Alex flew over Middle Earth, observing the land below with interest.
He came to Lothlórien, its trees glowing with golden light. The Elves here lived in peace, maintaining a deep connection with nature. As if sensing Alex, Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn turned their gaze towards his location but found nothing.
Next, he flew over Khazad-dûm, the dwarven city now silent and empty, its once-grand halls now crumbling in the dark. He explored the ruins and saw the sleeping Balrog and the underlings of Sauron.
Alex flew on to Mordor, the land dark and barren, a place of death and corruption. The mountains loomed over the wasteland, where no life thrived. He flew around Barad-dûr, where he was sensed. Sauron's eye kept surveying the area where he was, but to no avail.
He then passed over Mirkwood, its thick trees hiding the shadows within. The forest was dark, and part of it was dead.
He also visited the Woodland Realm, where Thranduil, the Elvenking of Mirkwood, lived. But he did not find Thranduil, only his son Legolas. Legolas did not sense his presence, nor did the other Elves, so Alex casually toured through the cave halls before leaving.
Finally, Alex arrived at Minas Tirith, the grand city of men. The white stone walls gleamed in the light, and the streets were busy with people. It was a city full of life.
After a day in the city, Alex stood on one of the highest towers, looking out over the streets below. His thoughts were interrupted when a figure appeared beside him. Eru, the Creator, stood there.
Alex turned to him, asking, "Why don't you put an end to the darkness?"
Eru's voice was calm. "The darkness is always present. It pushes the people of Middle Earth to fight and strive. Peace is not given; it must be earned."
Alex frowned. "I don't understand. Why speak in riddles?"
Without waiting for a response, Alex held out a glowing gem. The stone was large, shining with a soft, golden light.
Made with the same material as the Silmarils, it contained pure primordial energy from Lily. Eru took the gem in both hands, studying it carefully.
Alex looked down at Minas Tirith and said, "The energy of your world is fading. Eventually, all magic will vanish to restore balance. If nothing is done, all creatures of magic will disappear."
He turned to face Eru. "Use this to keep the balance. So that when I return someday, the magical creatures will still be here."
Eru was silent for a long time, then nodded. "Thank you. I forgive you for changing Arwen's fate."
Alex watched Eru for a moment before flying away. With a flash of golden light, he disappeared back to his villa.
Alex had spent more than a week in Middle Earth, but only two days had passed since his departure. He checked his phone and saw several missed calls from the bank's customer service and a few from Uncle Clyde.
Sighing, Alex stretched as he stood. He took a warm bath and changed into comfortable clothes, then began calling back the numbers.
The first call he made was to Uncle Clyde, assuring him he had arrived safely. "Everything's fine, Uncle Clyde. Just needed a bit of time to myself, you know?"
Uncle Clyde's voice crackled with relief. "I figured something was up. Glad to hear you're okay."
Next, Alex called the bank's customer service, listening patiently as they recited their usual formalities.
After confirming a few details, he gave his approval for some transactions regarding his funds. Once the call ended, Alex leaned back in his chair, deep in thought.
He then turned his focus inward, his mind sinking into the ring that contained Mín Heimr. Within the ring, his Avatar, the Chibi Alex, opened its eyes. Chibi Lily hovered nearby, her form shimmering softly.
Together, they toured the outskirts of Mín Heimr, where cosmic dust swirled, suns burned brightly, and planets orbited.
Alex selected several rocky planets and mineral-rich ones, choosing the perfect candidates to form the foundation of the world he was about to build.
As they moved along, the planets followed them, gathering in a line. Alex also selected a few special suns, the ones with the perfect light and warmth, to provide illumination to the new world.
A handful of special planets were chosen to rotate around in place of the moon, ensuring that Mín Heimr would be a place of life and balance.