"Small boat?"
Hearing this, Garrett pointed toward a vessel dozens of meters long in the distance from the flagship, and said, "Over there. I wasn't very satisfied with it, so I made another one."
Círdan's eyelid twitched.
You call that a small boat?
"My lord, we're running rather low on materials."
As though he had found salvation, the shipyard overseer hurried to Círdan's side to report.
"Enough, that's quite enough already."
Círdan's tone carried a note of urgency.
Gesturing at the so-called "small boat" dozens of meters long in the distance, he said, "That vessel is already excellent, fine enough even to serve as a ship for crossing westward."
"I hereby declare that you have completely mastered the craft of shipbuilding. There is nothing more I can teach you."
Such learning ability... it was genuinely astounding.
He remembered clearly: all he had done was show Garrett the components needed to build large and small ships, then explained how to assemble and join them.
He hadn't even given a hands-on demonstration, so how had Garrett achieved this level already?
Could it be that just by observing once, he had mastered it all?
Such ability was simply beyond belief.
The greater the challenge, the more he seemed to excel, his limits unknowable.
Comparable even to...
He cut off his train of thought and gazed at the flagship before them.
"This is a fine ship. But even the finest vessel needs skilled helmsmen and sailors."
"When you have need of them, simply send word. The most capable navigators and sailors we have will come to your aid, and they will share their knowledge without reserve."
"As for this ship..."
Looking at the not-yet-completed flagship before him, he considered for a moment, then said, "She could sail through the Gulf of Lhûn into the sea, then head south, entering the Lone-lands via the harbor of Lond Daer. If I recall correctly, your territory lies in that region."
"Fear not, though Lond Daer's harbor has long been abandoned, it can still serve some purpose."
"No need."
Garrett waved his hand dismissively.
"Let this ship remain here. After all, she was built with your people's materials."
"Consider it a graduation gift from apprentice to master."
Graduated in one month, at remarkable speed.
"You are far too modest. I taught you very little in truth. Nearly everything required to construct this vessel, at least most of the knowledge, was discovered and understood by you alone."
Círdan was self-aware of his limited contribution.
But Garrett was even more so.
The only reason he could build so quickly was thanks to his crafting system.
Those sample parts and blueprints, once he examined them, he unlocked the ability to craft them. Only the assembly required him to memorize specific details.
If he didn't follow the proper method, the hull's structure would collapse.
"You're being rather modest yourself," Garrett replied.
Círdan was left speechless.
A few days later, the flagship, entirely designed and crafted by Garrett alone, was fully assembled and successfully completed her maiden voyage.
She was eventually left in Lindon's harbor and named The Apprentice, remembered by the Elves as Garrett's very first work after mastering shipbuilding.
"Your generosity commands respect."
---
Another month passed. When everything that needed learning was learned, Garrett and Círdan met once more.
Thousands of years ago, Círdan had willingly given Narya to Gandalf, as aid for his mission.
And today, he once again shared all the finest shipbuilding knowledge of Middle-earth, providing Garrett with powerful support.
So Garrett brought out his own gift in return: A golden apple, glowing with lustrous perfection.
"I hope you like it."
Círdan received the gift.
This apple, like the treasures of Valinor, would never wither nor decay. So long as it was not lost, it could remain by Círdan's side forever.
"If one day you truly have no choice but to use this thing to help yourself, then please, don't refrain from doing so just because you cherish it. If it is consumed, that only means the gift I gave you had value. That would make me sincerely happy."
"I understand."
Círdan nodded solemnly.
A golden apple, brimming with life, capable of saving lives, priceless both in material worth and craftsmanship, given as a return gift for the teaching of shipbuilding. Perhaps the exchange could have ended there, with both parties having acted more than appropriately.
But there were always unexpected developments.
Garrett took out a beacon and placed it in the center of the Grey Havens.
When it ignited, all the Elves dwelling there felt something stir within their hearts. They lifted their heads toward the beam of light piercing the sky and gathered at the spot.
Life force flowed through their very beings, halting their decline.
"This is truly..."
Experiencing it all, Círdan was somewhat overwhelmed.
"This... this approaches perfection itself..." he murmured softly.
"Perfection... perhaps it has always been within reach."
When Garrett departed from the Grey Havens, a pillar of light blazed upward from within, piercing the heavens.
It would be recorded, it would be sung of, becoming a new legend.
Yet although the matter of technique was settled for now...
---
After returning to Wayfort, Garrett immediately spread out his map and studied the terrain, especially the nearby rivers and waterways.
First, near Wayfort, at the Last Bridge beside the Trollshaws, there was a river. That waterway could be traced all the way from the southern edge of the Lone-lands to the bend before Rivendell's gates, and its source lay in the distant sea.
Just as Círdan had said, if it could be properly utilized, it might make for a very convenient waterway.
As for the problems of the river not being deep enough, or not wide enough?
Simply excavate and expand it.
Expanding his domain was nothing new, ever since the experience farm was established, his territory capacity had greatly increased. Maintaining several dozen territories simultaneously was manageable; any more would be difficult, since each level required increasingly more experience, and at a certain point advancement became truly arduous.
Better to maintain steady numbers, especially since enchanting still consumed experience levels.
"This location will do."
Garrett marked a spot on the map.
The place he indicated was the confluence where the Bruinen and another river met.
With some remodeling and expansion, this site could serve as a harbor for ships, or even as a shipyard.
As always, if the waterway wasn't wide or deep enough, it was merely a matter of reshaping the terrain.
He chose this location mainly for its natural geography, it would save considerable effort.
But of course, this was not the only waterway worth developing.
Garrett shifted his attention to his newer domain, the Vales of Anduin, where the Beornings dwelt.
The Vales were so named precisely because of the great river Anduin flowing through their entire length.
It was the longest river in Middle-earth during the Third Age, springing from the Grey Mountains, running through the land of the Beornings and the Gladden Fields, skirting Lothlórien, cutting across Rohan and Gondor, and finally emptying into the sea.
This route was, one could say, nearly ideal.
Several specialized transport hubs could be established along it as well.
As for Dale and the River Running, ships there could only navigate the inland waterways and the Sea of Rhûn, so that would have to be discussed another time.
The concrete execution of these plans would require further deliberation and consultation. But before that...
"We'll need to establish several new departments at the academy."
---
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Completed at Chapter 405!