(Two weeks later)
Daemon stood amidst the serene forest outside of Riverrun, his breaths heavy and sweat pouring down his face as he held the wooden practice sword tightly. He closed his eyes, feeling the aura surrounding him like a protective cocoon. With determination in his eyes, he extended his aura from his body to the wooden sword, seeking to channel his strength through it.
In a swift motion, Daemon swung the wooden sword sideways, aiming at a nearby tree. The blade struck the tree, but despite his effort, it only managed to cut a tiny, insignificant mark on the tree's surface. Frustration mixed with determination surged within him, driving him to try again.
Looking behind him, Daemon spotted Barristan Selmy, the legendary knight who had offered to train him, sitting on a stump he had cut down earlier. Barristan watched the young man closely, assessing his progress with keen eyes. His presence added a sense of weight and importance to the training.
"We won't move on to the next part of training until you can cut through a tree with a single stroke" Barristan restates much to Daemons frustration.
"It's impossible I've tried everything, no matter how much sure I pour into it, there is no difference" Daemon shouted out with exasperation as sweat poured down his body he had removed his tunic a while back as to not ruin it.
Barristan chuckles at him and stands up, walking towards him he takes the wooden sword from Daemon before he pours his own aura into it. With a single hand he slashes the tree Daemon had been practising against. And with hardly any resistance the sword goes straight through, The cut is so clean that it remains standing.
Daemon finds himself in awe of his mentors abilities once again, how he effortlessly did something that even after two weeks Daemon was struggling with.
Barristan then looks at Daemon "When you thought the aura user at the trident, how did you beat him? Was it by overpowering him? Not all solutions can be brute forced"
Daemon thinks back to his fight the only reason he won was because of his control, which was unnaturally good. Not only had he managed to control his aura after it being brute forced without any practice in mediation but he has consistently been doing the river training where he swims up stream.
Daemon has an idea, at first he had believed by pouring more aura into the wooden sword he would be able to cut through it easily, but now that he thinks about it he knew it wouldn't. It would increase the power of the object while reducing its control.
Daemon walks to another tree after taking the sword back from Barristan, he focuses on enveloping it in his aura though he uses a small amount. Though the benefit of using such a small amount is he can control it a lot more, he controls it until he feels its ready. With a swing of his sword he manages to cut through the tree until about 1/4 of the way where it is stopped.
Barristan laughs and applauds his effort "Good job lad! I knew you'd understand it eventually. Let's end this for today and get some rest, my shift to guard the queen will start soon" Barristan states clapping Daemon in the back before heading off back to Riverrun.
Daemon saw the sun was still high in the sky so he decided to keep training. He sat down on the tree stump in a meditative position and used 'Enhance' flaring his aura, he read in Daemons journal that combining this with mediation would increase the amount of aura you have than just practicing with it. So every day he did at least six hours of this training in order to increase the amount of aura he had.
He wished Lyanna could be here, she'd been excited at the prospect of training with the legendary knight but her father had instantly declined stating that her reason for being here is to befriend the Tully children and in her spare time she can train with Martyn. When Daemon said he would decline Barristans offer she punched him and said that things like this hardly ever come around and that she'd never forgive me if I let it slip away.
A few hours later Daemon felt exhausted, going through the motions of flaring and then recovering had taken a toll on his mind and he felt that he could no longer meditate effectively. He decides it best to stop training and get some food, though maybe have wash first.
———————————————————-
Lysa Tully was not as beautiful as her sister, she wasn't as tall nor graceful and her assets were smaller. She found it hard to hold conversations with people and usually ended up being silent while her sister did most of the talking.
This is how Lysa thought of herself, the reality was quite different as she was as beautiful as her sister, possessing thick auburn hair and Icy blue eyes. While it's true she wasn't as tall and curvaceous as her sister, she still had a delicate and petite frame that could stoke men's desires just as much.
Though she never thought this of herself and never made the effort to befriend anyone outside of her family, despite her sweet nature.
Though in one aspect Lysa far outmatched her siblings and that was in the usage of Aura. While Catelyn knew how to use it and could use the basics she never went beyond that believing she didn't need to. Her brother was an average talent at best and would never reach a level beyond mediocre.
But Lysa was talented, while she had above average talent in most of the aspects of aura, where she truly shined was in the aspect of 'Suppression' and it's more advanced counterpart 'Fade'.
'Fade' is an advanced application of aura. If 'Suppression' closes aura nodes in order to stop it from leaking then 'Fade' intentionally hides a persons aura making it imperceptible unless another advanced form 'Focus' when channeled through the eyes allows a person to see someone using 'Fade'.
In a room with few people Lysa would be hard to spot, however in a room full of people you'd never find her if she didn't want you to. Her abilities with these aspects of aura borderline on being aura abilities themselves, her aura is naturally concealed with 'Fade' which would make her a very talented fighter if she wished to be one.
However Lysa didn't want that, most times she didn't know what she wanted. Sometimes she would wish she could be like her sister and other times she wished she could've been beautiful, most of all she wanted someone that she could confide in. While she knew she had her family they didn't really understand her and it stopped her from talking to them.
No one noticed when Lysa walked out of the castle, something she did often, she'd walk downstream for a few miles and into the forest where there was a small crystal blue pond, it was a sight to see and as far as she knew no one actually knew about it but her.
Lysa disrobed putting her dress and small clothes on a tree branch, her slender naked form was exposed to the evening air, she felt her nipples on her small breasts stand erect in the cold wind. She stepped into the water feeling the coldness seep into her skin. The water soaking into her dark auburn pubic hair and running up the curves of her hips. Eventually she was engulfed in the cold water and she lay there floating, it was one of her favourite things to do, she just let her worries and insecurities drift away.
She found herself envious of her sister recently, even more so than usual. She and Brandon Stark had been having such a wonderful time together, and while they tried to include her often she felt that she was getting in the way and excluded herself. She found herself wishing she had someone who could see her, everyone's eyes always drift over her not really seeing her.
She's snapped out of her thoughts when she hears the snapping of a twig, she leans her head up putting her feet on the bottom of the floor sinking down to cover herself "w-w-who's t-t-t-there" she says with a trembling voice.
Out of the foliage comes a man holding a bottle, Lysa can already smell the wine coming from it. The man is sweaty and balding with a big pot belly that pulled his tunic up, seeing Lysa he smiled showing rotting teeth.
"Well lookie 'ere, seems the maidens gone an' blessed me for all my 'ard work" the drunkard said as he stumbled to the pond.
"p-p-please l-leave Ser" Lysa stuttered our in a low voice. While she could easily defeat this man using her aura, there were a few problems. Lysa was a very gentle person, she didn't like harming anyone and her first reaction in a fight was to always run, she wasn't a coward and would fight if she had to but it's something that didn't feel natural to her. The second problem is that she didn't want him to see her naked body, and her clothing was in the direction he came from.
The man had taken his tunic off almost falling over in the process, his intent was to join her in the pond and have his way with what his drunken mind had told him was his reward, he couldn't wait. "S-S-Stop p-please I don't wish to hurt you" she implored but he just laughed it off and took his breeches off revealing his wrinkly ball sack and cock hidden in a forest of corse hair.
Lysa couldn't help but scream as he approached almost to the edge of the pool. She closed her eyes and flared her aura, prepared to defend herself from unknown to the man. However she didn't hear him move any further, however she did hear a thunk on the floor. She slowly opened her eyes and saw one of the most handsome men she'd ever seen, he had shoulder length silver hair and had a strong chiseled body that was exposed with a tunic over his shoulder, she could see he was and aura user as he had it flowing around him.
He looked towards Lysa his eyes full of concern "Are you okay my lady? I hope I wasn't too late"
Lysa felt herself shrink under his gaze, "I-I-I'm o-okay thank you" she says back in a low tone.
He smiles at her and nods his head "I'll drag this drunkard off a bit further away and let you clothe youself" he says before grabbing the man's foot with one foot and dragging him off.
Lysa felt relief that she didn't have to hurt the man, but she felt embarrassed that she's in such a position in the first place.
'He probably believes me to be strange' she thought to herself as she softly stepped on to the bank of the pond and quickly dressed herself. When the man came back she was attempting to wring out her hair.
He was positively entranced by her, the way her wet hair curled and fell below her shoulders, he also hadn't noticed before but her eyes were an incredibly bright blue. For a while he stared at her, which made her fidget under his gaze. Lysa was very socially awkward so she wouldn't call him out on his staring, this led to a few minutes of him looking at her until he realised what he was doing.
"I apologise my lady, you are positivity beautiful and I found myself unable to look away" he stated, Lysa found herself blushing heavily while hoping that the cold would mask it.
"I'm Daemon Rivers, if you'd like I can escort you back to your home" he said with a smile.
She still couldn't look him in the eyes but slowly nodded and they walked together through the forest with the setting sun turning the forest a soft gold colour.
'I should say something' Lysa thought but when she tried to think of what to say she came up blank. Though luckily for her Daemon wasn't as socially inept as her.
"Do you use that pond often?" Daemon asks Lysa, in response she gives a small nod of her head.
"It's truly remarkable isn't it, I've been using it after I train and I feel as if I drift away when I float in it" he states
Lysa's eyes widen as she nods eagerly "It's amazing isn't it I always try to come everyday as it helps me sleep afterwards" she says excitedly though she quickly became self aware of her outburst and then blushed and looked back down at her feet.
Daemon smiles at her reactions he found them cute "So you must live in Riverrun, to make the trip so often" She nods her head slightly.
'Say something to him' she thinks to herself as she clenches her hands together.
"I-I don't t-think I've seen you in Riverrun b-before" she manages to stutter out.
Daemon nods "I arrived with the Stark party, I grew up in a cabin outside of Maidenpool, hoping to find a knight who will let me squire for him once the tournament is over"
Daemon can see she must be very shy, truth be told he has seen her around Riverrun during the two weeks he had spent here. She was alone a lot of the time or usually ignored when she was with what looked like her friends. She seemed like a nice person so he hoped she'd want to be friends.
"Truth be told I knew you were from Riverrun... I've seen you around there a lot of the time usually with a girl who I think might be your sister, I think she is anyway because you two look similar" Daemon explains.
Lysa's eyes widened a bit as her heart beat fast 'He saw me?' She thought to herself as she rubbed her fingers against each other.
For the first time since they met she looked up at him "How did you notice me?" She says clearly.
Daemon raises an eyebrow in confusion "You're very pretty and have thick auburn hair, it would be hard not to notice someone like you" he replies
She looks back down at her feet "My sister is prettier, I'm rather plain compared to her" she says in a low voice.
Daemon shrugs his shoulders "Your sister is pretty but you're just as pretty if not prettier"
Lysa looks up and shakes her head "She's taller and more curvaceous, father always said she's a daughter to be proud of since she'd be able to sire him lord of grandchildren"
Daemon tilts his head as if thinking about her words "I like shorter women with slender figures, so I'd still prefer you. And not meaning any offence but your father is an idiot"
For the first time in what felt like her entire life Lysa laughed, to Daemon it was a beautiful melodious laugh that he enjoyed hearing "He is a bit of an idiot sometimes" she said with a smile that Daemon thought suited her well.
Daemon is glad she is opening up a bit and decides to prompt her further "Since I'm new to Riverrun is there anything fun to do around here" he asks with a smile.
Lysa scrunches her brow in an attempt to think before her eyes widen "It's the perfect time, come let's go" she says before uncharacteristically grabbing Daemons hand in a moment of spontaneity and dragging him towards Riverrun.
They ran back to the castle their hands entwined and crossed the drawbridge though the guards seemed to be playing cards and didn't notice the two of them as they were naturals at 'Suppression'.
Though Lysa felt disappointed when she saw that the entrance to the tallest tower in Riverrun was being guarded. Most likely because it was where the guests were housed and the Queen was staying. Daemon could see the look of disappointment and defeat in Lysa's face.
So Daemon steeled himself and grabbed her hand taking her to the tables and around the back. She looks at him questioningly but he just smiles at her and then squats down "Get on" he simply says making her smile again.
Daemon activates his aura focusing it in his legs as he leaps from the ground and on top of the stables, he had to jump over a few more buildings all while trying to not get caught. But eventually he's able to leap onto the tower where he turns off his aura nodes. Lysa felt a bit disappointed as she loved being surrounded by his aura, it felt so warm and bright, almost as if she could fall asleep in it.
Daemon scaled the tower, luckily the sun had almost set so they were very hard to notice. At the top of the tower it jutted out a bit so Daemon had to jump before latching onto it. Climbing up the ledge they finally reached the top of the tower and he could understand why she came up here. The setting sun reflected off the rivers feeding into the red fork, it was quite a sight.
Lysa couldn't remember the last time she'd been so happy or done something so wild "I can't believe you climbed the tower, we could've gone in through a window!" She says with laughter. How she usually got up onto the tower was the window at the top floor, she was just tall enough to reach from the window to the ledge and she lifted herself up using her aura.
Daemon smiled at her "Much more fun this way" he said getting another laugh from her as she leaned on him slightly.
For a while they sat there looking at the sunset and appreciating the view "You know I don't think you ever told me your name" Daemon asked as he looked at her.
Lysa blushed as she realised how rude she'd been by not introducing herself "Sorry! I'm Lysa Tully" she sputtered out much to his amusement.
Daemons eyes widened a bit "Tully as in Lord Tully of Riverrun!?"
She nods her head nervously "The very same" she had just discovered someone that she hoped could be her friend, she didn't want him being intimidated because of her status. She sat there her heart sinking as he didn't say anything.
"So when I said your father is an idiot... I called the Lord of Riverrun an idiot... I'm an idiot" Daemon says with a sigh.
What Daemon said was so unexpected that it made her giggle "It's okay I won't say anything" she says wiping a few tears from her face.
Daemon smiles, it was nice spending time away from training, he hadn't been able to spend much time with Lyanna recently so making another friend was nice.
'I wish this day wouldn't end' Lysa thought to herself. As she looked at Daemon who was appreciating the view.
"It is a shame this day has to end, but I hope tomorrow I can see you again, I've had fun" Daemon says looking down at Lysa.
Another thing that Lysa had never heard before, she had to stop herself from tearing up as she nodded her head with a smile on her face.
"Ready for one last bit of fun?" Daemon told her with a mischievous look on his face. She looked up at him with evident confusion on her face but still nodded her head.
Daemon stood up and picked up Lysa in a bridal carry getting a squeak from her as she blushed at being held that way "w-w-what are you doing" she asked nervously.
Daemon winks at her "Hope you don't mind getting wet"
Lysa's eyes open wide as she looks at Daemon and then down at the river "Nooo, Daemon you're crazy!"
"Maybe..." he says before he activates his aura enveloping himself and Lysa, she almost purred when she was shrouded in his aura so she screamed when Daemon jumped off the top of the tower to the river below.
Lysa screamed the entire way down into the water, as they crashed into the river and sunk beneath the surface Daemon held onto her and swam to the bank of the river.
Lysa and Daemon couldn't help laugh as they lay on the bank of the river "I don't know why I never thought of getting down that way" Lysa said to him.
Daemon turned his head to her "Well you're going to have to get used to it because if I'm with you that's the only way we go down"
Lysa turned her head and smiles at him, she found that she'd be content with doing that.
(AN: Another girl has been met, will she be another one of the MCs girls? If you've seen the cover picture then you may have an idea.)
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