Chapter 48 – Awakening the Dragon Eggs
Castle Black training yard.
Two days had passed since the council decided to cooperate with the wildlings. Most matters had been settled, and only now did Saelen finally have time to resume serious training.
He rose at dawn, gripping Ice, and drilled relentlessly.
For months beyond the Wall he had barely trained properly. His attributes had stagnated for far too long. Now, with a rare window of stability, he intended to make up for lost time.
Steel flashed. Snow sprayed beneath his boots. By the time the morning sun crept overhead, his arms trembled faintly from exertion.
At last, Saelen sheathed Ice and returned to his quarters. He summoned the system interface.
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Name: Saelen Stark
(Note: This surname has been forcibly bound by the system and cannot be changed.)
Strength: 5.64 + 0.02 (trainable)
Agility: 3.40 + 0.02 (trainable)
Endurance: 4.58 + 0.02 (trainable)
Spirit(!): 50
(Max level. Complete construction tasks before further upgrades.)
(Can be upgraded by killing magical creatures. Host may control up to fifty animals simultaneously.)
Congratulations! Spirit has reached Level 50. Construction Quest Activated. Scroll down to view.
Swordsmanship: Max
Archery: Max
Spearmanship: Max
Horsemanship: Max
Construction:
Porcelain Factory: Complete
Glass Factory: Complete
Weapons & Armor Workshop: Complete
Paper Workshop: Incomplete
---
Saelen noticed a green exclamation mark beside Spirit. His heartbeat quickened slightly. He tapped it.
A new panel appeared.
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System Detection: Host possesses two dragon eggs.
Consume 20 Spirit to form a contract?
[Yes] [No]
---
He did not hesitate.
Yes.
The screen flickered.
---
Contract successfully established.
Would you like to infuse Mana to awaken the fossilized dragon eggs?
[Yes] [No]
Mana Available via slaying magical creatures: 0
Mana exchange rate: 1 Spirit = 1 Mana
Current Mana: 0
---
Without pause, Saelen converted 20 Spirit into Mana.
Then he selected:
Activate Dragon Egg Fossils.
The moment he confirmed the command, a strange heat began to build within him…
The twenty points of Mana he had just obtained were consumed in an instant—ten points for each dragon egg. The amount was exact.
The interface shifted again.
---
Congratulations. You have successfully awakened the dragon egg fossils.
Please name the two dragon eggs:
---
Saelen thought for a moment. In respect for Westerosi tradition, he chose fitting names.
The egg with a crimson base, flecked in gold and spiraled with black veins—he named it Sunflare.
The egg with a black shell streaked by dark red whorls—he named it Bloodshadow.
He pressed Confirm.
The system returned to the main interface.
---
Name: Saelen Stark (This surname has been forcibly bound by the system and cannot be changed.)
Strength: 5.64 + 0.02
Agility: 3.40 + 0.02
Endurance: 4.58 + 0.02
Spirit: 10 (Max level. Complete construction tasks to continue upgrading.)
(Host may now control up to ten animals simultaneously.)
Sunflare – Consume 10 Mana to hatch? [Yes] [No]
Bloodshadow – Consume 10 Mana to hatch? [Yes] [No]
Mana from slaying magical creatures: 0
Mana exchange rate: 1 Spirit = 1 Mana
Current Mana: 0
---
Saelen frowned slightly.
Hatching both eggs would require another twenty points of Mana. He now had only ten Spirit left—and that final reserve was his safeguard. He could not afford to drain himself completely.
It seemed he would have to make another excursion beyond the Wall and hunt more wights to accumulate Mana.
With a quiet sigh, he dismissed the system panel.
He retrieved the two dragon eggs. Jon had been safeguarding them before remaining with Mance Rayder, so Saelen had taken them back into his own keeping.
Now the difference was unmistakable.
What had once been cold and lifeless shells were vibrant with warmth. When he placed his palm against them, he could feel a slow, deep pulse—like a heartbeat beneath stone. Concentrating his Spirit, he even sensed a faint, distant response from the unborn dragons within.
He watched them for a long while before reluctantly setting them beside a brazier for warmth.
Still uneasy, he stepped outside and summoned two trusted soldiers to stand guard.
Joel and Ivan—veterans who had followed him through countless life-and-death trials. Loyal, steady men.
"No one is to approach these eggs," he ordered firmly.
They saluted in unison.
Only then did Saelen take up Ice and make his way to Lord Eddard's quarters. Jory Cassel stood guard at the door.
"Jory," Saelen said, "I request an audience with Lord Eddard."
Jory nodded with a smile, entered to announce him, and soon returned to usher Saelen inside.
Lord Eddard Stark sat at his desk, writing. He looked up.
"Saelen. What brings you here?"
Saelen stepped forward and presented the greatsword with both hands.
"My lord, I have come to return this blade. Valyrian steel proved its worth against the Others. We survived this journey because of it. Several of them fell to Ice. The task is complete—this belongs to House Stark."
Eddard rose and accepted the sword. He drew it partially from its sheath, examining the pale sheen of the steel as reflected light brushed across his stern features.
Ice had been passed down through generations of Stark lords. It symbolized history, duty, honor. Most of its years were spent resting in the armory; Eddard rarely bore it personally.
Now he sheathed it once more.
"The Others walk again," he said quietly. "This is the hour for Ice to fulfill its purpose—not to gather dust in a vault."
He stepped forward and, with solemn deliberation, placed the greatsword back into Saelen's hands.
"I entrust it to you. Let it achieve its greatest worth under your command. Do not disgrace the name Ice."
Saelen stared, stunned.
"My lord… this is your family's ancestral blade."
Eddard's expression did not waver.
"And you bear the name Stark."
He met Saelen's gaze steadily.
"Blood is not the only bond that matters. I have raised you as my own son. If you carry the Stark name, then you are Stark—fully and forever."
Saelen hesitated.
"But the king has not formally recognized it. By the laws of the realm, it may not be entirely proper. And Lady Catelyn… she may still harbor misunderstandings."
"You need not concern yourself," Eddard replied firmly. "With your deeds, recognition from King Robert will come in time. And as for Catelyn—she will see your character for what it is."
A faint trace of pride softened his stern demeanor.
"Besides," he added, almost teasingly, "the blade Robb carries—Dark Sister—was your gift, was it not? It suits him well. So Ice shall remain with you."
For perhaps the first time in a long while, Lord Eddard Stark allowed himself a hint of warmth in his voice.
And Saelen, holding the weight of Ice, understood that what he had been given was more than a weapon—it was trust.