Nyxara, Maximus's greatest companion and the greatest ally that he had. Her potential and abilities were wasted because of how weak the enemies they had had to face have been. Unlike the dragons that the Targaryen or even the Valyrians had, Nyxara could use both fire and lightning abilities.
And her abilities weren't just limited to breathing fire or lightning. She hasn't had to use the full extent or even 50% of her power since she was summoned. This was a good thing as it meant there weren't many powerful enemies out there that required her to use her full power.
Flying high above Heaven's Reach, Nyxara alongside her 10 children which have hatched from the eggs she laid over the last 7 years since she was brought to this world. 4 of them were females while the other 6 were males. She was currently training them on how to fight with their rider and protect the empire from above, the key to controlling aerial battlefields.
Unlike Nyxara herself, her children were mini versions of herself and would not reach her size for centuries. "Remember, your vision is sharper than any hawk, and you can fly higher than any bird," Nyxara said in a language that only the dragons could understand.
"Patience. Coordination. Those are your greatest weapons." The adolescent dragons swooped and dived, practicing breathing fire and lightning in rhythmic patterns.
On their back, their riders had their own training which involved learning how to fight in the air. As an Imperial dragon rider, they were not just required to learn how to ride the dragon, but also how to utilize the dragon to fight both ground targets and aerial targets.
For aerial targets, the Dragon riders were trained on how to skillfully jump from dragon to dragon and fight on their backs. After that they learned how to use the dragon to swoop in on ground targets, allowing them to eliminate the commanders of armies either before the battle started or during the battle.
The Imperial dragon riders trained diligently, honing their craft tirelessly. In time, as they gained proficiency in their skills, a bond began to form between human and beast; a deep trust that this bond would be their greatest asset when the time for actual combat came.
The children of Nyxara were named after her, each carrying the title 'Nyx' before their individual names. The females were called Nyxena, Nyxara II, Nyxara III and Nyxova while the males were named Nyxon, Nyxus, Nyxer, Nyxiel, Nyxfan and Nyxsar. Much like their mother, all ten of them had the ability to breathe both fire and lightning.
For the Wyverns, their training took place in the Imperial city of Silvermere. Silvermere was one of the many cities established within the Dothraki Sea to spread out the massive number of people who lived in the region. The city was specifically designed as a place to house the Imperial Wyverns which numbered 500 in total.
Due to the large number of Wyverns that were growing per year, Maximus had the witches come up with a way to keep the egg alive but not hatch due to the problem with having so many Wyverns. 500 of them was already a massive number of Wyverns that needed to be fed and kept under control.
The Wyverns were less autonomous than the dragons, requiring more direct control from their riders. Their training included guidance on how to command their wyvern in battle, as well as techniques for aerial combat. The difficulty came not only from the necessity of learning to control a massive beast but also from the need to coordinate with other wyvern riders in large-scale engagements.
Much like the dragon riders, however, they formed intimate bonds with their beasts over time, and these bonds allowed them to work together seamlessly in battle.
While the dragons lead the aerial defense of Heaven's Reach, the Wyverns operated as a rapid response force for all the areas under Imperial control. At any given time, 2 Wyverns and their riders are assigned to each city within the Imperial Union, with the rest being stationed at Silvermere on standby in case they were needed.
———
At the port of Myr, King Robert and Queen Cersei had just arrived with his Kingsguards and the rest of his royal entourage for their trip to Heaven's Reach. Jon Arryn had recommended that Robert visit Heaven's Reach to get a better understanding of the Imperial Union.
Accompanied by Jamie Lannister, Robert had left the responsibilities of ruling King's Landing in Jon Arryn's hands. The port bustled with activity as sailors scrambled to load their goods onto the ships. The smell of saltwater and fish filled the air as they made their way through the docks.
At the end of the docks, a witch by the name of Ariadne awaited their arrival with a few Imperial Knights. Her role was to act as the official representative and personally escort the King, the queen and their entourage from Myr to Heaven's Reach.
"Welcome, King Robert Baratheon," Ariadne greeted him with a respectful nod. "I am here to escort you personally on behalf of the emperor."
Robert grunted, his eyes watching the witch warily. He recognized the witch in front of him as all of them wore the same style of clothes. "A witch, eh? Didn't think your emperor would send such a powerful person to greet us." His voice was as gruff as ever.
Ariadne smiled, unbothered by his tone. "Our emperor values efficiency, Your Grace. My magic ensures your journey will be swift and safe. It is, after all, a long way to Heaven's Reach."
Cersei stepped forward; her eyes narrowed as she studied Ariadne. "Safe, you say? Let's hope so. It's not every day we entrust our lives to strangers."
"Nor is it every day that strangers trust their lives to an empire," Ariadne replied smoothly, meeting Cersei's gaze without flinching. "Rest assured, Queen Cersei, you will see firsthand why the Imperial Union has no equal."
Robert snorted, half amused, half skeptical. "Big words. Let's hope your empire lives up to them." He gestured for his entourage to follow as Ariadne led them to the convoy of carriages that was waiting for them.
As they approached the carriages, Robert halted in his steps as he looked up and saw the massive creature flying overhead. It was one of the dragons assigned to protect the city and its rider performing a patrol of the city, mixed in with improving public opinion.
The Imperial Knights were all used to seeing and being near dragons, so they weren't as affected as Robert and his Royal entourage, with some whispering prayers under their breath.
"Seven Hells," Robert muttered, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of his sword. "What in the name of the gods is that?"
"That," Ariadne said, "Is one of the city's Dragons. You are fortunate to see one of them up close, King Robert. From my understanding, a dragon hasn't been seen in Westeros for more than a hundred years."
Robert stared at the dragon in disbelief, his eyes following its movements as it soared through the sky. Its scales shimmered, catching the sunlight with every flap of its massive wings. The creature exuded an aura of majesty and power that was impossible to ignore.
"A hundred years is too short if you ask me," he muttered under his breath. "Beasts like that don't belong in the world of men."
Jaime, standing at his side, was less inclined to dismiss what he saw. His sharp eyes analyzed the dragon's movements, the coordination between the creature and its rider. "If that's just one of their city's defenders, I wonder what their greatest dragons look like."
Ariadne's replied with a smile. "Perhaps you will find out, Ser Jaime. Heaven's Reach has many wonders, but its greatest lies at its heart."
Cersei, with her gaze still fixed on the sky, finally spoke. "Your emperor commands such creatures? And yet he allows Westeros to remain free? Curious." There was a hint of cautiousness in her tone, as if she couldn't decide whether to be impressed or wary.
Ariadne turned to her to answer her question. "The Imperial Union seeks stability, not conquest. The emperor's strength is not wielded recklessly. Peace through power, Queen Cersei. That is the foundation of our empire."
Robert let out a bark of laughter, though there was little humor in it. "Peace through power, eh? Sounds more like submission to me."
Instead of answering her Ariadne gestured toward the carriages. "Shall we? The journey to Heaven's Reach is long, and I assure you, King Robert, you'll have ample opportunity to form your own opinions of our empire."
Robert climbed into the lead carriage, with Cersei following close behind, and the rest of the Royal entourage boarding their own. The Kingsguards were given horses and took their positions in an escort position around the convoy. Once everything was ready, they departed for the long journey.