The manse was bloody huge, to say the least… and, admittedly, more comfy than any castle I had been in before. Honestly, it wasn't too surprising that such a rich individual lived in greater luxury than a King. If only Aegon the Unlikely hadn't burned down Summerhall trying to hatch dragons...
There was a marble pool with a statue in the centre depicting Illyrio in his youth. Surrounding it were cherry trees… which looked very tempting.
I tried some… and some more… and even more.
"Someone loves their cherries." Arthur noted.
"Illyrio was a man of good taste, at least," I said, stuffing my face one cherry at a time and spitting out the seeds. "You should try some. They're good."
"I'm not particularly hungry."
"Eh, suit yourself." I shrugged. "More for me."
After having my fair share, I went to the cellar to do some digging.
"Looook at this wine collection."
It had everything you could ever think of - from the Arbour to the further east; Qarth, YiTi and even Asshai. Honestly, Robert's collection paled in comparison. I started storing away the more exotic ones I normally didn't have easy access to. I always wondered how Asshai wine tasted… probably ass, but you never know.
"You want to try some? Illyrio won't be needing any of it."
"... I'd rather not drink. A clear mind is the best mind."
"Alright, Ser Philosopher. One drink isn't going to kill you."
"I intend to practice today." He replied, shrugging.
"Uh-huh." I nodded. "You're not tired after the battle? How diligent."
"I'd hardly call that encounter a battle."
"True, I suppose. Pentos is amongst the weakest of the Free Cities in terms of military due to the limitations Braavos placed upon them. It's why I didn't bother to send the full force."
"Braavos must be quite powerful to put such a leash on a city-state so large."
"They are the wealthiest of the Free Cities and only matched in power by Volantis. As for naval power in particular, well... they have the Arsenal which reputably produces a galley a day. There's the Iron Bank and Faceless Men, too..." I chuckled. "Fighting Braavos wouldn't go well for anyone."
"Not even you?"
"... Winning wouldn't come without a price."
"That formidable?"
"If Braavos was part of the Slaver's little coalition, I'd have something to worry about."
"I see... though, I've heard reports that the coalition boasts over a hundred thousand men."
"I doubt their cohesion is anything to be envied. Besides that, a great majority of those men are slaves. Not to mention, we'll have Daenerys' forces as well. With a good bit of strategy and abuse of our magic, it shouldn't be too difficult."
"More elemental reactions?"
"You know it." I laughed.
Next, I went to see the view. From the manse's upper balcony, you could see most of the bay of Pentos. The sun was about to set as well. The storm I had conjured up had calmed quite some time ago, leaving the skies clear.
"It's so peaceful you wouldn't even know there was a storm all too recently."
"... Nature always recovers," Arthur replied, standing behind me. "No matter the destruction that is brought upon it."
"Even so, it can be left scarred - either by the hands of man or itself. Nothing is left unchanged by time." I shook my head. "In comparison, our lives are endlessly shorter... no more than a grain of sand in history. How many men have lived, died and been forgotten in the sands of time?"
"Only the greatest of men live on well past their death," Arthur added.
"Say, Arthur, what is your dream?"
"Why, you should know that."
"To be the greatest knight?"
"Something like that..." He raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound insignificant."
"I once had a similiar goal, only replacing knight with King. Though I've come to wonder, what value is there in legacy... or anything for that matter, when you're dead?"
"That's a sombre tone to take."
"You could commit the noblest sacrifice imaginable and your name might live on for a couple hundred, mayhaps even thousand years... but what good is any of it if you didn't live your life to the fullest? Those you saved are bound to die in one way or another, regardless..."
"This all seems oddly specific. Is anything bothering you?"
"Too many things, I fear." I chuckled, shaking my head.
I thought about it for a moment. If I could not speak my mind to Arthur, who could I speak it to?
"I have a gift to see into the possible future. One of those times you gave your life for mine."
"... That is my duty." Arthur didn't sound moved at all. "Dying for their King is the ideal end to any Kingsguard. Knowing this... gladdens me, if anything."
"Even so, you died well before you could accomplish that dream of yours. No tourney wins, not even ten years of service, your mark on the Kingsguard was not deep enough - you still had so much more to accomplish."
"Your dream is ultimately my dream. If I could give you the chance to realise it, then I would have lived a life worthy of the white cloak that you gave me." I looked at Arthur as he managed a smile. "That... is all that matters, in the end."
"You're not just a Kingsguard, foolish bastard. You're my friend..." I paused, closing my eyes for a moment. "The only true friend I have in this god forsaken world. I'd sooner die myself than see you fall to an Other."
"That... would be even worse."
"That is why you're not going to die." I took a deep breath, smiling afterwards. "Besides, my dream has changed. It is now to live a life without any more regrets... and you'd be most certainly breaking that by dying so soon."
"..." Arthur sighed. "If I fail my duty, I lose. If I fulfil it, I also..."
"Your duty is to live!" I ordered, grabbing his shoulder.
"To live..." He muttered.
Perhaps one of the reason things ended that way was because... he had no one else. Everyone that the Other Edric cared about was dead.
"That's right! I do not care what is written in the stars, what prophecies exist, whatever fate entails... we will manifest our own destiny! We will triumph over the Others, the Night King and whatever else dares to stand in our way. We will see another summer, and many more thereafter."
"WE WILL REALISE OUR DREAMS... TOGETHER!"
"... How could I deny that?" Arthur smiled, shaking his head.
"Swear to me."
"I swear, on all that I hold dear, that we will realise our dreams together..." Arthur bent the knee, speaking in a solemn tone before smiling slightly. "And... I won't die until you allow me to."
"That's better... though, I didn't ask you to kneel. Get up."
"What do you think swearing to a King looks like?" Arthur rose to his feet, shaking his head.
"I didn't ask you as a King." I embraced him. "I asked you as a... brother-in-arms."
"A brother-in-arms, huh... then we should swear by our weapons, no?"
"Why not?" I stepped away, shrugging.
Arthur drew Nightfall, its luminous black blade matching the darkening sky. As for my weapon... well, I had three 'main' weapons. My favourite by far used to be the bow in nearly every aspect, but the warhammer has very much grown on me as it gave the greatest 'rush' in combat. Though, in terms of looks, I was most fond of the Nodachi I had forged since every detail was designed personally by me.
I decided not to overthink it, choosing what fitted the scenario most and drew out the Nodachi.
"That's... a strange blade," Arthur noted, looking closer. "It's your mark."
"Mhm. I've gotten quite a ways better since forging your blade."
"I can see that much."
"Now..." I raised it to the sky.
Nightfall crossed the Nodachi under the night sky.
"MANIFEST DESTINY!" Arthur shouted out loud.
"Stop taking the piss." I chuckled, shaking my head. "It has to be something better than that..."
"MAAAANIFEST DESTINY!!!"
He repeated, even more zealously.
Damn you.
"MANIFEST DESTINY!" I joined in, shaking my head. "We'll see it through, no matter the obstacles that stand in the way."
"Indeed." Arthur lowered his sword. "Now it's time to put in the work. Duel me, Your Grace."
"I'm rather curious to see how much progress you've made in all this time." I stepped back, giving the Nodachi a spin.
"Ser Jaime did try to measure me up earlier."
"And how did that go?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Well, what do you think?" Arthur smiled with confidence.
"... I see." I chuckled. "You didn't cut through his sword, did you?"
"I didn't use any magic, in truth."
"Let's put your skill to the test."
I started with a long-distance thrust which he easily deflected, immediately flashing forward. With the Nodachi's length, I was at a greater disadvantage up close, and he was already using that against me. I managed to the side just in the nick of time, evading his counter. He continued his attack, however, quite relentlessly at that.
It was all too methodical, fluent like water... leaving me no room to so much as breathe.
That footwork...
It reminded me of Syrio Forrel.
Did he?-
I didn't want to resort to relying on Hyper-Focus, which eventually led to Nightfall leaning only an inch away from my neck. Considering the strides I had made in my own swordskill, it was surprising... though, most of my new skills revolved around magic.
"I can see how he lost..." I noted, stepping back. "Did you take lessons from the former first sword of Braavos?"
"Since you and lady Arya left, I decided to redirect Syrio Forrel's services to myself." Arthur nodded. "I sought to be the finest swordsman I could feasibly manage to be, and... well, how could I accomplish that if I restrict myself to only one way of fighting?"
"How resourceful and independent," I remarked, nodding approvingly. "You continue to impress, Arthur."
"I admit, it's not the best style of swordsmanship against good armour, but..." He took a fencing stance. "I'd imagine it would be deadly in the east, especially with Nightfall in hand."
"Indeed, you'll be cutting through them like butter. On the other end, some of its aspects apply to any form of swordfighting, which you have seamlessly applied to your regular style... something I've dabbled with myself - though, admittedly, you have surpassed me in this regard."
"That... is the first time I've beaten you since, well, forever. It seems that I'm doing something right."
"Don't get too ahead of yourself." I chuckled, shaking my head. "I was going easy."
"Salvaging your pride, are we, Edric?"
"If I keep beating you down every time, how will you get your confidence?" I smiled. "Let's fight with all our strength now."
"You mean... with magic?"
"Mhm."
"Isn't that a little too dangerous?"
"As long as we don't go too far and move with caution, it shouldn't be too bad. Besides, in the worst case, I've been working on my healing..."
"And your weapons?"
"I know your Nightfall can burn through anything regular, of course, but I have Valyrian Steel of my own." I drew out Lady Forlorn. "Courtesy of our beloved Ser Lyn Corbray."
"His brother will most definitely be coming for that sword..."
"Might as well make use of it while it's in my possession, then."
Now... to cut a short story even shorter, I did bust his ass. Not once, not twice, not thrice - well over a dozen times in a row. Yet, he kept going, again and again. Twenty times, thirty, forty, fifty...
By the end, he was lying on the ground without an ounce of energy left.
"The gap between us... is still so vast," Arthur admitted, looking up at the sky. "To think that, for a moment, I thought that I was getting close."
"You're bloody amazing for someone who has awakened less than even a year ago." I shook my head. "You might even be more formidable than I was last year."
"Do you know what I died to?"
"The Night King."
"... I figured. And did you win, in the end?"
"That is subjective... but that other Edric did avenge you."
"Then, somewhere within you lies the power to best him." Arthur looked at me.
"Not without a grave amount of sacrifices along the way, it seemed..."
"We'll amend that," Arthur promised. "... Mind helping me up?"
"You're helpless." I chuckled, extending my hand. "Who told you to fight me until you almost die?"
He raised his, and I pulled him up. He wasn't exactly light, but I was more than strong enough to do so rather easily.
"If I'm going to catch up, it won't be by taking things lightly."
"You won't get much better if you break your body, either."
"... Fair point." Arthur shrugged. "But you possess healing abilities, right?"
"They're a little shabby at the moment... most certainly not nearly good enough to bring you back from the grave."
"I'll be the perfect practice for that," He smiled.
"It seems I have no choice in the matter."
I laughed.
I truly did miss him, especially having spent all that time apart.
~
After some politicking, I chose a fitting magister to oversee my new estates and manage the manse along with its servants for a fair cut of the profits. Since it was unlikely I'd return to Pentos anytime soon, it was for the best to have someone capable and with political power to oversee it all. It also gave me a good connection to one of the more powerful magisters in Pentos, which could come in handy sometime in the future.
I had the royal host strip the manse of any valuables that it didn't need, mainly the treasury that Illyrio kept. It was quite a boost in wealth for me, to say the least. Not to mention all the properties that I took from him... mines, orchards, farms... it was worth the journey several times over.
If only there were more rich magisters I could take from... ah, the slaver's coalition is not ready for me.
On the way back to King's Landing, I wondered what Varys' response would be...
Would he vanish to the shadows, try to take vengeance for his old friend or remain loyal to me?
I was most curious.