Winterfell was alive in ways Jon had never seen.
Not the quiet life of a bastard at the edge, but a life buzzing with attention—and not all of it friendly.
From the kitchens to the walls, servants whispered. From the hallways to the training yard, guards and squires passed rumors like shadows.
"The bastard made fire!" one maid told another, eyes wide."He rolled a stick and—" a stableboy stopped mid-sentence."—sparks, yes," the first girl finished, shaking her head. "Like a wizard."
Even the smallfolk who visited the gates asked after him.
The Stark Children
At breakfast, the tension was immediate.
Robb gave Jon a small, subtle nod—a silent acknowledgment of respect. Bran stared with wide, fascinated eyes, muttering to himself about wheels and sparks. Arya bounced in her seat, unable to hide her excitement.
Sansa, however, looked troubled. She pushed her food around her plate, avoiding Jon's gaze. "It's… clever," she admitted finally, her voice tinged with something like fear. "But he shouldn't… be noticed."
Theon Greyjoy's eyes narrowed like a hawk spotting prey. "This isn't fair," he muttered. "He's not supposed to… he's a bastard."
Robb placed a hand on Theon's shoulder. "Calm. Don't ruin it for yourself."
Theon's scowl deepened. That fire of jealousy would not go out easily.
Rumors Reach the Lords
Word of Jon's device—his sparks, his ingenuity—did not remain in the godswood.
Maester Luwin's letters mentioned it cautiously. Guards reported it quietly to Lord Stark. Even Catelyn, uneasy and wary, could not suppress the murmurs.
"It's not just the fire," one steward said, whispering to another. "He watches. He notices everything. Speaks little, but… his eyes…"
Ned Stark's face remained calm as ever, but inside, he felt the weight of it. This boy is more than he appears.
Jon Observes
Jon, in the quiet of the courtyard, watched the snow swirl past the walls and listened to the whispers.
He had expected this.
People notice what they do not understand.
Jealousy and fear follow talent.
Even Theon.
[System Triggered: Social Observation]
Quest: Learn the Flow of Words
Listen to 5 distinct rumors
Note who spreads them
Remain unnoticedReward: +2 Intelligence, +1 Charisma, Hidden Social Insight
Jon smirked faintly under the hood of his cloak.
The smallest sparks can light a fire.
Catelyn's Unease
Catelyn Stark paced the solar quietly, her hands folded tight.
"He's clever," she admitted aloud, though only to herself. "Too clever. And no one—Ned, Robb, Sansa, Arya—they all see it, and yet… he does not claim their notice. He lets them watch."
Her brow furrowed. "What happens when the wrong person notices? What happens when he is beyond control?"
Ned remained silent beside her, watching the hall below where Jon and the other children trained.
"He does not ask for favor," he said quietly. "He earns it. Carefully. Every action measured. That is his strength."
Catelyn's eyes narrowed. "And that makes him dangerous."
Ned did not respond.
Because he knew.
Theon's Hatred
Theon, meanwhile, fumed silently in a corner of the yard. Every time he glanced at Jon, every subtle movement, every small smile or spark-driven device, stoked the fire of jealousy.
He's a bastard.
He's supposed to be below me.
But Theon had learned something: Jon Snow was no ordinary bastard.
And that thought made Theon's teeth grind.
The Seeds of Reputation
By nightfall, Jon's reputation had spread not just through Winterfell, but beyond. Couriers spoke in hushed tones at the gates. Travelers passing by mentioned "the boy who makes fire from wood."
Jon knew this reputation was fragile, and that with it came danger as well as respect.
He studied the sky above the walls, snow drifting lazily through torchlight, and thought quietly:
Every spark has a cost. Every whisper has weight. And I am just beginning.
[Hidden Quest Completed: Observe and Adapt]Reward: +1 Strategy, +1 Insight, Title Progress +10%