Solomon. Winterfell.
One year later.
- Ouch! - I heard Jon's voice and looked in his direction.
My eyes saw him rubbing his right hand, on which the remnants of Inguz, the rune of fortification, had fluttered, and looking at the stone that was acting as a target.
- Did you get the rune wrong again, Jon? - I asked and rubbed my temple. - Didn't I tell you that any mistake could cost you your life?
- You did, Lord Solomon," Jon said, his head lowered in shame. - I apologize.
- It's okay, you're just learning," I shook my head and ruffled his hair in a soothing gesture. - But be more careful next time and take your time. You've managed to master Projection, Structural Grip, and Strengthening to an acceptable level this year, which is very impressive.
- I understand, Lord Solomon," he cheered up and began practicing again.
While in Winterfell's Keep, I observed Jon practicing magic. Lord Stark did not allow me to take him on as an apprentice until a month after our conversation.
After another month, after lecturing him on the dangers that would accompany him on his journey as a mage, I activated his magical circuits. As I expected, he only understood my words at the moment of the ritual, which his entire family came to watch.
Jon screamed. Loudly and painfully. So much so that Lord Stark and Robb tried to help him. But I didn't allow it, to which I received enraged looks. The rest of the Stark family froze in a sense of fear. Even Lady Stark, who hated Jon to the bone.
After a moment, the ritual was complete, and I let them in to see him. Jon was in a very weakened state, but my senses caught what he was feeling at that moment - happiness. He was happy that he had endured this and was able to prove his worth. And my findings only reinforced that feeling.
Jon had forty magical chains of high quality. And each of them could pass not the usual ten mana, but thirty. Which could be considered a feat in this era. And when I asked him to activate them, he did so with extraordinary ease. As Jon told me, his trigger was the image of taking his sword out of its sheath, which is to be expected.
The next day we learned his Origin and Element.
His Element was ice, a sub-element of water. Which I wasn't surprised by, having studied the history of the Stark family.
And his Origin was Understanding. That explained his high rate of learning. During Romani Archaman's lifetime, such learning ability was rare and valued in the Clock Tower.
But what puzzled me more than a little was that he had an Aspect that was usually present in mage families. Jon's Aspect was Life.
Using my Clairvoyance on his essence, I was able to discern something interesting. He was the bastard son of someone with dragon blood.
After researching the Winterfell library, I learned that dragons are extinct. And only Targaryens with their blood in their veins were still alive until recently. But as I see it, that information is out of date. How else could a fifteen-year-old boy have dragon blood in him?
It all makes sense, though. Jon got an aspect from the Targaryens and an element from the Starks. That's an impressive backstory.
And when he had mastered the basic three spells, I decided to teach him the art of runes. They are easy to master, and their power depends on the understanding of the practicing mage. And with Jon's Origin, there should be no problem at all.
And then there are these Chard Trees... Magic lived in them. As I've learned, these trees were beacons of magic here in the North. And so was the Wall built by Brandon the Builder, as the legend says. It says the Wall protects the Seven Kingdoms from the dangers beyond. White Walkers. Undead creatures filled with the energy of ice and snow. And unfortunately, that's all I could find out.
- Lord Solomon! Jon!" I heard a cheerful maiden's voice from the entrance to the Godswood. - I've brought you something to eat!
- Don't run so fast! Wait for me! - I heard another one from the same place.
- Take your time if you don't want to trip and fall.
Turning in the direction of the voice, the Stark family's daughters and their father came into view.
And exactly what Lord Stark said happened. Almost reaching me, Arya stumbled and began to fall, letting the basket of food fall from her hands. I only sighed tiredly and swung my hand gently. The basket of food hovered, and tree roots emerged from the ground to pick Arya up and keep her from falling.
- This is why I told you to listen to your father more, my lady," I said, and lifted her off the roots and set her on the ground.
But instead of standing on her own feet, she hugged me and started hanging on me like a panda, making a pouty face.
- I told you to call me Arya! - she muttered.
- Unfortunately, I can't yet, my lady," I smiled and stroked her head.
- I'm not a lady! - Arya shrieked, shaking her head.
I sighed to myself. Well, she wasn't wrong. There's no way her destiny can match a lady. She's too energetic for that.
- Ahem," Lord Stark cleared his throat, looking at us. - You're making Lord Solomon uncomfortable. Please get off him.
- Hm-hm," Sansa nodded, looking at her sister with a look full of envy.
- Okay," Arya snorted and got off me. - I'm going to go check on Jon.
And at those words, she walked over to Jon and hugged him and started talking to him about something. Let him rest now that he's had a chance.
- Greetings, Lord Stark," I bowed slightly. - How was your day?
- You may call me Ned, Lord Solomon. And I'll do the same for my part," he smiled cheerfully. - After what you have done for the North, for the Stark family, you are our friend.
- Just because of providing a way to make paper and glass? - Tilting my head to the side, I didn't understand. - Friendship with you is worth so little?
- Heh," he grinned. - If that were true, the North wouldn't exist. Thanks to you, we've been able to get rid of our food supply problems, and the money from the paper and glass trade has been pouring into Winterfell's coffers steadily. Plus, my children love you.
- And you're not afraid I'm a spy or an assassin? - I asked with a raised eyebrow.
- In the name of the gods. If you were an assassin, you would have done your job long ago, given your abilities. And a spy? Do you believe that yourself?
All I could do was shrug. Eddard Stark is a man of honor and dignity. Kind and forgiving. But too soft.
Speaking with Maester Luwin from time to time, it became clear to me that he was born in the wrong place at the wrong time. The lords of the rest of the Seven Kingdoms are cunning and devious. Honor is nothing but an empty sound to them - all that matters is profit, be it material or spiritual. At least, that's what I learned from my conversations with Maester.
- I understand. Ned.
- That's good, Solomon," he smiled cheerfully and patted me on the shoulder. - Besides, I don't think the children mind, do you, Sansa?
- Of course they do! - she said loudly and, realizing her actions, quickly closed her mouth and blanched in embarrassment.
- Well, if it's okay..." I scratched the back of my head and turned to the side. - Jon, Arya, come here. It's time to eat.
- All right! - They shrieked and walked in our direction.
-0-
Solomon. Winterfell.
Evening.
When we returned and went to our rooms, I was escorted away by a very unsure look from Lady Stark. And... it was very strange. All I saw in it was uncertainty. No anger, no joy, no emotion of any kind. All I could do was shrug my shoulders and walk into my room.
As I sat there, I stared at the fireplace set there. More specifically, at the flames that danced in it. It wriggled and crackled, releasing tongues of fire right in my direction. And there was something familiar about it. Very familiar.
And the next moment, I had a flash of memories in my head, showing a creature unknown to me. It was larger than a man. Its skin was covered in scales. It had huge horns on its head, covered in flames. And a giant eye in its chest, glowing ominously scarlet in color.
Goetia, Beast I. Solomon's magic that fused seventy-two Demons into one being.
A nostalgic smile appeared on my face that I didn't notice, and the flame flared. It revealed two eyes staring at me intently.
- Who are you?" I heard a hoarse and old voice coming directly from the flames.
- Solomon, the Magician," I introduced myself, staring into something's eyes. - And who are you?
- R'Glor," the voice answered me a few seconds later. And it said it with great force, and my nose smelled the distinct odor of ash and cinders.
How... interesting.
- Nice to meet you, R'Glor," I smiled and moved closer to the fireplace.
What an interesting creature.
-0-
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