A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

"Definitely, but if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up." Aaron said very frankly. He knew his own limitations better than anyone else. Rather than dragging others down, he would rather do his own thing.

Bilbo remained silent, knowing he couldn't help, and could only offer his silent blessings.

The expedition team searched for the entrance to the secret door according to the map, but the search area was too large, and the team searched for more than an hour without finding it.

Thorin produced a map. "If the map is real, the secret door is right above us."

“Up there,” Bilbo shouted, pointing to the statue of Thorin’s grandfather, Thorne, a massive statue with a winding stone staircase leading up to it.

"You have sharp eyes, Lord Baggins!" Thorin exclaimed excitedly, and immediately gathered everyone to start climbing the stairs. They finally arrived at their destination before sunset.

"This must be it, the Hidden Gate." Thorin looked at the stone wall before him, the outline of the gate faintly visible, and he could hardly contain his joy.

Thorin took out the key and shouted to the dwarves behind him, "Let those who doubt us regret it!"

The dwarves cheered immediately. Their long expedition of more than half a year had finally paid off, and the dwarf kingdom had hope of being rebuilt.

“We have the key, which means there’s a keyhole somewhere.” Dwarin began searching the stone wall.

As Thorin gazed at the afterglow of the setting sun, he couldn't help but read aloud the lunar script on the map, "The last rays of the Turin Sun will shine upon the keyhole."

"The contract is about to be completed," Aaron thought happily. As long as the door opens, he can use Captain Jack's compass to find the legendary Arkenstone and complete the system mission.

However, as the sun slowly set, Devalin still couldn't find the keyhole.

Thorin couldn't remain calm either, and immediately sent Nori to help, as Nori had the best observation skills among the dwarves.

Nori pressed his ear against the stone wall and tapped it repeatedly with a spoon, but the feedback he received only filled him with unease.

"Quiet, I can't hear you anymore with all your punches and kicks."

"I can't find it!" Dvalin pounded on the door angrily. "It's not here, it's not here at all."

As Thorin watched the sun set and the light fade away, he could no longer bear it. "Break down the door!"

Several dwarves took out their weapons, but the stone wall was exceptionally sturdy. Even chiseling and carving could only produce a few sparks, and even if the weapons broke, they wouldn't leave a trace.

“It’s no use, the door is sealed, you can’t open it by force,” Balin said.

“I’ll give it a try.” Aaron walked up to the stone wall and chanted the unlocking spell, “Araho Cave open.”

boom!

A pale yellow light appeared on the stone wall, blasting Aaron back several steps.

"Damn it!" Aaron cursed under his breath, but quickly calmed down. If the secret gate didn't exist, there would be no need to set up such a powerful spell.

The sun had set, the last rays of sunlight had disappeared, and the dwarves still hadn't broken down the gate.

“Impossible!” Thorin walked up to the stone wall with the map and murmured in disappointment, “The last ray of light of the Turin Day will shine on the keyhole.”

That's what we said above. What did we miss?

The dwarves remained silent; it was a testament to their inner strength that they managed to hold back their tears at this moment.

“What have we overlooked, Bahrain?” Sorin asked, his voice trembling.

“The light has gone out, there’s nothing we can do.” Bahrain said somberly. “We only have one chance. Let’s go, everyone.”

"Wait a moment." Aaron immediately stopped everyone.

We can't leave! We absolutely can't leave!

I can't fulfill the contract by myself if you leave!

He was just one step away from completing the first task of the system, and he would never be willing to give up now!

"Fluorescence."

Aaron snapped his fingers, and a bright light appeared in his hand, illuminating the stone wall and the dwarves' disappointed faces.

“Child, I know you’re unwilling to accept this, but we are even more unwilling than you,” Bahrain comforted. “But sometimes you have to learn to accept reality.”

“Bullshit reality,” Aaron said angrily. “All I see is you giving up hope of rebuilding the dwarf kingdom so easily.”

“Thorin,” Aaron said, looking at the dwarf prince with his lifeless eyes, “there are powerful spells on the rock walls, which means we’ve come to the right place. You have the key, so we know how to open the secret door.”

"You're leaving just because you can't find the keyhole? That's so disappointing."

“That’s right,” Bilbo couldn’t help but say. “We can’t give up, at least not now.”

Thorin sighed and slowly raised his head. "But we're already too late."

"Who told you you're late? Isn't today Turin Day?" Aaron rolled his eyes speechlessly. "Your dwarf ancestors drew this map, and it has ciphers that can only be deciphered in lunar script. There's also a riddle in the ciphers. Are you sure your understanding of it is correct?"

Thorin opened his mouth, looking thoughtfully at the key in his hand, a glimmer of hope igniting in his heart.

"Can you solve the riddle?" Thorin looked at Aaron expectantly, and the others also turned their attention to him.

"I can't." Aaron's words were like a bucket of cold water poured on everyone's hearts.

"Then why are you talking about it?"

“But it can.” Aaron reluctantly took out Captain Jack’s compass. “This thing is more cost-effective than the magic carpet. I spent a lot of money to get it.”

It can point to what people desire most deep within their hearts; it is a true treasure.

"You mean it can find the keyhole?" Dvalin asked with some skepticism.

“Of course.” Aaron opened the compass and placed it in Thorin’s hand. “Give it a try!”

Thorin swallowed hard, staring at the swaying pointer on the compass, and thought he might be crazy to have pinned his hopes on a toy.

But for now, let's try anything, even if it seems hopeless!

The keyhole of the secret door, the keyhole of the secret door...

Thorin was completely focused on the location of the keyhole. The pointer on the compass spun rapidly before finally stopping and pointing to the lower left of the stone wall.

At the same time, the bright moonlight pierced through the clouds and shone on the stone wall.

The light slowly moved downwards, also pointing towards the keyhole.

“The keyhole.” Balin looked at the black keyhole that appeared in the moonlight, and tears almost welled up in his eyes.

“The light of the moon,” Bilbo murmured thoughtfully. “So the riddle meant the last moonlight of autumn.”

Thorin stared at the keyhole for a long time, unable to come to his senses. When he finally realized what was happening, he found that his hand had loosened and Aaron had taken the compass back.

"What are you standing there for? Open the door!"

Thorin nodded slightly and, under the expectant gazes of all the dwarves, inserted the key into the lock.

Chapter 263 It would be unreasonable not to steal from the evil dragon.

After turning the key once, Thorin pushed open the secret door.

"Iruber!"

Upon entering the secret door, Thorin was overcome with emotion at the sight of the surroundings. "I recognize these walls, these halls, these stones."

Do you remember, Bahrain? The room was glittering with gold.

“I remember,” Bahrain nodded, tears welling in his eyes.

Groin looked at the mural on the wall and said, "This is the seventh kingdom of the Turin people. May the Heart of the Mountain unite all the dwarves to protect their homeland."

"Is that the Arkenstone?" Aaron noticed an oval-shaped gemstone on the king's throne in the mural, radiating light in all directions.

“Yes,” Thorin said, “that is what you two are after on this trip.”

Bilbo and Aaron exchanged a glance; with the moment approaching, both thieves felt a little panicked.

Unsure whether Smaug was still asleep, and not daring to take the risk, the dwarves had Balin, who knew Irubor best, lead the way for the two.

“I know we’re looking for gems, but what do gems look like?” Bilbo asked.

"A large, white gemstone."

"That's it?" Bilbo's eye twitched slightly. "I think there must be a lot of gems down there."

"There is only one Arkenstone, and you will definitely recognize it when you see it."

"Don't worry." Aaron raised the compass in his hand, full of confidence, and said, "We can find it without even recognizing it."

Bahrain suddenly stopped and sighed, "To be honest, you two, I don't know what you'll see down there."

"If you don't want to, you can go back. There's nothing shameful about it."

“No, Bahrain,” Bilbo said firmly, “I promised to do it, and I have to try.”

"Needless to say, I'm an expert." Aaron grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. "Our family takes contracts very seriously, and I will find the Arken Gem."

Furthermore, you should also be mentally prepared that as long as Smaug is alive, Thorin is not truly the king of the hill.

“We understand,” Balin nodded. “But the Arkenstone can unite the dwarven tribes, and the dwarven army might be able to defeat the dragon and reclaim Irubor.”

Aaron shrugged, thinking to himself that they wouldn't have that chance.

The dragon head is his; no one can take it from him.

"Let's go, Bilbo."

"Wait a minute," Balin called out to the two, speaking haltingly, "If there really is a living dragon down there, don't wake it."

Bilbo couldn't help but swallow, wanting to ask something more, but Bahrain had already left.

The two continued forward, trying to keep their footsteps as quiet as possible.

"Bilbo, isn't your heartbeat a bit too exaggerated?" Aaron said speechlessly.

"Can you honestly say you're not afraid or nervous?"

That's a legendary dragon! I've lived for decades and never seen one, and old Tuk probably never has either.

"Calm down." Aaron smiled faintly. "With me here, you'll be fine. I can guarantee that."

Upon hearing this, Bilbo's heart rate slowed down slightly.

After all, Aaron's combat strength was much higher than his, and he was also a mage, so he felt safer.

As Bilbo stepped through the last door, he began to mentally reassure himself: He's not home, he's not home, he's not home...

The two suddenly stopped and stared in astonishment at the palace below.

This dwarf's grand hall was filled with gold coins, and various gems were everywhere.