Lairon and Cathril, the sibling pair, set out across the desolate wilderness, carrying supplies of food and water. Kaen had given them half a month's time—to seek out the Dúnedain and begin forming a band of Rangers.
Kaen himself stayed behind, leaving Zakri, Mundar, and Ameliah to guard their amassed wealth. He then took Caden and headed west, aiming to recruit soldiers near the River Celen—also known as the Silver Spring.
He avoided the River Bruinen for a reason. That land fell under the protection of Rivendell.
Though the Elves wouldn't interfere in his recruitment of Men, the people living under Elven protection had long enjoyed peace. Their hearts were no longer stirred by battle; it would be near impossible to raise a strong enough fighting force there.
So Kaen chose the banks of the River Celen.
They traveled across the plains.
The skies were overcast, a shroud of mist draped across the world. From far ahead, Kaen and Caden heard the sounds of shouting—of battle.
The mist made it impossible to see clearly. With weapons in hand and caution in their steps, they crept toward the noise.
As they neared the source, the scene slowly came into view.
A horde of Orcs had descended upon it, burning, pillaging, and slaying without mercy. The younger men of the village had armed themselves in desperation, fighting to protect their families.
But the difference in numbers and equipment was stark. The villagers were clearly struggling.
"Let's go—help them!" Kaen didn't hesitate. With Caden beside him, he charged toward the village.
"Women and children, flee first!"
"Young men—and even you old bones—pick up your weapons! Stand against these monsters!"
"By the Valar, kill these hideous creatures!"
Amidst the chaos, an old man stood tall with a staff in hand, rallying the able-bodied to resist the Orcs.
He was a large figure, his pointed hat rising above the melee, a thick white beard cascading to his waist. His face was lined but kind, and his voice rang with a commanding authority.
Under his lead, the young men of the village managed to push back the Orcs. Street fighting broke out among the houses.
Suddenly, the old man frowned and looked past the Orcs.
He saw two figures—Kaen and Caden—cutting through the mist and into the fray. The pair moved like a storm of steel, weapons gleaming as they struck down enemy after enemy. Unstoppable.
"Oh my!" the old man gasped. "Two fearless warriors!"
His eyes lit up, and he shouted to the others, "Look there! Brave souls have come to our aid, wielding blades of salvation! These Orcs are nothing to fear! Fight with me—fight and survive!"
The villagers, inspired, roared in unison and renewed their resistance with desperate resolve.
Kaen and Caden moved in perfect sync, dispatching the Orcs with ease. After two rounds of system enhancement, Kaen's strength, speed, and reflexes were leagues beyond normal men. These poorly equipped Orcs stood no chance.
Caden, too, had grown significantly stronger—thanks to the triple stat growth from the panel. His battleaxe swept through the enemy like a hurricane. Clad in heavy armor, he was all but untouchable.
The two of them were like a pair of human-shaped threshers, cutting down anything in their path—even faced with thirty or forty Orcs, they charged without fear.
"Loose the arrows! Kill them!"
The Orcs' leader shouted the command as soon as he noticed Kaen and Caden cutting through the ranks.
But before he could speak another word, Kaen hurled a spear and impaled him on the spot.
A volley of arrows whistled through the air.
Kaen and Caden grabbed nearby Orc corpses, using them as makeshift shields as they pushed forward relentlessly.
Their terrifying strength spread fear among the remaining Orcs. With their leader slain, panic set in—the horde began to scatter.
"Charge!" the old man in the grey cloak yelled, leading the villagers in a counterattack.
With Kaen and Caden assisting, the rest of the Orcs were quickly driven out.
Cheers erupted from the villagers. Women and children peeking from behind doors and windows burst into smiles of relief.
The old man in grey approached Kaen and Caden with a kind smile. He bowed slightly and said, "I am Gandalf the Grey. Thank you, brave warriors, for saving our village."
Kaen's pupils contracted.
He never expected to encounter him here—one of the very souls of Middle-earth!
Inside a modest wooden cabin, a woman laid out plates of roasted meat while the four men sat around a table near the hearth, enjoying a warm meal.
"Thank you, Lord Kaen, Lord Caden, and the Grey Wizard—for saving our village."
The speaker was an elderly man with a weathered face and kind eyes. He raised a cup of ale in gratitude. His name was Old Jack, the village elder—wise and respected.
Gandalf smiled and replied, "There's no need for thanks. It is every free people's duty to resist the darkness."
Kaen and Caden nodded and lifted their cups in agreement.
Then Gandalf turned to Kaen, eyes sharp with curiosity. "Lord Kaen, I can sense noble bearing in you, and you are followed by a mighty warrior. Might I ask—who are you?"
"It's no secret," Kaen replied with a calm smile.
He began to recount his tale—from crossing the Misty Mountains, enduring countless hardships, to arriving here with the aim of raising an army. He even mentioned slaying the Trolls.
"Oh my! By the Valar, you slew three Trolls?" Old Jack exclaimed in astonishment. "That region is perilous! The forests are crawling with Orcs and Trolls!"
In Middle-earth, strength earns respect. The look in Jack's eyes turned to reverence.
Even Gandalf was impressed. "Incredible. Trolls are weapons forged by the dark forces of the world."
At that, Caden puffed up with pride. "That's nothing! When Lord Kaen was among the hillfolk of the Anduin River Valley, he hunted down hundreds of Orcs. They called him the Monster Hunter—the Orc-slayer, the Troll-slayer!"
"Ahem! That's just a few modest achievements—not worth boasting about." Kaen waved his hand quickly, feeling a little embarrassed by Caden's enthusiastic praise.
Gandalf chuckled. "A humble warrior, I see."
The conversation continued for some time.
As they got to know each other better, both Gandalf and Old Jack gained a solid impression of Kaen.
Then Old Jack asked, "Lord Kaen, may I ask—what is the purpose of your recruitment? War… or peace?"
"For war, of course," Kaen answered frankly. "I need an army because I plan to purge the Troll-woods. That forest is overrun with Orcs and Trolls."
"War, is it…" Old Jack sighed, visibly disappointed.
But Gandalf, with a thoughtful gleam in his eyes, said quietly, "War brings death to many, Kaen…" This update is available on NoveI-Fire.ɴet
"…but it is the only path to true peace."