On the training field, my father and I were facing each other. Father was pointing his sword Dark Sister at me. I merely took a stance, a normal steel sword in my hands. I carefully circled around Daemon, trying to find the right time to strike.
When I saw Daemon was distracted by something from behind me, I quickly rushed towards him. The movements around me slowed, I could feel the wind current, I could hear Daemon's heartbeat, I could hear the sound of sweat dropping from my cheeks.
Daemon moved, he twitched his sword towards me as I tried to dodge his swing. It was almost me as the valyrian steel sword grazed my bronze armor, and I quickly tried to slash Daemon's hand.
All of that crumbled however as Daemon grabbed the sword using his hand. He had smittens on, and he pulled my sword from my grasp, before throwing it.
"You have good instincts." said Daemon in approval. "Too good for your age perhaps… it's just that you're limited by your small and undeveloped body."
"I am only on my 8th name day." I stated.
"I know. It's quite strange for a boy like you to have such skills." Daemon frowned. "But good. You're learning, you're learning quickly."
"Thank you, father." I said noncommittally.
Daemon then stabbed Dark Sister towards the ground, before throwing away his smittens. "I think you're ready."
"What?" I asked. "Ready for what?"
Daemon cleaned his hand, and pulled Dark sister again, before sheathing it to its scabbard. He didn't say anything to me, he just looked at me from top to bottom, before nodding again. "Follow me."
"To where?" I ask again.
"Just shut up for once and follow me," he said, turning around towards the castle.
Seeing that I can't get an explanation, I just sigh, and follow Father to the castle.
—
We entered a room full of Arts depicting dragons. The place was quite warm compared to the other rooms in this castle, and there are a couple of big bones scattered throughout the place.
Daemon walked towards a shelf, before opening it. Inside were a bunch of huge saddles, too big for a horse.
"Pick one," he said to me.
"Dragon saddles?" I stated. "What? Why pick one?"
"Because tomorrow, you're going to claim a dragon."
"What?!" I practically screamed. "Do you realize that I am just a mere child—"
"Laena Velaryon was only in her 12th nameday when she tamed Vhagar, the largest dragon alive today." said Daemon calmly. "Surely you can do better. You're a Targaryen by name right now, you must not lose to a Velaryon."
"I will be burned to death!" I refuted.
"You will not." Daemon insisted. "Now listen to what your father is saying. This is for your own good. Before we go to the wedding, you must claim a dragon."
"Oh, I know what this is about." I chuckled. "You just want to flaunt your power to those lords!"
"Maegor, I know my reputation," said Daemon. "But believe me when I say that this is for your own good. King's Landing is filled with nothing but rats and leeches that will surely feast on you if you're not prepared."
"So you want me to get killed? Father, I understand your concern, but claiming a wild dragon while I was still in my 8th name day is not normal!"
"You and I both know that you're not acting like a boy who's only on his 8th name day." Daemon sternly said. "You've matured quicker, and your body is growing quicker. Maegor, look at yourself, you look like a boy in his 12th name day rather than his 8th, You can probably kill a full grown inexperienced knight in a duel."
"A knight is different from a dragon."
Daemon scoffed. "My son, born from the bronze bitch, is a coward after all."
"I am not a coward, I'm sane." I defended myself. "If this was the dragonpit, then it's fine. But it's dragonmont! Wild and old dragons lived there!"
"It will show your strength as a Targaryen if you manage to claim one." Daemon argued.
Fucking hell… he's not backing off…
"Father, be honest with me." I said calmly. "What do you intend to do? Do you really care for me? Or do you just want to flaunt your 'extraordinary' son to your brother and all the lords of the seven kingdoms? Answer the damned question truthfully, and I'll climb that mountain of ash."
Daemon went silent for a second, before saying. "Is it wrong for a father to be proud of his son?"
"You're bringing me to my doom."
"I trust your capability." he said. "You are my blood, you are Aegon's blood, it's time for you to accept it rather than denying the truth of the meaning of it."
"Denying what?"
"That you're destined for greatness." Daemon stated, patting my shoulder. He then walked towards the door, before saying again. "I will give you time to think about it. When you're ready, come to my room."
Daemon then left, leaving me in the room alone.
I stared at the Dragonmont through the window. Can I really do it? Taming the beast that resides in one of the caves of the mountain? Beasts that are as large as airplanes in my previous world, flying whales that breathe fire?
I clenched my fist. Fine, let's do it. I already made up my mind on owning a dragon anyway…
—
I entered Daemon's room without knocking, and I saw him reading a map on the table. When he saw me entering the room, he smirked, seemingly knowing that I was going to do this.
I was dragging a saddle through the corridor before. It was the saddle of Old King Jaehaerys, I was not big enough to carry it whole, so I had to drag it with a board to not damage the saddle.
[Bona iksin adere syt nyke pendagon. (That was faster than I thought.)] said Daemon with a smirk.
[Ivestragī īlva jiōragon bisa toliot lēdaI. (Let's just get this over with.)] I said, putting the saddle on the corner of the room.
Daemon just chuckled, and turned towards the Window, where the sight of the smoking Dragonmont could be seen. "There are 5 dragons in that mountain. The Cannibal, Grey Ghost, Sheepstealer, Silverwing, and Vermithor. Cannibal, Grey Ghost, and Sheepstealer are wild dragons, while the others are only semi-wild."
"What's the difference?" I asked.
"It means that the three are not used to humans, while the other two are." Daemon continued. "You can choose which dragon that you want to approach, but I do not recommend Cannibal."
"Why?"
"Because before you could find him, you'll be burned by the blistering heat of the mountain. Dozens have tried, none succeeded, he's older than Balerion, so perhaps it's not a good choice for a boy like you. And he eats other dragons, so he won't get along with the others in the Dragonpit once we arrive there."
I just hummed, and stared at the mountain, thinking about it.
"I recommend Grey Ghost. He's a shy dragon, preferred fish over goats. He's at the eastern side of the mountain."
"Wouldn't that be a problem if he's shy?" I raised my brow. "No… I know what dragon I'm choosing."
"Seems you know what you want." Daemon nodded. "Good, you should rest now, we will go first thing tomorrow morning."
And so, a restless night began for me. I was anxious, scared, terrified even. But I guess it's a part of the experience, a part of the thrill.
Something tells me that my life would change tomorrow, for the better, or for the worst.