A lean-faced, deep-eyed, blue-robed old man appeared on the water's surface, full of vicissitudes and wisdom, with a gray goatee.
This was Rómestámo, one of the two Blue Wizards.
Like Gandalf, Saruman, and other wizards, Rómestámo wasn't his real name but a title meaning "Eastern Savior," given by those he had rescued in the east.
The other Blue Wizard, Morinehtar, meant "Darkness-slayer."
Both Blue Wizards were Maiar who had served Oromë the Hunter among the Valar. When the call came to aid Middle-earth against Sauron's growing shadow, Morinehtar answered first—much like Saruman had done—but he would not go alone. He convinced his close friend Rómestámo to join him on this perilous mission.
Upon reaching Middle-earth, the two wizards turned their steps eastward, following the ancient paths where their master Oromë had once hunted in the Elder Days. There, in lands far from western eyes, they worked tirelessly among scattered human tribes—helping those who had cast off the dark worship of Morgoth and stirring rebellion against Sauron's spreading influence.
Dorwinion leader Barg showed reverence, respectfully reporting yesterday's battle at Easterling City to the Blue Wizard Rómestámo in the water mirror.
"Rómestámo, we were saved by another wizard and weren't killed by the Nazgûl and fell beast. He wishes to visit you. Will you see him?"
"A wizard?" Rómestámo raised an eyebrow curiously. "What kind of wizard?"
"He calls himself Albus Dumbledore and says he comes from the west," Barg said.
Hearing Barg mention the false name, Kael winced inwardly and stepped closer to the stone basin where Rómestámo's image flickered in the water. There's no point in maintaining this charade with a fellow wizard.
"Greetings, Wizard Rómestámo. Forgive the deception, but my true name is Kael." As he spoke, he let the disguise fall away—wrinkles smoothing, his hunched back straightening, and gray hair darkening to its natural color. "I come seeking you on the counsel of Gandalf the Grey and Radagast the Brown."
Beside him, Dorwinion leader Barg stared in shock at Kael transforming from an old man to a tall young man, mouth agape.
The Blue Wizard Rómestámo in the water mirror also showed surprise at this scene.
Then he smiled warmly and greeted him friendly. "So you're the Black-Robed Wizard Kael! I didn't expect you to be so young. Though I'm in the east, I've heard of your deeds in the west. Compared to you, we idle folk are somewhat ashamed."
"Wizard Rómestámo, you're too modest!" Kael waved his hand. "Without you and Wizard Morinehtar constraining Sauron's eastern actions and limiting his power, the west would have long fallen under his dark rule."
After lengthy pleasantries and exchanging information about east and west, Rómestámo asked. "Wizard Kael, you've traveled thousands of miles to find me. Is there some important matter?"
Kael took the opportunity to inquire. "Wizard Rómestámo, having been in the east for so long, do you know the location of Hildórien, the birthplace of Men?"
Hearing Kael's question, surprise flashed in Rómestámo's eyes. "You seek Hildórien?"
Kael nodded.
"There's a substance I need to find in Hildórien. But with the passage of time, that place is unknown to all. However, I thought that you and Wizard Morinehtar have traveled throughout the east, your footsteps covering every inch of eastern land. Perhaps you know that forgotten birthplace of humanity?"
Facing Kael's somewhat anxious, expectant gaze, Rómestámo smiled cheerfully. "Others might not know of Hildórien, but Morinehtar and I indeed know of it."
"When we first came to the east, we sought a temporary dwelling place, so we searched the east for many years and eventually discovered Hildórien by accident. It's in the Far East, surrounded by the Mountains of the Wind on the west side and bordered by the Eastern Sea on the east."
Speaking of this, Rómestámo showed a reminiscent expression.
"It's a hidden valley called the Vale of Sleep, shrouded by sacred power. Its sanctity and beauty rival the Blessed Realm. The soil and streams there are full of life. Morinehtar and I lingered there for a long time. If not for our mission and responsibilities, we would have wanted to retire there!"
Hearing that Rómestámo had been to Hildórien, Kael's spirits immediately lifted.
After traveling the east for so long, he had finally found definite news of Hildórien.
Rómestámo seemed to know Kael's eager mood and shook his head, dampening his hopes.
"Hildórien is shrouded by sacred power. Without specific conditions, even with an exact map, one cannot see it, much less find it."
"Specific conditions?" Kael quickly asked. "What kind of conditions are needed?"
Rómestámo didn't hide anything. "Humans awakened on the first day of the first year of the First Age, when sunlight first fell upon Middle-earth. So Hildórien only appears when illuminated by the first ray of sunlight on New Year's Day. Only then can one enter the Vale of Sleep."
"This year's New Year has long passed. If you want to enter Hildórien, you'll need to wait until next year."
Good things come to those who wait. Hearing this, Kael wasn't too disappointed, and with most of this year already past, he didn't mind waiting a bit longer.
"If Wizard Kael is willing to wait, after I finish matters here, I can help you create a route map to Hildórien," Rómestámo added.
Kael was delighted. This was exactly what he hoped for.
"That would be most helpful, Wizard Rómestámo!"
But seeing the Blue Wizard's somewhat requesting expression, Kael proactively asked. "Is there something you need me to do, Wizard Rómestámo? Please don't be polite."
Since the other party had helped him, he naturally wanted to reciprocate.
Rómestámo's expression relaxed slightly, but he sighed with some gravity. "It's about Morinehtar. He seems to have encountered trouble in southern Harad."
Kael was stunned and more puzzled. "Has he run into some difficulty?"
Rómestámo shook his head without elaborating. "I can't be certain about this matter yet, and it can't be explained in a few words. Let me come meet you in person to discuss it."
Kael was full of questions, but seeing the other party wouldn't say more, he didn't press.
The two soon ended their conversation and agreed to meet at the Dorwinion tribe.
So for the following days, Kael stayed within Dorwinion territory.
After more than half a month, a wizard in deep blue robes appeared at the Dorwinion tribe, riding a tall wild bull.
The arrival was indeed Rómestámo.
His appearance caused cheers among the Dorwinions, with everyone looking at him reverently as their savior.
Rómestámo greeted everyone with kindly benevolence, even remembering each person's name, then his gaze fell directly on Kael from afar, nodding with a smile.
Rómestámo rode his bull to Kael, then nimbly dismounted, smiling as he said.
"Wizard Kael, this is our first formal meeting. When news of you came from the west, I was very curious about you. Seeing you today, you're indeed extraordinary!"
Meeting a Blue Wizard in person for the first time, Kael was also surprised by Rómestámo.
Unlike wizards such as Gandalf and Saruman, besides the mysterious aura unique to wizards, Rómestámo also had a wild, untamed quality, more like a battle-hardened old hunter.
But part of Kael's attention was on the wild bull behind Rómestámo.
The bull looked extraordinary, massive in size, larger than ordinary cattle, with shimmering pale white fur that reflected dazzling halos in sunlight.
Especially those two huge snow-white horns gave a sacred, majestic feeling.
"Wizard Rómestámo, is this your mount? It looks truly beautiful!" Kael praised.
Hearing this, Rómestámo's smile deepened as he patted the bull. "This is Norimor, an Araw ox, descended from the cattle of Oromë the Hunter. I found him as a newborn on hills by the Sea of Rhûn and have raised him ever since."
The bull responded with an intelligent-sounding moo.
Kael understood. As a Maiar servant of Oromë the Hunter, choosing a descendant of Oromë's cattle as a mount wasn't strange.
But this Oromë the Hunter certainly had many pets. Besides Huan the Hound, there was Nahar, the ancestor of the Mearas horse breed, and Oromë's cattle. Each was a divine beast.
Among them, Huan the Hound could kill Morgoth's werewolves Draugluin and Carcharoth. The divine horse Nahar's descendants could travel a thousand miles in a day.
What abilities might this descendant of Oromë's cattle possess?
"Moo?" The bull sensed Kael's gaze and looked at him with puzzlement.
Seeing this, Kael couldn't help smiling, clearing his distracting thoughts before conversing with Rómestámo.
"This is the route map I've drawn to Hildórien. I hope it helps you," Rómestámo said, handing Kael a parchment.
Kael took the parchment and opened it to see the depicted route, immediately showing joy.
"Thank you, Wizard Rómestámo. You've been a great help!"
With this route map, he could accurately find Hildórien and enter the Vale of Sleep on New Year's morning to collect the final ingredient needed for the Philosopher's Stone, the "Salt of the Body."
Reciprocating the favor, he asked Rómestámo. "Wizard Rómestámo, you mentioned earlier that Wizard Morinehtar encountered trouble. What's the problem? What can I do to help?"
Rómestámo sighed with worry.
"When Morinehtar and I came to the east, we initially worked together. But because Sauron's power and influence in the east were too great to contain his actions, we had to separate. I handled affairs in Easterling territories while Morinehtar went to the southern Khand and Harad regions. We used to correspond regularly, but recently Morinehtar suddenly went silent. I have a bad feeling and worry something has happened to him."
Hearing this, Kael frowned. "What do you plan to do?"
"I originally planned to rescue Morinehtar alone, but I sense this journey would be dangerous. One wrong step could mean eternal doom. Until I met you, I sensed a turning point," Rómestámo said.
"So I want to invite you to go south with me to rescue Morinehtar together."