Winter winds, carrying shards of snow, swept across the grey skies of the North.
The air was filled with the scent of dryness and snow.
Lynn's cheek was pressed tightly against a rough, moss-covered wooden stake.
The icy touch pierced him to the bone.
A sharp chill ran down the back of his neck.
It felt as if a viper was flicking its tongue against his skin.
In his peripheral vision, pairs of legs, encased in thick leather and fur, stood silently in a circle.
Heavy breathing rose and fell around him, mixed with the faint rustle of chainmail.
A deep, authoritative, emotionless male voice rang out.
Every word felt like a heavy stone dropping into Lynn's heart.
"In the name of Robert the First of House Baratheon, King of the Andals, the Rhoynar, and The First Men, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm."
Lynn's pupils suddenly constricted.
This voice, these words... he struggled to lift his head.
But two strong hands pressed down firmly on his shoulders, pinning him securely to the execution block.
"I, Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell and Warden of the North, hereby pronounce judgment."
Eddard Stark!
Chaotic fragments of memory, like a breached dam, instantly overwhelmed Lynn's reason.
Wasn't he supposed to be deepening his relationship with his junior sister?
How could this be... a memory not his own surged forth.
Black robes, the cold of The Wall.
And... beyond The Wall, those eyes burning with blue flame.
He had become a deserter from the Night's Watch.
"...I sentence you to death."
Eddard Stark's words fell, as if sealing his fate.
Lynn felt the pressure on him ease.
He heard the loud sound of metal being drawn from its sheath.
The sound was long and clear, carrying the resolve to cut through everything.
This valyrian steel greatsword, named "Ice," was imbued with magic and incantations.
Its blade was wider than a hand, and when stood upright, it was taller than Robb!
Its color was dark like black smoke.
Ordinary weapons could not kill White Walkers, but valyrian steel had the effect of killing them, making it incredibly precious.
However, its forging method had long been lost, and all existing valyrian steel weapons were in the hands of various noble houses, each with its own story.
Lynn's heart pounded wildly in his chest, almost bursting through his ribs.
No!
I can't die like this!
Just as Ice was raised high, a cold, mechanical voice exploded in Lynn's mind.
[Detecting host's strong will to survive...]
[Enemy Slaying System officially activated!]
[Host: Lynn]
[Strength: 3 (Weak)]
[Agility: 4 (Weak)]
[Constitution: 2 (Weak)]
[Skills: None]
[Experience Points: 0]
[Experience Point Annotation: Killing enemies grants experience points. The reward depends on the opponent's strength (minimum 1 experience for a normal human). Experience points can improve skill proficiency.]
[Attribute Value Annotation: The reference standard for a healthy adult male is 3 for all attributes. Can be increased through various methods such as exercise, blessed items, etc. The upper limit for exercise is 10 points. There is no upper limit for attribute acquisition through other means.]
[Attribute values represent a doubling of absolute strength, without considering body weight. Pure maximum exertion capability is doubled. For example, if a normal person can lift 60 kg, the protagonist with 6 strength can lift 120 kg.]
Lynn's consciousness was momentarily dazed.
System?
But the pitiful panel data instantly extinguished the glimmer of hope that had just ignited within him.
With this sickly body.
Forget resisting, even getting up from the execution block would be difficult.
He could clearly feel the legendary valyrian steel greatsword "Ice" had been raised high.
And was now descending towards his neck!
Even Eddard could not wield this greatsword with ease!
No time to think!
Lynn used all his strength to squeeze a hoarse cry from his dry throat.
"The Old Gods gave me guidance!"
Lynn's voice was hoarse and sharp, piercing the heavy silence of the execution ground.
Everyone was stunned.
The greatsword, about to fall, veered off, striking the ground next to Lynn's head.
The cold wind from the blade grazed his skin, raising a fine goosebump, and he swallowed hard.
Lynn could even smell the cold scent of valyrian steel from the blade.
He was almost chopped by Eddard!
Fortunately, Eddard turned the greatsword aside in time!
"Nonsense!"
A young, flippant voice rang out, filled with unconcealed mockery.
"To say such things just to save your life?"
Lynn didn't need to turn around to know it was Theon Greyjoy speaking, the only unsullied… no, still here for now.
Eddard Stark said nothing.
He just stood there quietly.
Holding the greatsword, his figure under the dim daylight was like a silent statue.
But the stopped sword was Lynn's chance.
Lynn forced himself to calm down, his brain working faster than ever before.
Eddard Stark.
A man who valued honor and duty more than life itself.
He followed ancient traditions.
The Stark family still had the blood of The First Men flowing in their veins; he believed that those who pronounced a death sentence must carry it out themselves.
To take a life, one should at least look into their eyes and listen to their last words.
If one couldn't do that, perhaps the person's crime didn't warrant death.
He was an extremely just man.
Trying to deceive him with lies would only lead to a dead end.
Trying to move him with pleas for mercy was even more foolish.
The only way to survive was to use his "duty" to counter his "tradition"!
"My Lord."
Lynn's voice was no longer a shriek, but became steady.
He tried to make every word clear and audible.
"I am a deserter, I broke my oath, and by law, I deserve to be executed."
These words once again left those around him astonished.
Theon even showed a confused expression on his face.
No one expected that someone who had just been desperately fighting for his life would voluntarily admit his crime.
A hint of imperceptible emotion flickered in Eddard Stark's deep grey eyes.
"But I didn't run out of cowardice."
"It was because I received guidance from the Old Gods."
Lynn's words were not fast, but full of power.
"Everything I did was to safely bring back the message!"
Lynn turned his head, trying his best to look up at the tall figure.
"The Old Gods showed me a vision."
"Beyond The Wall, something has awakened."
"They ride dead horses, their eyes like burning blue sapphires, and wherever they pass, all things freeze!"
"White Walkers, they are not a story, my Lord, they are real!"
Lynn did not describe the specific scene.
He merely used the most direct language to portray the deepest fear from the original owner's memory.
That bone-chilling cold.
That suffocating silence.
That indescribable evil from ancient times.
The execution ground was dead silent.
Only the wind whimpered as it swept past everyone's ears.
Behind Eddard Stark, Robb Stark's young face was filled with shock and unease.
His hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword.
"My Lord, he is spreading heresy!"
"How could the Old Gods guide him?"
Theon tried to break the eerie atmosphere.
Eddard Stark remained silent.
He looked into Lynn's eyes.
There was no cunning of a liar in those eyes, only the terror of a narrow escape, and an undeniable... certainty?
Lynn knew that the decisive moment had arrived.
Meeting Eddard Stark's gaze, he spoke each word distinctly.
"I can foresee the future, not just the White Walkers, I can also see other things happening!"
"Killing me is simple, my Lord."
"With that greatsword in your hand, just one swing."
"But along with me, the warning of the Long Night will be cut down."
"You are the Warden of the North, your duty is to protect the North, to protect the Seven Kingdoms from wildlings and those dead men."
"The life of a deserter versus the safety of the entire North, which is more important? Please, my Lord, you decide!"
"If you don't believe me, I can give you a prophecy right now!"
After Lynn finished speaking, he stared intently at Eddard Stark.
Time seemed to stretch at this moment.
Every second was an ordeal.
Lynn could hear his heart pounding like a drum.
After a long while.
"What did you see?"
Lynn heard Ned ask him, and immediately replied.
"On your way back, you will encounter a dead Direwolf."
"If you don't find the Direwolf, my Lord can execute me on the spot, and I will have no complaints!"
The sound of metal returning to its sheath rang out, and Lynn felt a release in his heart.
"Take him back."
Eddard Stark's voice was still deep, but carried a hint of irresistible weariness.
"Keep him under strict guard."
Two Guards immediately stepped forward and roughly pulled Lynn from the ground.
The exhaustion of surviving a near-death experience instantly swept through him.
Lynn's legs went weak, and he almost couldn't stand steady.
He was dragged, stumbling, through the crowd.
Before leaving, he looked back.
Eddard Stark was looking at him.
In those grey eyes, emotions were complex and hard to decipher.
There was scrutiny, there was doubt.
But Lynn knew he was temporarily safe.
He had bought himself a chance at life from under the Warden of the North's sword.
Lynn knelt on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Both from the cold and from the lingering fear.
In his vision, the blue panel that only he could see still floated quietly.
The corners of Lynn's mouth curled upwards, uncontrollably.