Chapter 96 108 Ways to Exploit an Author
"One day, Gandalf the wizard came to visit Bilbo. The wizard's arrival set in motion a chain of events that would change Bilbo's life and the fate of Middle-earth forever. Gandalf had a proposition for Bilbo, one that involved an adventure far beyond the borders of the Shire."
Henry spoke slowly, narrating "The Lord of the Rings" in a simplified version that captivated the children, their eyes wide with wonder.
Emily, Mila, and Willow were no different. The three girls were like little fangirls, their eyes emitting an extreme curiosity, their ears pricked up.
Henry continued, "As Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his 111th birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton."
Henry cleared his throat, feeling a bit thirsty, and a bottle of water appeared before him.
"Drink up, Henry, and get on with it." Willow urged, her beautiful eyes wide and insistent.
Henry couldn't help but roll his eyes as he took the water bottle and began to drink. He wondered, 'if I didn't start speaking now, would I get a beating?'
There was no need to think about it; he definitely would! Thinking of the readers back on Earth who were following popular novels, Henry hurriedly started his story.
"Little did Bilbo know that this birthday party would mark the beginning of an epic journey filled with danger, friendship, and the looming shadow of a great evil that threatened to engulf all of Middle-earth."
Henry slowly told the story of The Lord of the Rings in a way that was understandable to people of this era.
Mila, Willow, Emily, and the naughty children were all stunned and amazed. At the incredible parts, they all gasped in unison, and at the terrifying parts, they covered their eyes.
As the story reached its climax, everyone's breath caught, and Mila was so nervous that she even brandished a dagger.
"Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken; shields shall be splintered! A sword day... a red day... ere the sun rises!"
As the tale hit its peak, Henry abruptly halted. There was no continuation because he chose to cease narrating. Without their notice, dusk had descended. His initial intention was to share a snippet of the story before moving on with his teaching.
However, he was so captivated by storytelling that he couldn't bring himself to stop. A crowd of devoted followers locked their gaze on Henry, instilling in him a profound feeling of satisfaction from his narration.
"Well, that's all for today. If you want to know what happens next, you'll have to be good students and complete your assignments on time. Then, Miss Emily will continue the story." Henry said.
Henry placed both hands on the podium, seriously warning, "If anyone causes trouble or disobeys, I'll stop telling the story."
"We won't, we'll behave."
"Henry, I will be good from now on."
Satisfied, Henry nodded and assigned homework, which was to recite a short passage from Aesop's Fables.
That concluded the day's teaching. Henry had thoroughly enjoyed his stint as a teacher. He turned to bid farewell to the three girls, only to be met with three pairs of reproachful eyes.
"What's up?" he asked.
"What happens next, Henry?" Mila asked anxiously.
Mila, Emily, and even Willow was eager to know the continuation of the story as it resonated with them.
"Henry, can you give us a summary of what happens next?" Emily tugged at Henry's sleeve.
"Yes, Henry, please," Willow added.
Though they knew it was a fictional story, being left hanging at an exciting part was truly frustrating.
Henry smiled wryly and said, "I’ll written the next part and placed it in the study. You can read it tomorrow."
"That's great! We can read it tomorrow." the three girls exclaimed with joy.
The group returned to the Lord's Manor just in time for dinner. During the meal, Ellie was absent from the dining hall. Upon inquiring, they learned that Ellie had fallen asleep while hugging her lollipop.
Without Ellie, there was no one for Mila to banter with, so dinner proceeded peacefully, except for a certain Bunny Girl's peculiar sounds when she found something delicious.
Another quiet night fell, and Henry, having finished his teaching preparations, went to bed early.
But two figures couldn't sleep. They quietly left their rooms and headed to the study.
Under the moonlight, the two figures were Mila and Willow. They exchanged a glance, nodded, and disappeared into the night.
As they left, the door of the adjacent room opened, and Ellie, carrying her backpack with the lollipop, watched the two shadows in the distance. She gestured for Emily to come out, and they followed suit, heading to the study.
"They must be sneaking into the study to read the script. I can't believe I missed Henry's story today. How annoying." Ellie said, tugging at her fox ears. If Emily hadn't told her at night, she wouldn't have known until tomorrow.
