Chapter 72: The Third Age

Under the Night Sky

Ino gazed at the distant mist-covered mountains and then looked around at the vast grasslands surrounding him.

After much hesitation, he finally chose to enter the farmhouse in front of him.

"I can't believe I'm not as quick-witted as Hermione!"

Seeing the farmhouse's tightly closed door, Ino sighed belatedly.

Despite his sigh, he had no regrets. Given the circumstances, if he had rashly entered the farmhouse without closing the door in time, he would have been followed, and that would have meant being trapped in a confined space with no escape, especially with the giant bear chasing him so closely.

"Alohomora!"

With the incantation, the farmhouse's tall wooden door opened in response.

Walking into the farmhouse, Ino looked around and found that everything—from the tableware to the furniture, including tables, chairs, beds, and wardrobes—appeared to be oversized.

Interestingly, he also noticed that the beams and pillars around were painted with various rough designs, resembling either totems or casual graffiti, which gave the place a mysterious air.

Similarly, on one side of the room, there was a pile of enormous weapons: three-meter-long swords, executioner's axes even taller than the swords, and scythes with blades over a meter in diameter. Although these weapons no longer looked shiny, the spots of rust mixed with dark purple stains suggested they were more than mere decorations.

As Time Passed

The night outside the farmhouse seemed unusually lively. Ino, inside the room, could hear various beastly growls and even chilling screams. This made him more vigilant, knowing that sleeping was out of the question. He opened his suitcase and took out a bottle of vitality potion, drinking it all in one gulp.

It was indeed worthy of a master potion maker; the bitter potion instantly dispelled his previous fatigue and the drowsiness of the late night, filling him with a sense of energy.

Feeling his renewed state, Ino smiled in satisfaction. Given his current condition, even if the giant bear attacked, he was confident he could continue fighting for hours, possibly even defeating it in mid-air. However, considering the unknown storyline, he quickly dismissed this idea, knowing that any slight change could lead to unpredictable consequences.

"Things have changed since entering Hogwarts..."

Sitting on the giant chair, Ino reflected to himself. It seemed that since the start of the school year, the fantasy world had undergone some changes. The small village and town scenes had disappeared, replaced by vast landscapes and continuous dangers.

The night was long. Although the potion made him energetic, the downside was having nowhere to expend this energy. Given the circumstances, he couldn't move recklessly. He could only sit on the giant chair, idly scattering snowflakes and quietly waiting for dawn.

As Time Passed

Finally, a noise came from the door, and Ino instantly jumped down from the chair, tightly gripping his wand.

"Come out! I know you're in there." A rough, hoarse voice sounded from outside.

Whether it's a blessing or a curse, he had to face it. Hearing the voice, Ino breathed a sigh of relief. At least they could communicate, unlike those who attacked on sight.

He slowly walked out of the room. What came into view was a giant standing in the courtyard, about twenty feet tall. The nearly five-meter-tall figure, coupled with a face full of thick hair, looked intimidating.

"I apologize for intruding," Ino bowed slightly. "I was chased by a beast last night and had no choice but to take refuge here temporarily."

Seeing the figure before him, he realized this must be a giant's home, so he immediately explained his uninvited presence.

"I am Beorn, the last skin-changer in Middle-earth. In my beast form, it's hard to control my actions."

The giant was surprisingly friendly, not only not blaming him but also explaining himself.

Skin-changer… Middle-earth… Familiar terms echoed in his ears. As a dazzling gem in fantasy literature, Ino was very familiar with this long epic. And as for the legendary skin-changer Beorn, he also had some understanding. Overall, Beorn was a tragic and pitiable figure.

Beorn's family was brutally murdered by orcs, and he himself was chained and treated like a pet. After narrowly escaping with his life, he lived alone outside the Misty Mountains, constantly hunting the dark forces' minions.

Yet, Beorn seemed to have a certain fondness for humans, unlike his cold attitude toward dwarves in the stories. Thinking of this, Ino smiled and said:

"Ino the Bard! I've heard of your legend, Beorn! I mean no harm, and let's just forget about last night's misunderstanding."

"You shouldn't have come here," Beorn's hoarse voice sounded again. "With the infiltration of evil forces, the Misty Mountains are no longer safe."

Meanwhile, Ino was already thinking. Although he confirmed the story's setting, he still knew nothing about Middle-earth at this point, not even what era it was. If he inadvertently stumbled into Helm's Deep or Minas Tirith during a major war, that would be truly disastrous.

However, one thing he could be certain of was that it wasn't the terrifying Second Age, since Beorn's presence was clear proof. The First Age was dominated by Morgoth, with dragons like Smaug merely being his creations, and even ancient balrogs were active. In the Second Age under Sauron, powerful skin-changers like Beorn were enslaved and treated as pets.

But by the Third Age, after the fall of Númenor, the whole of Middle-earth experienced a drastic decline, almost like entering an era where magic was waning. Supernatural forces rapidly retreated, allowing someone like Beorn to single-handedly enter the Misty Mountains, protecting the land from evil, easily slaying any orcs, wargs, or even trolls.

Though his mind raced, in reality, only a moment had passed. After a slight hesitation, Ino said:

"Thank you for your advice, Beorn. I'll rest a bit and then leave."

"As you wish," Beorn didn't persuade further, grabbing a huge axe and starting to work in the courtyard.

The over one-meter-thick logs were like soft cakes in Beorn's hands, easily split into uniform firewood.

Ino stood quietly in the courtyard, waiting for Beorn to finish his work. He planned to ask for a map and confirm the current era before deciding on his next journey.