"Gandalf!" Kael happily stepped forward to embrace him.
"Long time no see, how've you been?"
"Quite well. I've been in Gondor recently, and just a few days ago I discussed eastern border issues with Steward Ecthelion II," Gandalf said cheerfully.
"Oh, that owl messenger of yours is truly excellent. When I received the letter, I was riding Shadowfax at high speed. I never expected it could still find me—it gave me quite a fright at the time."
Kael smiled and explained: "They've got some talent for message delivery. I was worried it couldn't find you until it brought back your reply, then I finally relaxed."
Just then, a loud eagle cry came from the sky.
"Oh, what's this?" Gandalf's eyes lit up as he inquired of Kael.
Kael nodded with a smile: "That's Aslan. He must've noticed you've arrived."
As soon as he finished speaking, a griffin several times larger than a lion flew from the distant sky, quickly landing before the two men.
Griffin Aslan was majestic, combining the bearing of both king of the skies and king of the earth—possessing both the lion's majesty and the eagle's sharpness, making Gandalf's eyes shine with delight.
"Haven't seen him for a while, Aslan's grown even more mighty and handsome—he's become a beautiful young fellow!"
If flying horses were elves' favorites, then griffins matched Gandalf's aesthetics perfectly. If he didn't already have his mount Shadowfax, he would have long wanted a griffin pet.
Aslan was also friendly toward Gandalf, not refusing his approach and touch.
However, this overturned Shadowfax's jealousy. He immediately snorted indignantly nearby, issuing warning neighs at Aslan, his hooves eager to kick this creature who was seducing his master.
Aslan was not to be outdone. The clever creature deliberately provoked, rubbing against Gandalf right in front of Shadowfax.
Shadowfax became even more irritated.
Gandalf quickly soothed his mount, expressing that it was his favorite.
But the proud horse-lord Shadowfax turned his head away, not letting him touch, as if to say: "Don't think I didn't see how your eyes lit up when you saw that griffin."
Kael watched from the side with amusement, especially hearing Shadowfax's thoughts—those who didn't know might think they'd encountered infidelity.
After watching the entertainment for a while, Kael invited Gandalf into the tower to rest.
As for Shadowfax and Aslan, they remained in place, continuing their staring contest.
Since the two creatures couldn't really fight, Kael and Gandalf didn't bother managing them.
Upon entering the tower, they first encountered the gatekeeper, the three-headed dog Cerberus.
Gandalf had seen the three-headed dog before but still showed surprise: "Wow, this little fellow's so big now! If he keeps growing, I'm afraid even this place won't be able to contain him?"
Cerberus also remembered Gandalf, knowing he was his master's friend, so he didn't bare his fangs.
He wagged his tail joyfully toward Kael, then all three heads with six eyes curiously examined Gandalf, even bringing over his massive heads to sniff him with his nose.
Facing a three-headed dog that could swallow him in one bite, Gandalf showed no wariness or fear. When the three-headed dog came over to smell him, he even reached out to scratch under their chins.
The skillful and appropriate touch made the three-headed dog close his eyes and emit comfortable purring sounds.
Regarding Gandalf's question, Kael also shook his head.
"I don't know how big Cerberus can grow either. But his growth rate's slowed recently—he should be approaching his limit soon."
Cerberus now had a massive form, standing over ten meters tall, making him one of the larger pets among all of Kael's creatures.
He could also breathe fire, had poisonous teeth and saliva, his eyes had dizzying effects, possessed bronze skin and iron bones that ordinary swords and blades couldn't penetrate, and had very strong magical resistance.
Even if wounds were made, they could heal quickly.
Having fused genes from dragons, basilisks, and the giant octopus Watcher in the Water, the three-headed dog was powerful, second only to Smaug. The sub-dragons in the dragon breeding grounds were no match for Cerberus.
Kael had previously released Cerberus outside the tower, sending him to the breeding grounds as a sheepdog—though he herded sub-dragons instead of sheep.
The flames breathed by the sub-dragons had no effect on Cerberus—not even singeing his fur—while they were chased around in panic, only able to escape by flying into the air.
So Cerberus became Kael's most powerful pet at Isengard, now not only guarding Orthanc Tower but also responsible for all of Isengard's security.
Basically, when Kael wasn't there, the three-headed dog watched the house, plus Aslan patrolled the sky—no one could easily approach Isengard.
After discussing the three-headed dog, Kael led Gandalf upstairs and took out the golden cup to host him.
The golden cup summoned various fruits, delicacies, and drinks, all placed before Gandalf for his enjoyment.
Then Kael took out a bottle of wine given by an elven estate owner in far eastern Dorwinion, pouring it into the golden cup.
Seeing this scene, Gandalf marveled at the cup's abilities.
Besides possessing healing and nourishing magical power, the golden cup could also summon delicious food and dishes. Apart from specific summoning targets—like summoning prepared food and fruits from Weathertop's kitchen here at Isengard—it could also summon food and dishes from anywhere else in Middle-earth without specific targets.
Of course, the result of doing this was that other places would mysteriously lose freshly prepared food, leaving others hungry.
While the golden cup couldn't create food from nothing, it could make existing food larger and more abundant, allowing many people to eat their fill.
Such a treasure, with sufficient magical power support, could completely feed a village, a town, a city, or even a country.
If it fell into other powers' or countries' hands, it would be an artifact capable of determining national fortune! Enough to trigger countless people, powers, and even nations to compete for it.
After all, countless beings on the Middle-earth continent still went hungry. Once possessing a golden cup that could produce endless food, even a beggar could be supported by countless people and become king.
Of course, the more likely result would be countless people killing each other over the golden cup, even triggering wars.
Now such an "artifact" sat quietly before Gandalf, used to hosting him.
This made Gandalf admire the cup's miraculous abilities while also appreciating and respecting Kael even more.
Because if Kael had ambitions like Saruman to dominate the world, he could easily display the golden cup publicly, then use it to win hearts and rule the world.
But until now, only a few people close to Kael knew of the cup's existence. Usually, besides Kael's own use, it was only brought out when hosting friends like Gandalf.
Of course, in Kael's own words, he had absolutely no interest in ruling or dominating the world.
Even Hogsmeade and Bree under his current rule had become his territories through accidents, and Isengard was also entrusted to Kael's management by Gandalf, Elrond, and Galadriel.
Even with these territories, he didn't interfere much, leaving Hogsmeade and Bree to their mayors' full management responsibility, at most checking occasionally for embezzlement or oppression of the people.
As for Isengard, though the Dunlendings also submitted to him, Kael basically only held nominal authority without interfering in Dunlending affairs, allowing them complete self-governance.
Kael's only ambition from beginning to end was wanting to become stronger—purely just to become powerful.
But such thinking obviously wasn't easily understood by others.
In Middle-earth, whether it was Morgoth, Sauron, or Saruman, their ambition from start to finish was world domination, and becoming stronger was only to have power to rule the world.
Or rather, people in this world basically couldn't understand Kael's simple desire to become stronger.
In their view, becoming stronger was for world domination. If one couldn't demonstrate it after gaining powerful strength, what difference was that from traveling in fine clothes at night? What was the point of becoming stronger?
So in the eyes of Gandalf, Elrond, Galadriel, and others, Kael was a good young man without ambition who was positive and progressive.
Even in Elrond's eyes, Kael's lack of ambition had reached somewhat overly conservative levels.
Gandalf settled down at Orthanc Tower.
Having rare leisure time, besides watching Kael draw magical formations and occasionally offering suggestions, he would go to the first floor to pet Cerberus's three heads.
Or ride Aslan for flights in the sky, or go to the forest to communicate with the hippogriffs.
After learning Kael also had a dragon breeding ground, he couldn't wait to visit and see those sub-dragons.
For a time, Gandalf lived quite contentedly.
Time quickly arrived at the day of Venus conjunct Mars.
As green flames rose from the fireplace, Elrond came from Rivendell to Orthanc Tower.
"Mithrandir, long time no see. I didn't expect you to arrive before me," Elrond smiled in greeting.
Gandalf chuckled: "Lord Elrond, you're always managing a thousand responsibilities. I had nothing pressing to attend to, so I arrived a week early—and I've been having such a wonderful time at Kael's place that I nearly forgot why I came!"
Then Elrond looked at Kael and asked: "Is everything prepared, Kael?"
Kael nodded: "Everything's ready, Lord Elrond. We're just waiting for Eärendil's Star and Carnil's Star to appear together tonight."
Hearing this, Elrond nodded: "Good. This conjunction of Eärendil's Star and Carnil's Star will last for months—the longest in a thousand years. Stellar power will be most abundant, and the success rate for refining the Philosopher's Stone will be higher. However, at the final crucial moment, you must maintain a calm mindset, stay composed, and do not feel too much pressure, understand?"
"I will. Thank you for your concern," Kael nodded, seriously listening to Elrond's instructions.
If anyone besides Kael cared most about the Philosopher's Stone, it would be Elrond.
To prevent his daughter from following the path of ancestors Lúthien and Beren, choosing to abandon eternal life, Elrond had been using his wisdom to help Kael create the Philosopher's Stone, solely so Kael could gain immortality and accompany Arwen.
Such devoted paternal love was truly moving.