Winterfell slept beneath a heavy shroud of snow.
The castle was alive with warmth and torchlight, but Jon Snow lay awake in the dark, staring at the rough wooden ceiling of his small chamber. The furs piled over him did little to calm the storm inside his mind.
I survived.
That alone felt unreal.
Hours earlier, Maester Luwin had examined him thoroughly—prodding bruised ribs, murmuring about stubborn bones and thick skulls. By some miracle, nothing had broken. The fall should have killed him.
It did, Jon thought coldly.
Just not this Jon.
The door creaked open softly.
"Jon?" a gentle voice whispered.
He turned his head.
Arya Stark peeked inside, her hair a wild mess, clutching a candle nearly as big as her hand. She tiptoed closer and sat beside his bed.
"You scared me," she said quietly. "Robb said you might die."
Jon felt something tighten in his chest.
Arya.
He remembered her—fierce, stubborn, loyal to the end.
"I'm fine," he said, forcing a small smile. "Just tired."
She studied his face for a moment, eyes sharp even at her age. "You're different."
Jon stiffened.
"Different how?"
She shrugged. "Quieter."
That was dangerous.
Arya hopped down and leaned closer. "Don't fall off horses again," she said firmly. "I'd kill the horse."
Jon almost laughed.
"Deal."
After she left, silence returned.
That was when it happened.
[DING!]
The familiar blue glow flickered into existence at the foot of his bed.
[Hidden Quest Discovered]Condition Met: First Night in Winterfell]
Jon's breath slowed.
A hidden quest already…
The text expanded.
Hidden Quest: The Bastard's ResolveDescription:You have inherited a body burdened by blood, silence, and unspoken shame.Winterfell is your home—but not truly.Endure the scorn. Observe the wolves.Carve your place without breaking the rules of the world.
Objectives:
Attend the Stark family dinner
Endure social exclusion without confrontation
Observe each family member's behavior
Maintain emotional control
Reward:
Passive Skill: Bastard's Will
+2 Willpower
System Feature Unlock (Daily Quests)
Failure:
Loss of System Synchronization
Jon's jaw tightened.
Endure.
That word carried weight.
He dismissed the interface and lay back, staring at the ceiling.
I can do that.
The Great Hall
The next evening, the Great Hall of Winterfell roared with life.
Fire crackled in the hearth, casting long shadows across stone walls. The smell of roasted meat and bread filled the air, mingled with laughter and the clatter of plates.
Jon entered quietly.
He already knew where his seat was.
Not at the high table.
Never at the high table.
He took his place below, on the lower benches reserved for squires, guards, and lesser kin. From here, he could see everything.
Lord Eddard Stark sat at the head, composed and solemn. Catelyn Stark beside him—graceful, cold, her eyes sliding past Jon as if he were air.
Robb laughed loudly with Theon Greyjoy.
Sansa sat straight-backed, polite smiles practiced and perfect.
Bran swung his legs beneath the table, eyes bright with curiosity.
Arya scowled at her plate.
Just like the show, Jon thought.
But living it—
That was different.
A servant passed him a plate with less meat than the others. No one commented.
Jon accepted it silently.
[Hidden Quest Progress: 1/4 – Endured social exclusion]
Catelyn's gaze flickered toward him for half a second.
Disapproval.
Not hatred.
Fear, Jon realized.
Fear of what he represented.
Jon ate slowly, carefully, never rushing. He listened.
The way Ned spoke—measured, deliberate.
The way Robb unconsciously mirrored him.
The way Theon laughed too loudly.
Pieces on a board.
And I know how most of them fall.
His fingers tightened slightly around the wooden cup.
Not this time.
Training Yard – Before Dawn
The cold was merciless.
Jon stood alone in the training yard long before the sun rose. Snow crunched beneath his boots as he breathed out steady clouds of frost.
He didn't wait for anyone.
A wooden sword lay in his hands.
Small. Light.
Pathetic.
But it was a start.
[Daily Quest Unlocked]
Daily Quest: Strength of the North
Perform 100 basic sword swings
Run 5 laps around the yard
Endure the cold for 1 hour
Reward:
+1 Strength
+1 Endurance
+1 System EXP
Jon's eyes gleamed.
Daily growth.
That changed everything.
He raised the sword.
One swing.
Two.
By the twentieth, his arms burned.
By fifty, his breath came ragged.
By one hundred, his hands were numb.
But he didn't stop.
When he ran, his legs screamed.
When the cold bit into his skin, he welcomed it.
Pain is temporary.
Power is permanent.
From a window above, a figure watched.
Ned Stark stood silently, arms folded.
"He trains early," a voice beside him said.
Benjen Stark leaned against the stone. "He's always been stubborn."
Ned nodded slowly. "More than before."
Below them, Jon Snow kept swinging.
[Daily Quest Completed][Level Up Available: 1 → 2]
Jon exhaled sharply.
A faint blue glow pulsed beneath his skin—gone in an instant.
He straightened, sweat freezing on his brow.
I will survive this world.
And I will rise.