(Riverlands, 276 AC)
The Riverlands stretched out before Daemon, its lush expanse cloaked in shades of emerald. The misty rain descended like a veil, its gentle touch soothing the earth and casting a hushed ambience over the land. Hidden amidst a dense thicket, Daemon assumed the mantle of a silent observer, his lithe form blending seamlessly with nature's tapestry.
As the wind whispered through the trees, caressing his cheek, he remained perfectly still. A fleeting moment of tranquillity washed over him, accompanied by the rhythmic beating of his heart, the only sound that dared to disrupt the sacred symphony of nature. His senses attuned, every fibre of his being honed to a singular purpose.
And there, just beyond the arc of his vision, a majestic deer grazed peacefully upon the verdant carpet. Its graceful movements mirrored the ebb and flow of the land, blissfully unaware of the predator lurking in the shadows. Daemon's eyes, sharp as a falcon's gaze, locked onto his quarry with unyielding focus. Time itself seemed to halt, the world narrowing to a singular point of concentration.
With the fluid grace of a seasoned archer, he slowly raised his bow, an extension of his very essence. The bowstring, pulled taut with practised precision, whispered secrets of tension and potential. His fingers danced upon the wood, finding solace in the familiar touch, as his aim aligned with the deer's unknowing silhouette.
In a breathless moment, Daemon's heart stilled. His very essence merged with the bow, his consciousness intertwining with the trajectory of the arrow. It was a dance between man and nature, a communion of purpose and instinct. And as his spirit merged with the ethereal flight of the arrow, it became an extension of his will.
The release was a seamless transition, the bowstring singing its mournful song. The arrow, a testament to the hunter's skill, arched gracefully through the air, propelled by the invisible forces of destiny. Time resumed its course as the shaft found its mark with chilling precision, piercing the deer's eye, forever silencing its innocent gaze.
With measured steps, Daemon emerged from the shelter of the bush, his eyes now gleaming with a mix of triumph and reverence. The spoils of his hunt awaited him.
Daemon was quite tall for someone who was only 13 name days, he stood at 5,10ft, a sign that he would be a tall man once he had grown up. He was quite strong as well as he was able to lift the dear and place it around his neck on his shoulders as he walked back to the cabin he shared with his uncle.
His uncle had not been well for a while, something that weighed heavily on Daemon's mind, his whole life he had been looked after by his uncle and yet now all he could do was watch as he lay in bed deteriorating as his uncle refused to go to Seaguard or Riverrun to see a Maester.
He made the 3-mile walk back to his cabin with the deer still on his shoulders, his muscles were straining and burning by the time he got there, he went around the back of the cabin and hung the deer up by the feet on a rack he had built. Using a dagger he had in his belt he lit the deer's throat and let it bleed out.
Heading to the water barrel he cleans his hands, before washing his face. He looks at his reflection for a moment. His silver hair hung loosely just above his shoulders, he had purple eyes and high cheekbones. Needless to say, he was a handsome lad, with his classic Valyrian features. His uncle had never told him who his parents were just that his mother loved him. It was sad but didn't matter very much, he just assumed he was a dragon seed not that it mattered much anyway.
He opened the door to the cabin, it was completely silent, the only sound being the crackling of the fire Daemon had left lit before he left. Near the fireplace was a large chair where an old man sat, he had grey hair with only a few patches of his original dark hair colour. His eyes were the same colour as Daemons though they looked much more tired.
"How was the hunt," The old man said in a thick gravelly voice, he didn't turn to look at Daemon he just kept staring at the flames dancing in the fireplace.
Daemon while initially surprised his uncle was up shook it off quickly "It was good, as usual"
His uncle chucked though it quickly morphed into a throaty cough "If only you put as much effort into the sword as you do the bow"
Daemon rolled his eyes as he walked over to the fire kneeling beside it and warming his hands "And what use would I have for a sword out here in the woods, with my bow I feed us and drive away the wolves"
"I'm decent enough with a blade, I beat you did I not?" Daemon continues with a smirk as he turns around to face his uncle.
His uncle grunts "Beating an old man is nothing to boast about, if this had been 30 years ago I would've beaten you in barely a moment" he growls out before he starts coughing again.
Daemon rolls his eyes again before standing up and pouring his uncle a cup of water "Now you're just a bitter old man who spends his days complaining" Daemon jokes.
His uncle cracks a small smile at that "I've always been bitter Daemon, now help me to my bed" He says as he reaches his arm out. Daemon grabs his arm helping him up.
Daemon feels concern wash over him as he helps up his uncle 'He's lost weight again' he thinks to himself as he lifts him. His uncle is a tall man but the amount he currently weighs is not healthy, Daemon suspects if he removed his tunic he'd see just skin and bones.
Daemon lays his uncle down in his bed drawing the blanket over him. It's not surprising that he's dying the man has lived a lot longer than other people, nearly a century. But it didn't hurt any less. He goes to leave but his arm is grabbed by his uncle.
Daemon sits on the edge of the bed as his uncle breathes heavily trying to talk "I don't have long left..." he struggles to breathe out.
Daemon smiles sadly at him "What're you talking about old man, you're too angry at the world to die" he says weakly.
His uncle shakes his head "My whole life I've been an angry and bitter person and because of it nearly my whole family is dead"
His uncle looks at Daemon with tears in his eyes, but it is as if he's looking right through him, not seeing him "I'm sorry Daemon! I should've let you be happy with your family in your keep! I'm sorry for pushing you" he said blubbering.
Daemon clasped his arm and patted his chest "I forgive you uncle now get some rest" he says getting a nod before he slowly drifts off to sleep.
Daemon gets up from the bed before leaving his uncle's room. Things like that had been happening more often, he'd say things that didn't make any sense and ask Daemon for forgiveness. Shaking off his thoughts Daemon finally heads back outside, he sees the deer haven't fully drained yet so he takes a seat on a log of wood and takes his dagger back out. In his spare time, he whittles wooden figures as there is not much to do in the middle of the Forest.
He'd just finished whittling a three-headed dragon when he looked up and noticed the deer was finally drained. He unhooked its feet and carried it into the shed by the rack, and then threw it on the butchering table. After skinning the dear and portioning the meat he attaches the skin to a tanning rack outside.
'Going to have to make a trip to Seaguard and sell all these skins' Daemon thought to himself as he started bringing the meat down to the pantry under the floor in the cabin.
Daemon knew his life was simple, there was a lot more to life than what he had but he was content, he had a warm cabin and a full belly and family. Though he wouldn't have the last one for very long, he wondered what he would do once his uncle was gone.
The sun hadn't quite set yet so he decided to do some training to get his uncle off his back. Grabbing a bastard sword his uncle made him use from inside the cabin. Removing his tunic-exposed Daemons chiselled body from a life of hunting and training his body, he went through various sword forms that his uncle taught him with ease. While he didn't have much to compare to he found the sword too easy to use and while his uncle would never admit it Daemon was prodigious with it.
Daemon trained until the sun set before making himself a venison stew, he made enough for his uncle to have in the morning as he fell asleep before he could properly eat. After eating he went to his room removing his clothes and drifting off to sleep.
Daemon always had the same dreams, he dreamt of a girl with white hair and light blue eyes, he'd never met her before but it hurt when he'd wake up and know that she wasn't there with him. Like a part of himself was missing and he didn't know why.
———————————————————-
Daemon had just finished washing in the nearby river when he arrived back at the cabin, his uncle was up and sitting on a chair they had at the entrance of the cabin. In his hands, he held a long object covered in cloth that Daemon could tell was a sword of some kind. He also had a book in his hand that he was reading.
He looks up from the book as Daemon approaches "Took you long enough boy, spend enough time getting your hair all pretty?" He grunts out.
Daemon smiles and pushes his hair behind his ears "I'm afraid that my hair is always cursed to look so silky, what're you doing outside anyway"
"Waiting for you, come and sit" he replies.
Daemon obeys and takes a seat next to his uncle enjoying the morning air "I never wanted this life for you Daemon, wasting away out here in the middle of the forest"
Daemon shrugs his shoulders "Life is life uncle, most don't get to choose what happens in theirs, and I'm content with mine"
His uncle chuckles a bit before looking at Daemon "I spent my whole life fighting for a home when I could've spent it building one, and now I have nothing to leave you... except these" he says regretfully as he looks at the book and the cloth covered object.
Daemon frowns at his uncle's words, he didn't know much about his uncle's past as he always refused to talk about it "Uncle, dwelling on what could've been is useless, you took me in and raised me, that's the greatest gift I could've asked for"
His uncle shakes his head "No Daemon... this is the greatest gift I'm going to give you" he says, making Daemon furrow his brow, suddenly the atmosphere feels heavy, he looks at his uncle and flinches, he seems to be a completely different person no longer the weak man he usually was, and yet Daemon couldn't understand why.
His uncle puts his hand on his chest and pushed. Daemon felt like he had been hit by a horse as he fell on his back gasping for air. He felt a soft warm viscous-like substance surround him which wasn't helping with his breathing "Calm yourself Daemon" he heard his uncle say as he got onto his knees.
Daemon looked up at his uncle to see that he was surrounded by a dark aura that seemed to flow and ripple around his body like a second skin "What is this... what did you do?" Daemon says as he struggles to breathe.
His uncle sits down back in his seat "This is what separates nobility from the small folk" he huffs out as he's clearly out of breath.
Daemon struggled to his feet noticing that he was covered in a similar aura however it didn't flow around his body it seemed to move away from him "What is happening to me" Daemon breathed out getting to his feet.
His uncle looked at him relief evident on his face though for what reason Daemon did not know "It will all be explained but first, you need to calm yourself, that Aura that surrounds you, you need to focus on it and stop it from drifting away from your body, or you'll eventually die"
Daemon panicked slightly at his uncle's words, his confusion was evident as he just stood there not doing anything "DAEMON!" His uncle shouted snapping the boy out of his thoughts.
Now that his uncle had his attention he lowered his voice "Focus on the aura surrounding you, feel it flowing and redirect the flow so it surrounds you" his uncle instructed.
Daemon nodded and closed his eyes, it wasn't hard to feel the aura as it surrounded his body like a second skin. It felt like a was enveloped in a warm honey-like liquid that flowed away from his body, focusing on it he found that he could direct it and instead of allowing it to drift away he made it flow around his body. His uncle nodded in approval as he saw Daemon's aura calm and enter a regulated state.
"Very good, for a moment I was worried that you would die" he grunted out with a chuckle.
Daemon looked at his uncle with disbelief "This could've killed me?"
His uncle shrugs and grunts but before he can talk he starts coughing, a lot worse than he usually does, Daemon can see blood come out his mouth making him worried, but his uncle holds his hand up stopping Daemon from helping him "I don't have much time now sit down and listen"
Daemon obeys as he takes a seat next to his uncle, his aura still flowing around him "What I've done is unlocked your aura by using my own to force your aura nodes open"
Daemon looks confused "What is Aura?" He asks
"Remember the stories I told you when you were younger of knights and lords charging into battle slaying hundreds single-handedly," his uncle asked.
Daemon raised his eyebrow but nodded "They're all true, all these magical things the nobility seem capable of are because of their aura, though small folk will believe it's because of magic or because they're descended from heroes. But the truth is everyone has an aura, however not everyone has the mental fortitude to unlock it as the real way to do so is through years of mediation. What nobles usually start as children"
"But that never happened to me, you just opened mine in only a few moments," Daemon said confusion evident in his voice.
His uncle nodded "That way is incredibly dangerous, Aura is Life so if you do not possess the mental fortitude to control it, your life will leak away and you'll die. That is why the first method is preferred as if you cannot unlock it through this method it is almost certain you won't be able to control it once your aura nodes open" he explains.
His uncle starts coughing again "Listen, boy, I wish I could explain how it all worked to you but I don't have long now... take this" he says as he hands the book and cloth-covered item to him.
Daemon looks at him questioningly "That journal belonged to your ancestor he was one of the strongest warriors and aura users since Aegon the Conqueror, it will explain aura better than I ever could" his uncle says as his breath gets heavy.
His uncle then draws his attention to the cloth-covered object "That is your heritage, it's the only thing I can leave you" his uncle says regretfully.
Daemon unwraps the cloth-bound object and it reveals a beautiful bastard sword. Its handle was black with the pommel being a deep red ruby, the cross guard ended on either side with two dragon heads and a third forming onto the blade itself. The metal was dark and Smokey and had ripples that ran up the blade.
Daemon wasn't an idiot but he was a bit ignorant when it came to most things, the only education he had was what his uncle had given him and while he knew what Valyrian steel would look like he had no idea how important this sword was in Westeros history.
His uncle however was there to illuminate him "That is Blackfyre, it was given to your namesake nearly 100 years ago and has passed down in your family"
Daemon's eyes widen "You mean..."
His uncle nods "Yes, you were not born a bastard, you are Daemon Blackfyre the last male member of House Blackfyre"
Daemon was too shocked for words, his whole life he had believed himself just to be another common man which he was content with. But to find out that he descends from one of the Targaryen's worst enemies made him speechless.
His uncle didn't care however "Listen, boy, I give you these gifts as I can't stand to see you rot away here with me, go to Riverrun, with your aura unlocked it'll entitle you to squire for a knight who can teach you how to use your aura. That journal has Daemons training methods as well, so use them wisely"
Daemon snapped out of his thoughts, placing his shock at his heritage at the back of his mind "Uncle why do you act as if you're going to die, you'll be fine" Daemon states unconvincingly.
His uncle shakes his head "I had six moons at best, but using my aura has only made my sickness worse, I won't live to see tomorrow"
Daemon tenses at his words and clenches his fists, he looks down as his eyes begin to water "Don't feel sad for me boy, I finally get to be with my family again... there is one more thing I need to tell you" his uncle states as his voice gets sleepy and he has trouble keeping his eyes open.
Daemon holds onto his uncle's hand and listens "You have a sister, a twin, you were separated at birth because you were the last male Blackfyre so you were in danger and would've placed her in danger. Get strong, strong enough to protect her, please, don't let my mistakes be the end of House Blackfyre, she is being kept safe by a friend of mine in Pentos, so you have time, so get strong and protect Serra, she's the last family you have left" he says as he squeezes Daemons hands tightly.
Daemon nods his head "I promise I'll find her and keep her safe uncle"
For the first time in Daemon's life, he saw his uncle smile broadly, a real smile that reached his eyes "Thank you... when I pass burn me as they did for my brother, I wish to be with Daemon and his family wherever they may be"
Daemon's eyes widen "Your brother? So that means you are-"
His uncle laughs "I'm surprised it took you this long to figure out... Yes, the name I once used was Aegor Bittersteel. But now I'm content with being called uncle"
His uncle starts to get tired and his eyes slowly close "Live a full life Daemon... don't waste it like I did" he says before finally falling asleep.
Daemon knew he was not going to wake from this sleep.
(Riverlands, 276 AC)
The Riverlands stretched out before Daemon, its lush expanse cloaked in shades of emerald. The misty rain descended like a veil, its gentle touch soothing the earth and casting a hushed ambience over the land. Hidden amidst a dense thicket, Daemon assumed the mantle of a silent observer, his lithe form blending seamlessly with nature's tapestry.
As the wind whispered through the trees, caressing his cheek, he remained perfectly still. A fleeting moment of tranquillity washed over him, accompanied by the rhythmic beating of his heart, the only sound that dared to disrupt the sacred symphony of nature. His senses attuned, every fibre of his being honed to a singular purpose.
And there, just beyond the arc of his vision, a majestic deer grazed peacefully upon the verdant carpet. Its graceful movements mirrored the ebb and flow of the land, blissfully unaware of the predator lurking in the shadows. Daemon's eyes, sharp as a falcon's gaze, locked onto his quarry with unyielding focus. Time itself seemed to halt, the world narrowing to a singular point of concentration.
With the fluid grace of a seasoned archer, he slowly raised his bow, an extension of his very essence. The bowstring, pulled taut with practised precision, whispered secrets of tension and potential. His fingers danced upon the wood, finding solace in the familiar touch, as his aim aligned with the deer's unknowing silhouette.
In a breathless moment, Daemon's heart stilled. His very essence merged with the bow, his consciousness intertwining with the trajectory of the arrow. It was a dance between man and nature, a communion of purpose and instinct. And as his spirit merged with the ethereal flight of the arrow, it became an extension of his will.
The release was a seamless transition, the bowstring singing its mournful song. The arrow, a testament to the hunter's skill, arched gracefully through the air, propelled by the invisible forces of destiny. Time resumed its course as the shaft found its mark with chilling precision, piercing the deer's eye, forever silencing its innocent gaze.
With measured steps, Daemon emerged from the shelter of the bush, his eyes now gleaming with a mix of triumph and reverence. The spoils of his hunt awaited him.
Daemon was quite tall for someone who was only 13 name days, he stood at 5,10ft, a sign that he would be a tall man once he had grown up. He was quite strong as well as he was able to lift the dear and place it around his neck on his shoulders as he walked back to the cabin he shared with his uncle.
His uncle had not been well for a while, something that weighed heavily on Daemon's mind, his whole life he had been looked after by his uncle and yet now all he could do was watch as he lay in bed deteriorating as his uncle refused to go to Seaguard or Riverrun to see a Maester.
He made the 3-mile walk back to his cabin with the deer still on his shoulders, his muscles were straining and burning by the time he got there, he went around the back of the cabin and hung the deer up by the feet on a rack he had built. Using a dagger he had in his belt he lit the deer's throat and let it bleed out.
Heading to the water barrel he cleans his hands, before washing his face. He looks at his reflection for a moment. His silver hair hung loosely just above his shoulders, he had purple eyes and high cheekbones. Needless to say, he was a handsome lad, with his classic Valyrian features. His uncle had never told him who his parents were just that his mother loved him. It was sad but didn't matter very much, he just assumed he was a dragon seed not that it mattered much anyway.
He opened the door to the cabin, it was completely silent, the only sound being the crackling of the fire Daemon had left lit before he left. Near the fireplace was a large chair where an old man sat, he had grey hair with only a few patches of his original dark hair colour. His eyes were the same colour as Daemons though they looked much more tired.
"How was the hunt," The old man said in a thick gravelly voice, he didn't turn to look at Daemon he just kept staring at the flames dancing in the fireplace.
Daemon while initially surprised his uncle was up shook it off quickly "It was good, as usual"
His uncle chucked though it quickly morphed into a throaty cough "If only you put as much effort into the sword as you do the bow"
Daemon rolled his eyes as he walked over to the fire kneeling beside it and warming his hands "And what use would I have for a sword out here in the woods, with my bow I feed us and drive away the wolves"
"I'm decent enough with a blade, I beat you did I not?" Daemon continues with a smirk as he turns around to face his uncle.
His uncle grunts "Beating an old man is nothing to boast about, if this had been 30 years ago I would've beaten you in barely a moment" he growls out before he starts coughing again.
Daemon rolls his eyes again before standing up and pouring his uncle a cup of water "Now you're just a bitter old man who spends his days complaining" Daemon jokes.
His uncle cracks a small smile at that "I've always been bitter Daemon, now help me to my bed" He says as he reaches his arm out. Daemon grabs his arm helping him up.
Daemon feels concern wash over him as he helps up his uncle 'He's lost weight again' he thinks to himself as he lifts him. His uncle is a tall man but the amount he currently weighs is not healthy, Daemon suspects if he removed his tunic he'd see just skin and bones.
Daemon lays his uncle down in his bed drawing the blanket over him. It's not surprising that he's dying the man has lived a lot longer than other people, nearly a century. But it didn't hurt any less. He goes to leave but his arm is grabbed by his uncle.
Daemon sits on the edge of the bed as his uncle breathes heavily trying to talk "I don't have long left..." he struggles to breathe out.
Daemon smiles sadly at him "What're you talking about old man, you're too angry at the world to die" he says weakly.
His uncle shakes his head "My whole life I've been an angry and bitter person and because of it nearly my whole family is dead"
His uncle looks at Daemon with tears in his eyes, but it is as if he's looking right through him, not seeing him "I'm sorry Daemon! I should've let you be happy with your family in your keep! I'm sorry for pushing you" he said blubbering.
Daemon clasped his arm and patted his chest "I forgive you uncle now get some rest" he says getting a nod before he slowly drifts off to sleep.
Daemon gets up from the bed before leaving his uncle's room. Things like that had been happening more often, he'd say things that didn't make any sense and ask Daemon for forgiveness. Shaking off his thoughts Daemon finally heads back outside, he sees the deer haven't fully drained yet so he takes a seat on a log of wood and takes his dagger back out. In his spare time, he whittles wooden figures as there is not much to do in the middle of the Forest.
He'd just finished whittling a three-headed dragon when he looked up and noticed the deer was finally drained. He unhooked its feet and carried it into the shed by the rack, and then threw it on the butchering table. After skinning the dear and portioning the meat he attaches the skin to a tanning rack outside.
'Going to have to make a trip to Seaguard and sell all these skins' Daemon thought to himself as he started bringing the meat down to the pantry under the floor in the cabin.
Daemon knew his life was simple, there was a lot more to life than what he had but he was content, he had a warm cabin and a full belly and family. Though he wouldn't have the last one for very long, he wondered what he would do once his uncle was gone.
The sun hadn't quite set yet so he decided to do some training to get his uncle off his back. Grabbing a bastard sword his uncle made him use from inside the cabin. Removing his tunic-exposed Daemons chiselled body from a life of hunting and training his body, he went through various sword forms that his uncle taught him with ease. While he didn't have much to compare to he found the sword too easy to use and while his uncle would never admit it Daemon was prodigious with it.
Daemon trained until the sun set before making himself a venison stew, he made enough for his uncle to have in the morning as he fell asleep before he could properly eat. After eating he went to his room removing his clothes and drifting off to sleep.
Daemon always had the same dreams, he dreamt of a girl with white hair and light blue eyes, he'd never met her before but it hurt when he'd wake up and know that she wasn't there with him. Like a part of himself was missing and he didn't know why.
———————————————————-
Daemon had just finished washing in the nearby river when he arrived back at the cabin, his uncle was up and sitting on a chair they had at the entrance of the cabin. In his hands, he held a long object covered in cloth that Daemon could tell was a sword of some kind. He also had a book in his hand that he was reading.
He looks up from the book as Daemon approaches "Took you long enough boy, spend enough time getting your hair all pretty?" He grunts out.
Daemon smiles and pushes his hair behind his ears "I'm afraid that my hair is always cursed to look so silky, what're you doing outside anyway"
"Waiting for you, come and sit" he replies.
Daemon obeys and takes a seat next to his uncle enjoying the morning air "I never wanted this life for you Daemon, wasting away out here in the middle of the forest"
Daemon shrugs his shoulders "Life is life uncle, most don't get to choose what happens in theirs, and I'm content with mine"
His uncle chuckles a bit before looking at Daemon "I spent my whole life fighting for a home when I could've spent it building one, and now I have nothing to leave you... except these" he says regretfully as he looks at the book and the cloth covered object.
Daemon frowns at his uncle's words, he didn't know much about his uncle's past as he always refused to talk about it "Uncle, dwelling on what could've been is useless, you took me in and raised me, that's the greatest gift I could've asked for"
His uncle shakes his head "No Daemon... this is the greatest gift I'm going to give you" he says, making Daemon furrow his brow, suddenly the atmosphere feels heavy, he looks at his uncle and flinches, he seems to be a completely different person no longer the weak man he usually was, and yet Daemon couldn't understand why.
His uncle puts his hand on his chest and pushed. Daemon felt like he had been hit by a horse as he fell on his back gasping for air. He felt a soft warm viscous-like substance surround him which wasn't helping with his breathing "Calm yourself Daemon" he heard his uncle say as he got onto his knees.
Daemon looked up at his uncle to see that he was surrounded by a dark aura that seemed to flow and ripple around his body like a second skin "What is this... what did you do?" Daemon says as he struggles to breathe.
His uncle sits down back in his seat "This is what separates nobility from the small folk" he huffs out as he's clearly out of breath.
Daemon struggled to his feet noticing that he was covered in a similar aura however it didn't flow around his body it seemed to move away from him "What is happening to me" Daemon breathed out getting to his feet.
His uncle looked at him relief evident on his face though for what reason Daemon did not know "It will all be explained but first, you need to calm yourself, that Aura that surrounds you, you need to focus on it and stop it from drifting away from your body, or you'll eventually die"
Daemon panicked slightly at his uncle's words, his confusion was evident as he just stood there not doing anything "DAEMON!" His uncle shouted snapping the boy out of his thoughts.
Now that his uncle had his attention he lowered his voice "Focus on the aura surrounding you, feel it flowing and redirect the flow so it surrounds you" his uncle instructed.
Daemon nodded and closed his eyes, it wasn't hard to feel the aura as it surrounded his body like a second skin. It felt like a was enveloped in a warm honey-like liquid that flowed away from his body, focusing on it he found that he could direct it and instead of allowing it to drift away he made it flow around his body. His uncle nodded in approval as he saw Daemon's aura calm and enter a regulated state.
"Very good, for a moment I was worried that you would die" he grunted out with a chuckle.
Daemon looked at his uncle with disbelief "This could've killed me?"
His uncle shrugs and grunts but before he can talk he starts coughing, a lot worse than he usually does, Daemon can see blood come out his mouth making him worried, but his uncle holds his hand up stopping Daemon from helping him "I don't have much time now sit down and listen"
Daemon obeys as he takes a seat next to his uncle, his aura still flowing around him "What I've done is unlocked your aura by using my own to force your aura nodes open"
Daemon looks confused "What is Aura?" He asks
"Remember the stories I told you when you were younger of knights and lords charging into battle slaying hundreds single-handedly," his uncle asked.
Daemon raised his eyebrow but nodded "They're all true, all these magical things the nobility seem capable of are because of their aura, though small folk will believe it's because of magic or because they're descended from heroes. But the truth is everyone has an aura, however not everyone has the mental fortitude to unlock it as the real way to do so is through years of mediation. What nobles usually start as children"
"But that never happened to me, you just opened mine in only a few moments," Daemon said confusion evident in his voice.
His uncle nodded "That way is incredibly dangerous, Aura is Life so if you do not possess the mental fortitude to control it, your life will leak away and you'll die. That is why the first method is preferred as if you cannot unlock it through this method it is almost certain you won't be able to control it once your aura nodes open" he explains.
His uncle starts coughing again "Listen, boy, I wish I could explain how it all worked to you but I don't have long now... take this" he says as he hands the book and cloth-covered item to him.
Daemon looks at him questioningly "That journal belonged to your ancestor he was one of the strongest warriors and aura users since Aegon the Conqueror, it will explain aura better than I ever could" his uncle says as his breath gets heavy.
His uncle then draws his attention to the cloth-covered object "That is your heritage, it's the only thing I can leave you" his uncle says regretfully.
Daemon unwraps the cloth-bound object and it reveals a beautiful bastard sword. Its handle was black with the pommel being a deep red ruby, the cross guard ended on either side with two dragon heads and a third forming onto the blade itself. The metal was dark and Smokey and had ripples that ran up the blade.
Daemon wasn't an idiot but he was a bit ignorant when it came to most things, the only education he had was what his uncle had given him and while he knew what Valyrian steel would look like he had no idea how important this sword was in Westeros history.
His uncle however was there to illuminate him "That is Blackfyre, it was given to your namesake nearly 100 years ago and has passed down in your family"
Daemon's eyes widen "You mean..."
His uncle nods "Yes, you were not born a bastard, you are Daemon Blackfyre the last male member of House Blackfyre"
Daemon was too shocked for words, his whole life he had believed himself just to be another common man which he was content with. But to find out that he descends from one of the Targaryen's worst enemies made him speechless.
His uncle didn't care however "Listen, boy, I give you these gifts as I can't stand to see you rot away here with me, go to Riverrun, with your aura unlocked it'll entitle you to squire for a knight who can teach you how to use your aura. That journal has Daemons training methods as well, so use them wisely"
Daemon snapped out of his thoughts, placing his shock at his heritage at the back of his mind "Uncle why do you act as if you're going to die, you'll be fine" Daemon states unconvincingly.
His uncle shakes his head "I had six moons at best, but using my aura has only made my sickness worse, I won't live to see tomorrow"
Daemon tenses at his words and clenches his fists, he looks down as his eyes begin to water "Don't feel sad for me boy, I finally get to be with my family again... there is one more thing I need to tell you" his uncle states as his voice gets sleepy and he has trouble keeping his eyes open.
Daemon holds onto his uncle's hand and listens "You have a sister, a twin, you were separated at birth because you were the last male Blackfyre so you were in danger and would've placed her in danger. Get strong, strong enough to protect her, please, don't let my mistakes be the end of House Blackfyre, she is being kept safe by a friend of mine in Pentos, so you have time, so get strong and protect Serra, she's the last family you have left" he says as he squeezes Daemons hands tightly.
Daemon nods his head "I promise I'll find her and keep her safe uncle"
For the first time in Daemon's life, he saw his uncle smile broadly, a real smile that reached his eyes "Thank you... when I pass burn me as they did for my brother, I wish to be with Daemon and his family wherever they may be"
Daemon's eyes widen "Your brother? So that means you are-"
His uncle laughs "I'm surprised it took you this long to figure out... Yes, the name I once used was Aegor Bittersteel. But now I'm content with being called uncle"
His uncle starts to get tired and his eyes slowly close "Live a full life Daemon... don't waste it like I did" he says before finally falling asleep.
Daemon knew he was not going to wake from this sleep.
(AN: I will be posting daily, and by then there will be more chapters. I put a lot of effort into this so it kind sucked that it wasn't too popular. But it isn't surprising tbf with how I post, but I also don't like posting short chapters. I feel like this is a good compromise. All the chapters are still up on my Patreon in their original size.)
Patreon.com/captainalfie78works