Snap!
As they reached the entrance of the dragonpit, Rhaenyra gave Aemon a hard slap on the rear without a word.
"Ah!" Aemon cried out in pain, still staring behind him in confusion.
What was going on? He didn't even say the dragon had ignored him.
Seeing the indignant look on his face, Rhaenyra flushed with anger and shouted, "Aemon, you almost lost your life just now!"
The dragon had clearly rejected him. To keep pushing it further was courting death.
"It didn't attack me."
Aemon's gaze was serious, his tone full of certainty. "It didn't want to hurt me either."
He had been extremely nervous.
But when he stood in front of Dreamfyre, he could vaguely sense something from the massive creature— A kind of thought: indifference.
Not only was it indifferent to his attempt to bond, it was indifferent to him entirely.
It didn't even show the urge to attack.
Rhaenyra's chest rose and fell rapidly, her voice cold: "You must never do something like that again!"
It was completely reckless.
Even Daemon, despite the trouble he'd had when taming a dragon, had never done anything so bold.
If something had truly gone wrong, how was she supposed to explain it to Aemon's parents—or to her own father?
Faced with her anger, Aemon unconsciously lowered his head, guilt welling up in his chest. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
It wasn't because he had touched Dreamfyre without permission—
But because he had made her worry.
Thinking back on it, what he had done was indeed risky.
He shouldn't have been so impulsive or followed his instincts so blindly.
"Forget it, as long as you understand," Rhaenyra said, placing a hand to her chest. She truly didn't want to say anything more.
She needed time to calm down.
Aemon pursed his lips and started drawing circles on the ground with his toes.
It had been dangerous, yes.
But it had also come with unseen rewards.
Just now, he had heard the system prompt:
"Discovered a powerful creature with special magic. Gained a portion of fire-type essence."
Aemon stole a glance at Rhaenyra—
She was no longer looking at him—
and silently called up his [Magic Essence Panel].
[Aemon Targaryen]
Talent: Dreamer (Gold)
Bloodline: Dragonlord of Old Valyria (18%)
Skills: High Valyrian (Proficient), Arithmetic (Proficient)…
Magic Cards: None
Pet: Golden-nosed Rat (Blue)
Status: "Well-developed human cub, expected to become a powerful warrior."
"Bloodline purity increased by 5% out of nowhere, and a pet slot appeared."
Aemon thought about it carefully. He guessed it was Dreamfyre's fire magic that had caused the change.
He flipped through the panel, reaching the card interface.
Out of the three available slots, only one card remained—[Empty Hands]. His gaze was automatically drawn to it.
In the corner, next to the golden hourglass, it now read: [Essence: 168]
A hundred more than before. That was Dreamfyre's doing.
Aemon was no longer entirely useless. He couldn't help but marvel, "Bloodline and essence rising at once… it really was worth it."
"Prince, please leave first."
The old dragonkeeper, who couldn't see the system panel, was pale with fear and pleaded, desperate to usher him away.
If anything happened to a Targaryen in the dragonpit under his watch, the consequences would be dire.
The last time he had felt such terror was during the days of "Baelon the Brave."
Aemon closed the panel. Though he wanted to leave, he felt reluctant—conflicted.
Even though Dreamfyre hadn't accepted him, it had still given him something. He was unwilling to part so easily.
The old dragonkeeper thought he wanted to try again, and his face darkened. "Prince, when your father first rode a dragon, he was already four years old."
Aside from dragons hatched in the cradle, no Targaryen before had bonded before age ten.
Most riders bonded only after reaching adulthood.
In short, an eight-year-old child couldn't even sit steady on a dragon saddle.
Aemon shook his head, indicating that he wasn't trying to bond again. He offered a different request: "Dreamfyre has a proud temper. Could you unchain her—just to let her feel a moment of freedom?"
"That's far too dangerous," the old dragonkeeper replied sternly.
But Aemon had considered his words: "She's not hostile. Dreamfyre was hatched in King's Landing as a symbol of good fortune. Letting her fly around won't hurt anyone."
The old keeper fell silent at that.
Dreamfyre was the oldest dragon in the realm save for Vhagar. Her accumulated wisdom rivaled that of any man. She had flown across the known world, and held little enmity for mankind.
Aemon added gently, "Even if Dreamfyre flies far, she'd only return to Dragonstone."
"That's true," the old man nodded.
Dragons were incredibly intelligent creatures, and deeply territorial by nature.
Those born in a certain place rarely wandered far.
Even the two wild dragons on Dragonstone never left the Dragonmont.
"Let her return to Dragonstone. That wouldn't be so bad."
Rhaenyra spoke up suddenly.
Aemon was surprised—he hadn't expected her to take his side.
"Hmph!" Rhaenyra huffed.
She wasn't helping him.
She just didn't want to see such a magnificent dragon forever imprisoned underground.
That alone was reason enough.
With both royal children speaking, the old keeper had no choice but to agree. "Please step outside. We'll handle it from here."
"Alright!" Aemon responded cheerfully.
Whether Rhaenyra paid him any mind or not, he shamelessly reached for her soft little hand and clasped it in his.
Girls were hard to coax.
When he was younger, even if he acted out, Alicent would dry her tears and come back to care for him.
Rhaenyra had no choice but to follow him out of the dragonpit.
Boom!
As the bronze doors opened, a shaft of sunlight fell across her face, and the warm breeze gently brushed past her ears.
Aemon squinted into the light, his whole being feeling lighter, freer.
"Don't ever do that again," Rhaenyra muttered, turning away as she half-scolded him.
Aemon curved his lips into a soft smile and replied sweetly, "Okay. I'll listen to you."
As they spoke, the guards came rushing over.
The dragonpit was a critical place—
Even Ser Steve had been ordered to stand guard outside.
"Prince, it doesn't matter if you failed this time. You're still young,"
Ser Ryam said kindly, offering words of comfort.
Only then did Ser Steve and William realize that the prince hadn't ridden the dragon.
"Heh tui~"
Gunthor didn't care. He chewed on an orange, spitting the seeds all over the ground.
Boom! Boom!
Suddenly, something heavy echoed from inside the dragonpit.
"Protect the prince and princess!"
Ser Steve, ever the Kingsguard, instantly moved to shield the royal children.
"Quiet, Dreamfyre!"
The old dragonkeeper called out in High Valyrian, calming the restless beast.
Then, everyone saw a shadow stretch across the sunlight.
A graceful light blue dragon slowly stepped out of the bronze gates, raising its head and half-closing its eyes as it gazed into the sun.
It hadn't been outside in years—
It was adjusting to the brightness.
"D-Dragon!"
William cried out, nearly tumbling down the steps.
Ser Steve and Ser Ryam were stunned. It was their first time seeing a dragon so close.
Their hands instinctively tightened around their swords.
"Seven hells…"
Gunthor was the most shocked. His eyes widened as he stared, the half-eaten orange falling from his mouth.
The dragon had looked majestic from afar—
But now that it was only a few meters away, one claw was enough to crush him flat.
A deep reverence took hold.
Aemon saw everything.
He stepped forward and pulled Rhaenyra back, his voice firm: "Everyone step away. Give her room."
"Yes!" the guards obeyed.
Soon, the enormous dragon stood alone at the gates.
Dreamfyre tossed her head, her neck freed of chains, and spread her light blue wings wide.
Bathed in golden sunlight, her wing membranes shimmered in dazzling, dreamlike hues.
The shadow of her wings draped across Aemon's head.
Aemon raised a hand to shield his eyes, smiling as he whispered, "So beautiful."
Hiss!!
Dreamfyre let out a piercing roar. A trace of brilliance flashed in her slit pupils as she leapt—
Her massive form soaring straight into the sky like a blue arrow.
- - - - - - - - -
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