Solomon. Winterfell.
Six months later.
A light odor of dust and old age tickled my sense of smell. Winterfell's library was quite extensive. Certainly, considering the age of this world. Books were present, yes, but most of it was scrolls of parchment. And it cost a lot of money. And to create it in sufficient quantities would require slaughtering entire herds, because it was made from the skin of animals. And the process of making it is quite labor intensive. That's the very reason why I shared the technology of paper production.
In addition, it would increase the knowledge of the population. Of course, I don't expect this to happen soon, but the process is underway. Right now, paper is only made in Winterfell, but eventually every lord of this land will start making it themselves in their own castle. And they will start doing it, as spies are everywhere. Ned understands this as well and right now he is maximizing the benefits of having a monopoly on it with a few hints from my words.
I shared the glass technology for one reason only - money. All the sand that was left in the mines before my arrival was now being shipped to Winterfell. It is already being made in Westeros, but my method has a faster production speed and better quality. To be more precise, the Crown Method or the Lunar Method.
And now, sitting in the library, I was studying a very interesting topic, Valyria. an ancient state on the mainland of Essos, home of the Targaryens. Valyria was the dominant power of its time both militarily and culturally. With the help of dragons and, if the texts are to be believed, magic, the Valyrians subjugated much of the continent. Which I don't doubt, but I was particularly interested in one event that ended it - the Doom of Valyria.
Earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis suddenly raged across the lands of Valyria. And it raises questions. Natural disasters that struck at the same time? Highly questionable.
Flipping through Solomon and Romany's memories, I found a possible cause for this event. The worlds are different, but the mechanisms must be similar.
Alaya, Humanity's Unconscious Will to survive, and Gaia, the planet's will to survive and thrive.
Most likely it was these two entities that had a hand in the Doom of Valyria, but which one? That's not important, though. What mattered was that Valyria was somehow threatening either the planet itself or the survival of humanity.
I frowned. That's troubling. But there must be some traces left there. And apparently I'll have to add another destination to my journey.
Returning to studying the texts, I managed to hear footsteps heading in my direction. And a few seconds later, Sir Rodrik appeared at the entrance to the library.
- Lord Solomon, are you free? - He asked, and when he saw that I was surrounded by books and parchments, he shook his head. - Apparently not.
- It's all right, Sir Rodrik. I can be distracted," I said and put away the book I was holding. - What can I do for you?
- There's a woman standing outside. And she wants to see you.
- A woman? - I raised an eyebrow. - And you're sure it's me she wants to see?
- Yes, I'm sure. She said she was looking for Solomon, the Wizard," Sir Rodrik said and shrugged. - Shall I send her away?
The Magician? Well, it's clear she's looking for me. But why? The only people who know about the term are those who live in the castle itself....
О? So he sent her? How interesting.
- No need, Sir Rodrik. Please take me to her. I think I know why she's looking for me," I shook my head and stood up.
- Of course. Follow me.
And we set off toward the woman. A few minutes later, our duo reached the castle gates. There, near the guards, stood a female figure, wearing scarlet robes and a hooded cloak over her head. But the clothes could not hide her... virtues. A pair of guards gazed lustfully at her figure, which the robes could not hide.
The next moment, I felt the intense gaze from under the hood on me from the woman's side. In it, I felt the same lust that the woman was receiving in the guards' gazes, as well as shock, joy, excitement, recognition, happiness, and awe. Exactly in that order. And so many emotions from one single look surprised me.
As I approached the gate, with Sir Rodrik standing just behind me, the woman fell to her knees before me. No, she didn't. She knelt, even though it was muddy and slushy. And she did it with quick, practiced movements without a single drop of shame or doubt. My eyebrow went up in an incomprehensible gesture. And Sir Rodrik froze in a deep state of shock, shifting his gaze back and forth between me and the woman.
- You must not kneel before a stranger, my lady. Please stand," I said softly, and lowered myself.
But the woman was still silent, and her gaze never left the ground she was staring at.
- Milady? - I called out to her and touched the woman's shoulder.
And the next moment, I had a lot of pictures flashing before me. Pictures of the future. My Clairvoyance activated on a whim and showed me events waiting to happen.
I saw Ned's death and Winterfell burning. I saw three dragons and a young girl emerging from the fire without any burns. I saw the White Walkers. A whole army of dead men with bright shining blue eyes. And I saw Jon...wearing black robes and a sword with a hilt in the shape of a bear.
And then, there was a picture that was kind of blurry and fuzzy. In it, I was standing on the Wall of Ice and looking down, and in front of it, where the White Walkers were, a whole cataclysm had erupted. Giant magic circles shone with blinding light, sending firestorms, creating storms of ice and snow, tearing up the ground and ripping trees from their roots. Lightning bolts fell from the heavens and obsidian spikes came out of the ground, destroying every dead person.
When the visions ended and I started to pull my hand away, the woman looked up sharply and grabbed my hand. Looking into her eyes, I saw... worship. The strongest worship possible.
- King of Magic," she muttered, and her eyes began to water.
My eyes widened in surprise.
- Wise King of Israel," she continued, tightening her grip even more.
The leads were mutual, weren't they?
- The bearer of the Ten Rings," the woman's whole body trembled. - Solomon.
And as she said my name, she fainted. I stopped her body from falling, lifting it into the air.
How... interesting.
- Lord Solomon? Are you all right? - Sir Rodrik asked, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
- I'm fine," I nodded, turning and heading for my room. - I'll take care of her.
- Should I tell Lord Stark? - he asked hesitantly.
- Yes. But I'd rather not be disturbed until I've spoken to the woman.
- Of course," Sir Rodrik agreed. - She's a sorceress, isn't she? Although, judging by the color of her clothes, a red priestess. Should I be worried? And the rest of the castle. I've heard horror stories about them burning people alive.
- You shouldn't," I answered without turning and shook my head. - I won't let it happen, Sir Rodrik. Trust me.
- All right," he sighed tiredly and strode away. - I hope Winterfell doesn't turn into a giant bonfire.
- It won't, Sir Rodrik. Not on my watch," I told him goodbye.
-0-
A short time later.
When the woman woke up, she jumped out of bed quickly, her eyes wide open. She looked around and, finding me with her gaze, instantly fell to her knees. Again.
- Milady? - I asked and a crooked smile appeared on my face. - May I ask why you are acting... like this?
To which she bowed her head even lower, bringing her face close to my feet.
- My king. Kinvara has come to serve you,' she said and... kissed my feet.
I... I didn't know what to say. It was new to me. It had never happened even to Solomon himself.
- Lady Kinvara, please stop and explain to me your... unusual behavior," I grabbed her shoulders and lifted her up, awkwardly saying.
- You can just call me Kinvara, my king," a happy smile appeared on her face. - Or any other name you give me. My body, heart and soul belong to you completely. I am willing to be your maid or mistress, or even your slave. I will clean your night potty. I-
- Please stop, myla....
- Kinvara, my king. Just "Kinvara," she interrupted me. To which my eyebrow went up in bewilderment.
- Okay... Kinvara," I sighed tiredly, "Now, explain to me why you are acting like this.
- As you command, my king," she nodded and, straightening her back, began to explain. - I was sent by the Lord of Light, R'Glor. And he contacted me personally, which has never happened before. At first I didn't understand the Lord's actions, but now that I've met you in person, I understand why. You are a light from another world. You are the one who will bring salvation. And you are the one who will lead the people of Westeros into the next age. The Age of Man.
- You've had visions too, haven't you, Kinvara? "The Age of Man is not what is known in this world.
- You are right, my king.
- And you offer all of yourself to me, but do you not serve R'Glor? - I asked with interest.
- The Lord of Light is wise, as you are, Wise King of Israel. He realizes that his time is also coming to an end. You have seen pictures of the future, haven't you? - She asked, to which I nodded briefly. - Once the Great Other falls by your hand, the Lord's mission will be accomplished. And he will retire, not worrying about the fate of the world, because now there is you. "The time of farewell has come. He is the one who conquers all, isn't it?"
Did she... Did she just recite my Noble Phantasm's activation aria? That's... weird.
- Wouldn't you be sad to see your God go?
- It's a given, my king. Where there is light, there is darkness. And the Lord of Light understands that. He will leave so that the Great Other will never return, leaving the people to fend for themselves. And that will mark the end of the Age of the Gods. The one we all thought was long gone," Kinvara said with steely certainty, staring at me with her unblinking eyes.
During my "conversation" with R'Glor, I couldn't make any sense of it. We didn't really talk at all after we introduced ourselves. We each just stared into each other's eyes for half an hour.
Whoa, though. During that time, my rings flashed once. Did that solve anything? I...I don't know what to think.
- I... understand," I sighed and rubbed my temples. - What about the adherents of his faith? What about them?
- You don't need to worry about that," Kinvara said with a wave of her hand. - I'm sure the Lord of Light has already notified his followers about you. Besides, what they see, he sees. Anyone who believes in the Lord will be willing to give their all to help you, my king.
At those words, she moved even cloSir to me than she had been.
- Especially me," Kinvara whispered in a seductive tone. - Any time. Anywhere.
I just rubbed my face tiredly with the palm of my hand and sat back in my chair. Kinvara is a pure fanatic. Even if I tell her to throw herself off the cliff, she won't even ask me why. She'll just jump without a shadow of a doubt.
- Okay," I said resignedly, and looked at her. - So I'm Azor Ahai?
- No," she said flatly.
- No? - I raised an eyebrow. - Isn't Azor Ahai the legendary hero who will save the world from the White Walkers? As far as I understand from your words, he is me.
- I apologize for not being more specific. Please forgive me for my mistake," she panicked, waving her hands and bowing in an apologetic gesture.
- Just... explain.
- You are not Azor Ahai. You are more than him. Where he can defeat the Great Other only temporarily, you, my king, are capable of banishing him once and for all.
I wondered. As I understood it, the White Walkers were analogous to the Beasts of Solomon's World, whose purpose was to destroy all of humanity. But then why did R'Glor give me a similar feeling? Is he a Beast as well? There is no point in asking Kinvara that question. She will not answer me. She just can't. It's all so... confusing.
- The texts say that the followers of the Red Faith are looking for this Azor Ahai," I said thoughtfully. - What will happen to him now?
- He is still important," Kinvara nodded. - But not as important as you are. Now that you've come here, to this world, he's gone from being the primary plan to a backup plan.
- I would like to hear the wording.
- "Azor Ahai will be reborn to awaken the dragons from the stone and forge anew the great sword, the Lightbringer. The one that defeated the darkness many thousands of years ago. If the tales are true, the terrible sword was tempered with living blood from the heart of a loving wife," she quoted and looked at me. I nodded briefly and thought for a moment. - I think you already have a guess as to who it is, right my king?
I nodded once more. There were two options. Either Jon. Or the girl with the three dragons that I had seen with my Clairvoyance.
The vision where the girl was had dragons and fire. Metaphorically you could say she was reborn when she came out of the flames. So I'm inclined to believe it was her.
Jon is more complicated. He had the sword, but that's about it. However, his threads of destiny say otherwise. He will play an important role in all of this, of that I have no doubt. But how exactly?
- Very well. Let's put that aside for now," I sighed and looked at Kinvara. - Tell me, what do you know about Doom of Valyria?
-0-
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