuvering them onto the ferry.
Buckland, nestled between the east bank of the Brandywine River and the eerie Old Forest, formed the Shire's eastern frontier. Most of its inhabitants were members of the Brandybuck family, a Hobbit clan known for being sturdier and more robust than their kin in the Westfarthing. Perhaps it was due to their proximity to the Old Forest and the dangers it presented, but the Hobbits of Buckland were noticeably more tenacious and vigilant. They were also among the few Hobbits who regularly wore shoes and maintained more contact with the outside world, particularly with the Human town of Bree, which inevitably led to their clothing and architecture taking on some Human characteristics.
Kael recalled Bilbo mentioning that centuries ago, the ancestors of the Buckland Hobbits had crossed the Brandywine River from the East Shire. They had built Brandy Hall upon Buckland Hill, and as their family grew, the region gradually expanded into the Buckland Kael saw today. Although Buckland was nominally part of the Shire, it functioned much like an independent territory, ruled by the Brandybuck family and largely exempt from Shire law.
After disembarking, Kael continued driving his carriage towards Bucklebury, the capital of Buckland. Along the way, he observed a tall, imposing hedge marking the boundary between Buckland and the Old Forest, stretching as far as the eye could see, a physical barrier between the two realms.
The history of this hedge was steeped in local legend. When the Hobbits first settled this region between the Brandywine River and the Old Forest, they cleared land for their homes and erected this massive hedge. This act, however, displeased the trees of the Old Forest, which were unlike any other trees in Middle-earth; they were sentient, capable of thought and movement. The Old Forest trees had repeatedly tried to breach the hedge and invade Buckland. In retaliation, the Hobbits had cut down hundreds of the ancient trees and set fire to the overgrown undergrowth, creating a wide, burned buffer zone between the hedge and the forest. This had only deepened the Old Forest's animosity towards the Hobbits, escalating the conflict. The trees of the Old Forest would attack passersby and ensnare those who dared to enter, while the Hobbits of Buckland lived in perpetual fear and vigilance of the forest, never daring to cross the hedge.
Kael found himself intensely curious about the Old Forest trees. Though he had no wand yet, he knew that wand-making involved two key components: the wood (the body) and the core (from magical creatures). The core typically came from creatures like phoenixes, dragons, or unicorns. The wood, however, required trees with inherent magical properties. In his old world, wandmakers often identified such trees by the presence of Bowtruckles—tiny, stick-like magical creatures that guarded wand-quality trees. Middle-earth had no Bowtruckles, leaving Kael with the puzzle of identifying suitable wood.
However, the trees of the Old Forest, capable of thought and movement, possessed undeniable extraordinary properties. Kael theorized that they might very well hold the potential for wand wood. Kael liked to plan ahead. He believed that as he continued to sign in at new locations, he would eventually acquire the knowledge of wand-making. Before that time comes, it would be prudent to gather the necessary materials.
The carriage continued its journey along the Brandywine River, passing several Hobbit villages, until it finally reached Bucklebury, the capital of Buckland. Kael stepped out of the carriage, surveying Bucklebury with a surge of surprise. The town sprawled across Buckland Hill, its eastern flank secured by the high, thick hedge wall. Most of the Hobbit homes here were built of wood, rather than burrowed into the earth. Only at the very center, at the highest point of the hill, stood a massive, traditional Hobbit smial carved directly into the hillside. This was Brandy Hall, the landmark of Bucklebury and the ancestral home of the Brandybuck family.
Upon entering the town, Kael did not head for an inn. Instead, he pulled out a slip of paper and examined it closely. "Hmm, let's see... 35 Ferry Road..." he murmured, walking slowly and checking the house numbers as he passed.
Finally, his carriage came to a halt in front of a traditional smial. "35 Ferry Road. This is it!"
Kael got out of the carriage, pushed open the garden gate, approached the round, green wooden door, and knocked.
"Coming!" a voice called from inside.
The door swung open, and a young Hobbit with brown curly hair poked his head out, looking at Kael with a puzzled expression. "Who are you?"
Kael bent down to meet the Hobbit's gaze, offering a friendly smile. "Excuse me, are you Master Drogo Baggins? I am Kael the Wizard. I hope I'm not imposing, but I've come to visit and convey greetings from Bilbo Baggins."
Recognition dawned on Drogo Baggins's face. "I know you! Bilbo wrote to me not long ago, saying you might come to Buckland. Please, come in!" He stepped aside, warmly inviting Kael into his home.
Drogo Baggins's house was decorated somewhat similarly to Bilbo's Bag End. Kael carefully stooped to avoid hitting his head on the low ceiling beams and chandeliers. As soon as he sat down, Drogo served him biscuits and tea.
Drogo inquired about Bilbo's recent well-being. Drogo and Bilbo were cousins, and though they lived in different parts of the Shire, their relationship was close, communicating often through letters. More importantly, Kael knew Drogo's other identity: he was the future father of Frodo Baggins, the Ring-bearer. However, at this time, Drogo was not yet married, so the future protagonist, Frodo, was merely a distant possibility.
In their subsequent conversation, after Drogo learned that Kael had already visited Michel Delving, Tuckborough, Long Cleeve, and Bywater, his eyes revealed a clear longing for adventure. Hobbits generally disliked traveling, and even within the Shire, communication between villages and towns was limited. Eager to hear more of Kael's travel experiences, Drogo immediately invited him to stay as long as he wished.
For the next few days, Kael stayed at Drogo's house. Through Drogo, he was introduced to the head of the Brandybuck family, the Master of Buckland. It was then that he successfully completed another sign-in.
[Hogwarts Sign-in System]
[Location Detected: The Shire - Buckland - Brandy Hall]
[Would you like to sign in?]
"Sign in!" Kael thought immediately.
[Sign-in Successful!]
[Congratulations! You have obtained: Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection (First-Year Defense Against the Dark Arts Class Textbook)]
Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection primarily introduced various Dark creatures of the wizarding world, such as Werewolves and Red Caps. Crucially, it also contained defensive spells like the Severing Charm (Repelling Charm), the Body-Bind Curse (Petrificus Totalus), the Disarming Charm (Expelliarmus), the Impediment Jinx (Obstacle Charm), the Counter-Charm (Finite Incantatem), and the Shield Charm (Protego). Kael was incredibly pleased with this reward. While these spells were defensive, they were immensely practical. Mastering them would significantly enhance his strength and his ability to protect himself!
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