"You think too much."
Aemon walked over and said helplessly, "I was just looking for a place to stay for the night. I happened to meet you."
As he entered the bronze gate, the dragon keepers surrounded him.
"Don't reveal my whereabouts. One night is enough."
Aemon took off his hood, not panicking at all. The dragon keepers did not dare stop him and retreated after exchanging glances. The Dragonpit is an independent organization. The dragon keepers only speak Valyrian and serve the royal family. Whatever disturbances there are outside, they can't reach the Dragonpit.
"What do you think?"
Seeing Aemon walk into the cave, Laena patted Vhagar's wing membrane, turned around, and followed. There was a constant stream of news from all directions today. It was hard for Laena not to worry.
"It's okay. I just need to be tougher."
He had paid too much attention to family affection and rules, which had become a shackle of internal friction. His uncle took advantage of this, causing him pain.
"But I am a true dragon."
Aemon stopped, turned around, and almost bumped into Laena's nose. He hugged her: "Uncle is weak. He's a Targaryen who lost his dragon and became a sheep."
Aemon was born of bronze and fire. He was the heir of Runestone City and the head of Riverdale. He was a dragon slayer and a warrior. He was the king of this huge Dragonpit. They couldn't trap him; he was a true dragon.
Laena was moved by his words and stared at him with sparkling eyes. "Are you going to turn against me?"
"No!"
Aemon smiled with satisfaction. "I want them to realize that dragons and sheep are incompatible."
He wanted to sweep away weakness and be himself.
Dragonpit, Forge Room:
The sun set.
A huge furnace glowed red, and wood burned violently inside. Aemon was naked from the waist up, turning over and over in the furnace with his bare hands. Long strips of a mold and hot copper water shook.
Ring!
The golden-nosed rat handed over a bronze bell and placed it in the copper water, creating slight ripples. Gradually, the bronze bell melted into liquid and blended completely with the copper water.
Aemon watched intently. He noticed an inconspicuous halo on the surface of the water, and then its amplitude of shaking increased slightly. With fewer impurities, the plasticity increased.
"The bronze sacred tree absorbs some kind of power, and the crops it produces contain special magic."
Aemon understood this clearly and couldn't help but smile. Combined with the content of the dream, the bronze sacred tree likely needs "bronze worship." "Faith" is its nourishment. Coincidentally, the bloodlines of the valley's ancestors and the Andals are intertwined, and many valley dwellers still practice bronze worship. The purest group is the mountain clan.
In his hands, the sacred bronze tree has no shortage of nutrients for growth. This means that special materials containing magic similar to that of bronze bells can be produced continuously.
Zila!
The copper water cooled and was picked out of the mold, forged, and quenched. Aemon narrowed his eyes slightly as he faced the pungent white smoke and engraved ancient runes on the bronze. In the past, runes could not be used with ordinary materials. Now that special materials are being used, some changes should occur.
Clang!
Aemon swung the forging hammer with all his strength, his muscles tensing. The bronze took shape under the hammer's blows, and sparks flew.
Laena sat in the corner like a lady, staring at the tempting scene in front of her. Against the backdrop of the firelight, she saw: his lean, tall body stood out, with a wasp waist like a hard bow and a looming block of an abdomen. All of it released wild male hormones.
"Gulp."
Laena swallowed secretly and crossed her long legs. Those with dragon blood are all lustful. The only difference is how severe it is.
"Okay," Aemon shouted excitedly and turned around, taking out a big sword.
Startled by the shout, Laena's face turned red and she pinched her thighs with both hands. He couldn't see it.
"A huge sword engraved with runes."
The sword was as wide as a palm with a 1.5-meter blade, a 1.3-foot handle, and a 1.9-meter total length. The sword spine is one finger thick, and ancient runes of various shapes are engraved on both sides. The blade is as thin as a cicada's wing and is faintly transparent under the firelight. When Aemon holds the sword across his chest, it shows a light green color as if it were an oxidized bronze artifact that had been there for thousands of years.
However, the sharpness of the blade made people's eyelids jump.
Clang!
A shallow mark was cut on the forging table of the iron ingot when the sword was smashed down.
"Not sharp enough?"
Aemon was not satisfied and mustered his strength to slash again.
Clang!
The forging table was left with a deep mark and a large dent. He pulled out the bronze giant sword, which was still thin and transparent without the slightest damage.
"It didn't break?"
Laena knew that the thinner the blade, the more fragile it was.
Aemon held the thick, long hilt, engraved with runes, in his right hand and placed his left hand under the sword's hilt to block. The characteristic of a two-handed heavy sword is that the blade resembles a large cross with an additional blunt blade guard for the off-hand. This makes it convenient for the user to smash and chop.
"The power of the runes acts on the blade."
Aemon touched the runes one by one, revealing a corner of their secret. These runes were picked from bronze shields that were exchanged for bronze armor and panels belonging to the Royce family. Engraved on bronze objects with magic, they cannot increase sharpness, but they can strengthen defense. The bronze sword in his hand was unnaturally thin yet remained intact when it hit the iron plate. This is the rune.
Aemon's mind moved, and he opened his personal panel.
[Aemon Targaryen]
Talent: Dreamer (Gold)
Bloodline: Ancient Valyrian Dragon King (42.5%)
Skills: Archery (never misses), Riding (top), Swordsmanship (mastery).
Witchcraft: Binding Spell, Remnant, Solid Rune, Magical Hands
Magic Cards: Strong Body (blue), Solid as a Rock (intermediate, purple), King's Temperament (purple)
Forces: Riverdale Town (main city); Black Rose Hall (subsidiary).
Equipment: Rune Greatsword, Broken Horn, Dual Valyrian Daggers, Sapphire Amulet (2/3)
Pets: Golden-nosed Rat (blue), White Deer (auspicious beast).
Comment: "You have mastered a new system of power."
By the way, take a look at the card panel. The white mist is pervasive, and the background is empty and void. Three cards are suspended and not yet turned over. Next to the golden funnel is the number 2210.
"The panel has changed, and there are two more columns: one for witchcraft and one for power."
In the witchcraft column, there is an incomplete record of the "Binding Spell" and the telekinesis spell, "Miraculous Hands." The newly added "Solid Rune" is probably an ancient rune.
"Since there is solidity, there must be runes such as sharpness and lightness."
Rune City is as big as a castle and as small as a stone, engraved with different types of runes. Careful study may reveal clues.
Aemon's heart surged, sweeping away negative emotions. No matter the pressure from the outside world, as long as he keeps improving, no one can affect him.
Become stronger!
In Laena's eyes, Aemon holds the emerald-green bronze giant sword and grins foolishly.
"Stupid?"
Laena's alarm bells rang. It's illegal to rob a fool.
At night.
News that Aemon had knocked out the Kingsguard and escaped reached Viserys's ears.
"Damn brat!"
Viserys was furious and stormed out. He even gave up the family sword, Blackfyre. What else could he be dissatisfied with? He's really a bastard.
"Your Majesty."
Back in the king's bedroom, the Hand Lyonel had been waiting a long time.
"Call Rhaenyra!"
Viserys was angry and asked his daughter to help him vent.
Lyonel sighed and went to the bedroom to avoid arousing suspicion. He let the king talk to the princess first and then discussed how to deal with His Royal Highness.
After a cup of tea.
Rhaenyra strode down the corridor with a solemn look on her face. She had just gained an unexpected follower. She wouldn't have trusted him originally, but he gave her an orphan as a token of his loyalty. During their conversation, he revealed all his secrets to her.
For example, Daemon lured her out of the Red Keep because he wanted to be the king's husband. He didn't do it because he knew she didn't intend to marry him. Aemon's burning of the brothel caused a rift between the royal family and the Velaryon family. If subsequent problems are not solved, the three parties are bound to conflict.
"Where does Aemon stand?"
Rhaenyra knew the other party was in the wrong. Aemon always wanted to be independent and would not take sides. The "Targaryen family" of Riverdale—Runestone City—has begun to show signs.
Creak!
His father pushed open the door and stood in the hall with a gloomy face.
"Rhaenyra, what do you think about marrying Ser Laenor?"
Viserys said, shocked.
"No!"
Rhaenyra objected strongly: "Father, are you crazy?"
Viserys replied coldly, "That boy won't marry only you. Laenor is the heir of Driftmark Island."
"I don't agree!"
Rhaenyra reacted violently. She restrained the urge to shout and forced herself to calm down. "By surrendering like a Sea Snake, you will only make the family's situation worse. If you don't marry Laenor, you can choose another great noble's heir."
She seemed okay with marrying anyone.
Rhaenyra was sure that only she and her father were in the room. She made up her mind and said, "No lord will marry me. I give myself to Aemon."
Viserys didn't show it on his face, but he muttered under his breath. With his daughter's wisdom, he was able to respond to each objection.
After thinking for a while, he pressed her. "You have to think about it. As long as you are willing, whether you marry Laenor or other lords, you can strengthen the family's power and consolidate your inheritance rights."
"I would rather not marry for the rest of my life."
Rhaenyra was firm.
Viserys remained expressionless and said, "Go away."
"I will not yield, even if you deprive me of my inheritance."
Rhaenyra took one last look at her father and hurriedly turned to leave. Her inheritance was her most precious possession. Without it, Aemon might abandon her. However, she didn't want outside influences to cause her to make a regrettable decision.
Bang!
The door closed with a loud bang. The coldness on Viserys's face faded, replaced by deep helplessness.
Of course, he wouldn't marry her to the Sea Snake. He said that just to echo Alicent's words and test Rhaenyra's limits. But he was the one being manipulated.
"Your Majesty, we still have to take a conciliatory approach."
Lyonel walked out of the bedroom and offered his advice. Daemon was satisfied. If they were to be alienated from Prince Aemon again, the royal family would lose its greatest supporter. The Velaryon family would then raise the banner of the "Uncrowned Queen," and the people of the Vale would raise the banner of the "Targaryen Family" in Riverdale—Runestone City. Even Daemon would declare himself king, using the blood of "Brave Baelon" to stir things up. The royal family would be surrounded by enemies and rendered completely passive.
"I know, Lyonel."
Viserys sat down and answered weakly.
Lyonel was not good at love and whispered, "If you're set on making Her Royal Highness the crown prince, you should respect her decision and give her appropriate power." It's unpleasant to suggest marrying more than one person, but it's been done before. As long as Prince Aemon is stable and Her Royal Highness has children, the royal family's status will not be in jeopardy. This is the only solution.
"It's no use saying these things. I don't know where that kid has gone."
Viserys was angry. The only solution now is to wait for him to show up on his own. It's useless to look for him. I found him, but not his heart.