The closer they got to Volantis, the more obvious the environmental changes became.
The initial dark blue seawater was gradually replaced by a deeper, inky green. The sky was no longer consistently azure; low-hanging gray clouds often accumulated, making the sunlight filtering through them pale and weak. The air grew increasingly humid and muggy. Moreover, a faint but undeniable strange odor began to appear, like smoldering ashes or sulfur, continuously drifting from the east. Seabirds were almost nowhere to be seen.
Occasionally, sea fish leaped out of the inky green water, their scales often shimmering with an unnatural, metallic luster, and their shapes were somewhat peculiar.
The crew gradually became quieter, their conversations hushed. More often than not, people simply gazed at the eastern horizon, which was perpetually shrouded in hazy mist or gray clouds, their eyes mixing vigilance with a hint of unconcealed worry.
Rumors about the "Smoking Sea," the "Cursed Lands," the "Stone Men," and the "Boiling Oil River" began to circulate on the ship. Even the most fearless old sailors instinctively clutched the amulets around their necks while on watch. After all, the fear of the unknown is impossible to hide.
The voyage continued amidst suppression and anticipation. Time seemed to be slowed down by the thick, hot air. Keeping watch became the most stressful duty, requiring observation of the sea's movements and vigilance against any ominous signs or dangers coming from the east.
Finally, two weeks after leaving Lys, on a suffocatingly hot evening, an excited shout came from the crow's nest, instantly tightening the nerves of everyone aboard: "It's Volantis."
People rushed to the ship's rail, craning their necks to look east.
What first caught their eyes were not the details of the city, but the breathtaking colossal wall stretching between heaven and earth. The wall was extremely high, made of black basalt that shone with a dark luster under the dim afternoon sun, appearing massive and solemn, as if it had existed since ancient times, capable of resisting any storm or erosion by the ages. It was said that its inner surface was smooth white marble.
This was a magnificent defensive line surrounding the entire city and part of its hinterland, and one of the most astonishing legacies of surviving Valyrian craftsmanship. Now, it also served as the last bastion of the civilized world before entering the cursed ruins.
As the ship slowly approached, more details became visible. The Long Wall was not completely sealed; slightly south of the center, the wide Rhoyne River merged into the Summer Sea. The massive estuary featured sluice gates and defensive towers controlling the entry and exit of ships. That was Volantis's main port, located within the Long Wall, at the mouth of the Rhoyne River.
Outside the estuary, quite a few ships were waiting to enter the port. The sulfur smell in the air here was even more pronounced, mixed with the moist earthy scent carried by the great river. Looking over the magnificent black and white city wall, one could see the dense, multicolored rooftops inside the city, as well as the outlines of some taller structures, among which several Pyramid-shaped temples were particularly striking—those were the sanctuaries of Volantis's many deities.
The clamor of the port district became clearer as they drew nearer. The bustle here was different from Lys; it had less of the frivolous sweetness and more of the gravity of ancient history. The docks were piled high with goods from the upper Rhoyne River basin, as well as even more slaves.
These slaves were diverse, including not only common prisoners of war and slave girls from various regions, but also dark-skinned, unfamiliar races from south of the Summer Islands, and steppe riders known as the "Jogos Nhai," who wore feather decorations and had defiant eyes.
Throughout his journey, Viserys had come to understand one thing: outside of Braavos, every Free Cities's dock had posts for chaining people. The iron chains were polished bright, and the whips cracked louder than the waves. Prohibitions against slave trading were posted on the walls, rustling in the wind, but the selling continued underneath.
Some rules in the world are meant to be followed, others are meant to be seen. The sound of the whip cracking down was the true rhythm of this sea, this world. He should have realized this sooner. However, he had no intention of changing anything; he was ultimately just a passerby. What did the affairs of others matter to him? He only needed to live his own life wonderfully.
Calming his thoughts, Viserys instructed Ser Alliser to disperse all the soldiers under his command into the city to gather information about Valyria, including detailed records of the previous large-scale expeditions Volantis had organized into Valyria.
He also told them to relax and get some good rest. After all, Viserys could no longer guarantee their safety once they entered Valyria. He had just tried using his Skinchanger ability to control some animals into Valyria, but he could only reach the periphery; there was a peculiar field inside that blocked his connection.
As for Viserys, he remained with Ser Arthur. Here in Volantis, Viserys did not need to disguise himself. There were many people in Volantis with Valyrian features, so he did not stand out.
Fully armed patrol teams were visible everywhere in the city. The soldiers' armor and weapons varied in style, and the plumes or insignias on their helmets indicated they belonged to different political factions within the city: the "Tiger Party" and the "Elephant Party." The former advocated military expansion, while the latter focused on commercial interests. The struggle between the two has spanned Volantis's history. Currently, the Elephant Party seems to hold the advantage among Volantis's three Magistrate, occupying two seats.
They passed a slightly open intersection, devoid of market noise, where the ground was paved with worn, dark flagstones. At the other end of the intersection stood a distinctly different building.
It was a Temple of the Red God, far exceeding the size of any he had seen before. It did not pursue the ornate decorations of other temples; it was built entirely of dark red megaliths, heavy and simple, yet possessing an undeniable majesty. Above the tall portico, a massive flame relief seemed to burn on the stone. Believers of various ages and attire quietly entered and exited the broad stone steps, and the rich scent of burning special incense drifted through the air.
Although the incense offerings were abundant, it strangely maintained a solemn silence, forming a stark contrast to the clamor of other areas in Volantis. Clearly, within Volantis's complex religious landscape, rhllor, the lord of light, wielded considerable influence.
Viserys had no intention of lingering. However, just as he was preparing to leave, a slender figure emerged from the shadow of the tall temple gate and stood at the edge of the topmost stone step.
It was a young girl, perhaps only fifteen or sixteen. She wore a simple, deep red linen robe and no elaborate adornments, only a plain flame-shaped ruby hanging around her neck. Her hair was brown, and her skin was fair and translucent, seeming to glow faintly in the shadows. Most striking were her eyes, large and bright, an unusually clear blue, which were currently staring directly at Viserys, as if she had known he would pass by here.
There was no curiosity or fear in her gaze, only a calm scrutiny.
Viserys paused momentarily.
The girl slowly descended the stone steps and walked straight toward Viserys, stopping a few steps away. Ser Arthur cautiously stepped half a pace sideways, his hand resting on his sword hilt.
"Outlander," the girl spoke, her voice clear and resonant, as if carrying a strange magic. "You come from the Land of Salt and Ash, wrapped in the dust and fire of a fallen dynasty."
Viserys's heart stirred. "Has the lord of light noticed me?" he asked calmly, maintaining his composure. "Who are you?"
"I am Kinvara, servant of the lord of light," the girl replied, her blue eyes seemingly piercing through appearances into his heart. "Omens have appeared in the flames. I saw the Dragon in the shadows; it has three heads—one breathing fire in memory, one gathering ice in the mist, and one still murmuring in a dream."
These words made Viserys's eyes narrow slightly. A three-headed dragon? This implication was far too explicit.
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