"Why did I gain three Judgment Points this time?"
Garon stared at the change on his status panel, genuinely surprised.
Yesterday, he had judged and executed a bald man who had committed rape and received only two points.
But today, after executing a woman who abused her stepdaughter, the system awarded him three.
That meant only one thing.
"This woman must have committed more sins than anyone knew," Garon thought.
As the realization settled, Garon finally understood an important rule of the system.
Judgment had a cooldown.
At most, he could perform one true Judgment per day.
Furthermore, the number of Judgment Points gained depended on the weight of the sinner's crimes. The deeper the sin, the greater the reward.
With this clarified, Garon's mood lifted noticeably.
Standing beside him, Lord Selwyn watched quietly as his son fell into thought.
Garon decided not to waste the opportunity.
He opened his panel again.
Name: Garon TarthTitle: None
Strength: 3.14Agility: 4.01Spirit: 12.8Magic: 0
Skills:Swordsmanship: 3Archery: 8Horsemanship: 4Common Tongue: 27Swimming: 29
Legendary Bloodlines:Duskstar Bloodline: 3Targaryen Bloodline: 0Storm King Bloodline: 1
Legendary Weapon: Maiden of Justice (Gold)Quality: Maximum
Judgment Points: 3
Yesterday, he had already tested adding points to his strength.
Today, he wanted to experiment further.
Garon focused and placed a point into Swordsmanship.
Swordsmanship: 3 → 4
A cool sensation spread through his mind, as if a veil had been lifted. Movements taught by Ser Goodwin suddenly felt clearer, more refined. Even techniques he had only half understood now made complete sense.
At the same time, a warm current flowed through his wrist, making it feel lighter and more flexible.
"One Judgment Point equals one percent of mastery," Garon concluded.
He resisted the temptation to spend all his remaining points on skills.
Skills could be trained naturally.
Attributes and bloodlines could not.
Turning his attention to his bloodlines, Garon hesitated only briefly before placing a point into the Targaryen Bloodline.
The Judgment Point vanished.
A violent reaction followed.
Heat surged through his body. His skin flushed red, and his blue eyes flickered with faint orange light. For a fleeting moment, he saw roaring flames and massive dragons filling the sky.
Garon staggered.
He drove the Maiden of Justice into the stone floor to steady himself.
"Garon!"
Lord Selwyn rushed forward, catching his son before he fell.
His hand recoiled instantly.
Garon's body was burning hot.
But the sensation faded just as quickly.
"I'm fine, Father," Garon said, breathing heavily.
Lord Selwyn stared at him.
"Did it work?"
Garon nodded.
Selwyn's eyes shone.
So it was true.
Judging sinners with the holy sword truly strengthened its wielder.
The Maiden of Justice lived up to its legend.
House Tarth would rise.
"Do you want to continue?" Lord Selwyn asked after steadying himself.
Garon shook his head. "Once per day. I'm sure of it."
Selwyn nodded. He had suspected as much.
Without hesitation, he turned and stepped toward the final prisoner in the dungeon.
An old man with white hair and a beard.
"Old Chauvin," Selwyn said coldly. "You heard things you should not have."
Steel flashed.
The blade pierced the man's back.
Blood bloomed across his clothes like a crimson flower.
Garon watched silently.
His father was decisive.
Too decisive.
But in this world, hesitation killed.
"Let's go," Selwyn said, sheathing his sword. "We'll return tomorrow."
They left the dungeon behind.
That night, Garon reviewed his panel again.
The Targaryen Bloodline now showed development: 1.
The potential made his heart race.
Dragon riding.
Resistance to fire.
But it was too early.
The Red Comet had not yet appeared.
He decided to focus elsewhere.
The next day passed much the same.
Training with Ser Goodwin showed immediate results. His movements were sharper, his reactions faster. Even Selwyn noticed.
That afternoon, they returned to the dungeon.
Two prisoners awaited.
Garon executed the first.
No Judgment Points appeared.
"What was his crime?" Garon asked.
"Poaching," Selwyn replied.
That explained it.
The system did not recognize unjust laws as true sins.
The second execution granted one Judgment Point.
The crime?
Incest.
Garon felt no regret.
From that day on, their routine continued.
Training. Judgment. Growth.
Two years passed in the blink of an eye.
On a clear morning, Lord Selwyn stood at Sapphire Harbor with Garon and Brienne.
A ship bearing the falcon of House Arryn approached the docks.
Robert Baratheon was returning from the Eyrie.
And with him came news.
Lord Steffon Baratheon had fathered another son.
Renly Baratheon was born.
The wheels of history turned quietly onward.
And far from the Iron Throne, on a small island beneath the rising sun, a new power continued to grow.